What is the best online trading broker?

I am looking to invest $2000 in stocks and options and preferrably mututal funds. This is the first time I am investing, which online trading broker would be friendly to a new investor and have reasonable fees?

Would would you suggest for active traders and for long-term growth investors?

Thanks in advance!

Public Comments

1. Do you have a plan? Have you read at least a dozen books on the subject? Have you tested your theories? It's obvious from your mixing of terms that you don't know what you're doing.

Read enough books to develop a trading plan. Test your plan on a simulator rigorously; not with $100,000 but with $2,000.

http://simulator.investopedia.com/

Broker review:
http://www.brokerage-review.com/articles/barrons-2010-magazine-survey.aspx

2. All major brokerage firms provide their clients with on-line services, including trading platforms, latest market & financial news and research.

Customer need to select the site that is best for them. Traders have requirements in a site, while investors have other requirements.

Although most sites are geared to general securities and commodities, however customers may have special needs for the types of products they trade, and the markets in which they trade. For example I use Fidelity for investing. Scottrade for equities trading and ThinkorSwim for option trading

It seems that the most popular firms for on-line investing/trading all of which provide excellent platforms and services are; Scottrade; Chas.Schwab; TDAmeritrade; Fidelity; E-Trade and Thinkorswim. In your situation, you would probably be best served by either Scottrade or Chas.Schwab. However if you're looking for fund investment you should visit Fidelity's website

Based on the wording of your question, it would be in your best interest if you were to write out an investment plan which will help you in making decisions and more importantly protect you from yourself
Also. you need a money management program in place.
And you should have a full and complete understanding of the rules & regulations of the industry.
None of this will you get from an online broker, especially a trading broker.