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How to Open a Brokerage Account: A Step-by-Step Guide



Choosing the right brokerage account can seem like a difficult process, but it doesn't have to be. By deciding what type of account you want, and then comparing several online stock brokers, you should be able to choose the one that best meets your needs.To get more news about trading account, you can visit wikifx.com official website.

How to open a brokerage account
1. Determine the type of brokerage account you need
What are your investment objectives? If you simply want to invest for a rainy day or for a certain relatively near-term goal, and don't necessarily want your money tied up until you retire, a traditional brokerage account is the way to go. These accounts don't have tax advantages -- you may have to pay tax on investment profits and dividends -- but you are free to withdraw your money whenever you'd like. For this reason, a traditional, or standard brokerage account is often referred to as a taxable brokerage account.
If you choose a traditional brokerage account, your broker will likely ask if you want a cash account or margin account. If you choose to apply for margin privileges, this basically means that you can borrow money to buy stocks, with the stocks in your portfolio serving as collateral. You'll pay interest on the borrowed money, and there are some inherent risks involved with investing on margin that you should be aware of.
2. Compare the costs and incentives
These days, virtually all of the major discount brokers offer commission-free trading. They may also offer you a discount to reward you for certain actions, such as transferring a large investment account from another broker.

That said, it's important to review each online brokerage firm's full pricing schedule, particularly if you plan on trading anything other than stocks (options, mutual funds, ETFs, bonds, etc.), as these often come with their own costs. For example, many brokers charge a commission in the range of $0.50 to $0.75 per options contract, so even if the broker doesn't charge a base commission, options trading won't exactly be free.
3. Consider the services and conveniences offered
Pricing isn't everything -- especially for new investors. Of course, all other things being equal, it's best to find the lowest price, but here are a few other things you need to consider when picking a broker:
4. Decide on a brokerage firm
You've gathered your information about various firms' costs, fees and the conveniences they offer. For each brokerage, you should weigh the pros and cons as they pertain to your investment objectives and determine which broker is right for you.

5. Fill out the new account application
You can apply to open a new account online, and this is generally a quick and painless process with online brokers. You'll need some identifying information, such as your Social Security number and driver's license. You may need to sign additional forms if you're requesting margin privileges or the ability to trade options, and the broker will need to collect information about your net worth, employment status, investable assets, and investment goals.
6. Fund the account
As a final note, when funding your new account, be sure to keep your broker's minimums in mind. Many have different minimums for taxable accounts and retirement accounts, and they also may have different minimum requirements for margin accounts.

7. Start researching investments
Congratulations on taking the initiative and opening a brokerage account -- your future self will thank you for taking this important step on the road toward financial security.

Now comes the fun part: investing in stocks. Before diving in, it's a good idea to spend some time learning the basics of how to responsibly choose stocks, bonds, and/or funds, as well as how to create a well-diversified portfolio.