Full-service broker. Merrill Edge customers who enroll in Preferred Rewards (from Merrill’s parent, Bank of America) can qualify for up to 30 free stock trades a month. There’s a catch: You’ll need to maintain at least $50,000 in combined monthly balances at Merrill and BofA. Stashing at least $100,000 with the firm gets you up to 100 free trades a month. Either way, customers also qualify for perks such as cash-back bonuses on credit cards and lower rates on car loans and mortgages.
Discount broker. Robinhood, an online-only brokerage launched in 2015, offers commission-free stock trading on its mobile app (available for Apple and Android devices). There’s no minimum deposit to open an account, and placing a trade takes just a few taps and a swipe on your device. The drawbacks: You can trade only stocks and exchange-traded funds through the app, and you won’t get any research or tools. For accounts with less than $25,000, Robinhood also limits day trading—buying and selling the same stock in the same day.
Limited-time offers. Fidelity and Schwab provide free trades for up to two years as a bonus for opening a new account. Fidelity dishes out 300 commission-free trades if you deposit between $50,000 and $99,999, and up to 500 free trades if you stash $100,000 or more. At Schwab you get up to 500 free trades with a deposit of $100,000 or more. Both firms earned high scores in Kiplinger’s 2017 survey of online brokers (see We Pick the Best Online Brokers).
From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance
Be a smarter, better informed investor.
Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
-
Why is My First Medicare Bill So High?Your first Medicare bill may be higher than expected for several reasons. If your premiums aren't taken out of your Social Security benefit, the bill can be huge.
-
11 Unforgettable Road Trips to Take in RetirementMore than a travel trend, the road trip is a quintessential American tradition, with millions of us taking them each year. Here's a guide to helping you choose your next adventure.
-
Texas Sales Tax-Free Weekend 2025Tax Holiday Here's what you needed to know about the Texas sales tax holiday.
-
Alabama Tax-Free Weekend 2025Tax Holiday Here’s everything you need to know about the 2025 back-to-school Alabama sales tax holiday.
-
Amazon Resale: Where Amazon Prime Returns Become Your Online BargainsFeature Amazon Resale products may have some imperfections, but that often leads to wildly discounted prices.
-
Best States to Buy Chocolate Candy Tax-FreeState Taxes There’s something spooky this Halloween, and it’s not just the ghouls. Find out if your state’s sales tax takes a bite out of sweet savings.
-
Florida Back-to-School Tax-Free Holiday 2025Sales Taxes Everything you need to know about the two-week tax-free holiday in Florida.
-
Roth IRA Contribution Limits for 2025Roth IRAs Roth IRAs allow you to fund your retirement with after-tax dollars while you're working, and then withdraw those contributions and earnings tax-free when you retire. Here's a look at 2025 limits and income-based phaseouts.
-
Four Tips for Renting Out Your Home on Airbnbreal estate Here's what you should know before listing your home on Airbnb.
-
Five Ways to a Cheap Last-Minute VacationTravel It is possible to pull off a cheap last-minute vacation. Here are some tips to make it happen.
