Online Brokers at a Glance

PROS: TD Ameritrade offers below-average commissions on stock trades and a solid selection of no-load mutual funds.

CONS: You’ll pay $49.99 each time you buy or sell a fund not on TD Ameritrade’s no-transaction-fee list. The brokerage pays no interest on cash balances under $2,000. And if you use margin -– that is, borrow money against the value of your account -– be prepared for a high interest rate. Also be aware that the firm doesn’t provide tax-basis information for clients with less than $50,000. Its Web site isn’t all that easy to use, either.

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