Charles Schwab Review

Schwab is not recommended for investors that maintain margin balances, but is recommended for all others.

Schwab offers good research tools, quality charts and acceptable commissions and fees. Schwab loses some points for a mediocre registration process and excessive margin rates. The trading experience is also very average, making Schwab a decent but not top tier broker. Schwab offers excellent Dividend Reinvestment Plan (DRIP) investing. Those who upgrade to the StreetSmart active trader application receive an improved trading engine and charts.

Registration ........................................... C
Stock Trading (standard) ....................... C
Stock Trading (StreetSmart) .................. B
Charts (standard) ................................... B
Charts (StreetSmart) .............................. B
Research Tools ...................................... B
Commissions and Fees (Pass/Fail) .... Pass

Read my full review of Schwab and other major online brokers at http://onlinebrokerreview.blogspot.com/