How to Use Webull: A Guide to Trading and Investing

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Webull is a popular trading and investing platform that's free to use, with no account minimums or hidden fees. This makes it an attractive option for both beginners and experienced traders.

To get started with Webull, you'll need to download the app or access it through their website. This is a straightforward process that takes just a few minutes.

Webull offers a range of features that make it easy to trade and invest, including real-time market data, customizable charts, and a variety of technical indicators. These tools can help you make informed decisions about your investments.

Whether you're looking to trade stocks, options, or cryptocurrencies, Webull has got you covered.

If this caught your attention, see: How to Trade on Webull

Built for Beginners

Webull is a great platform for beginners because it offers a combination of popular securities and undemanding investing methods like fractional shares.

Its intuitive, easy-to-use mobile app makes it simple to navigate and start trading. You can get up to 25 free shares by subscribing at least US$500* and maintaining it for 30 days.

Credit: youtube.com, Webull for Beginners Tutorial - What You MUST Know

Webull's low fees and waiver of charges mean you don't have to worry about extra charges or hidden fees that eat away at your investment returns. This is especially important for new investors who are just starting out.

You can earn up to US$2,200 worth of free rewards* by transferring over US$25,000 worth of shares to Webull, thanks to its Transfer-In Promo.

All investments involve risks and are not suitable for every investor, so be sure to do your research and understand the potential risks before investing.

Discover more: Stock Broker Cost

Security and Safety

Webull secures all online activities with 128-bit AES encryption, which is considered "bank-level" encryption. This level of encryption is highly secure and can't be hacked through a brute-force attack.

Webull also allows two-factor authentication, which is recommended by the app and our experts. With two-factor authentication, no one will be able to access your account unless they have the one-time code sent to your phone.

Credit: youtube.com, 5 Things You NEED to Know Before Signing up for Webull! [WARNING?]

To further protect your account, Webull uses Plaid authentication for all financial transactions between your account and your bank accounts. This adds additional encryption and multifactor authentication to your account.

Here are some additional tips to keep your account safe:

  • Use strong passwords and avoid basing them on personal information.
  • Use multifactor authentication when offered, such as two-factor authentication offered by Webull.
  • Never share your login information with anyone.
  • Set your account to private to limit your ability to get news and talk about the markets on the site.

Webull is also a member of the Securities Investor Protection Corporation, which protects customers up to $500,000 ($250,000 of cash) in case the brokerage shuts down.

Regulated and Insured

Webull is regulated by top-tier financial authorities, including the SEC and FINRA.

The SEC is an independent government agency tasked with regulating markets and protecting investors.

Webull insures its customers' accounts with the Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC), which offers up to $500,000 in total coverage, with a $250,000 limit for cash.

Apex, Webull's clearing company, carries additional insurance on all customer transactions, providing protection up to $37.5 million for investments and $900,000 for cash.

This level of protection should be more than enough for the average investor, and even for those investing larger sums, it's reassuring to know that their money is safeguarded.

Additional reading: Moomoo Cash Account

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Webull's membership in SIPC and Apex's additional insurance policy provide a robust safety net for customers, giving them peace of mind when investing with the company.

In the unlikely event of Webull shutting down, customers are protected up to $500,000, with Apex's insurance policy kicking in to provide further protection up to $150 million.

App Security Features

Webull takes the security of your online activities seriously, using 128-bit AES encryption to secure all transactions. This is considered bank-level encryption, which is the minimum recommended standard for financial transactions.

This encryption standard is difficult to crack through a brute-force attack, making it a reliable choice for protecting your financial information. Webull also recommends enabling two-factor authentication, which adds an extra layer of security to your account.

Two-factor authentication requires you to provide a one-time code sent to your phone, in addition to your password. This makes it much harder for hackers to access your account, even if they have your password.

Close-up of finance app on tablet with phone and pen on white table.
Credit: pexels.com, Close-up of finance app on tablet with phone and pen on white table.

Plaid authentication is also used to add an extra layer of encryption to your bank account numbers and other sensitive information. This adds multifactor authentication to your account, providing an additional layer of protection.

Here are some key app security features to know:

By enabling two-factor authentication and using Plaid authentication, you can significantly reduce the risk of your account being compromised.

Trading and Investing

Trading on Webull is simple and straightforward. Just follow the steps outlined in Webull's guide to get started.

You can learn how to invest with Webull's educational library, which covers topics like trading strategies and important terms new investors should know. You can also reference the library at your own pace, making it easy to learn and grow as an investor.

Webull offers no-fee trading in stocks, ETFs, and options, making it easier to profit from a trading strategy. You can also take advantage of auction-crossing information and fractional shares, which allow you to participate in the growth of your favorite shares without a price limit.

Capabilities

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Webull offers commission-free trading in stocks, ETFs, and options, making it easier for traders to profit from their strategies.

You can start trading with a minimum deposit of $0.00, and there are no minimums for options trading. This means you can start investing with any amount of money you have.

Webull's platform features an easy account setup and options approval with no fees or minimums. The account opening process takes only a few minutes, and once the transfer is set up, you can receive buying power on the account right away.

With Webull, you can buy fractional shares, which allows you to purchase shares with the budget you have. The minimum quantity is 0.01 share, or as low as $5.

Webull offers over 40 different types of indicators to add to your charts, such as relative strength index and Bollinger bands, to help you evaluate your trades.

You can also customize your layout by dragging different widgets into your Webull workspace to choose which watchlists, charts, and companies you want to keep track of and how you want that information to be displayed.

Here are some key features of Webull's options trading platform:

Webull's advanced trade settings allow you to try different order types, trade with options, and set other parameters like stops.

A unique perspective: Currency Carry Trade Etf

Regular Savings Plan (RSP)

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If you're new to investing, you might want to consider a hands-off approach with Webull's Regular Savings Plan (RSP). This tool allows you to set up a plan to invest a fixed amount of money at regular intervals.

You can choose from US-listed stocks and ETFs, as well as SGD and USD mutual funds, and start investing from as little as US$5 or SG$10 for SGD mutual funds. This flexibility is a big plus, especially for beginners.

You can set your own investing schedule, whether it's every trading day, weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly, giving you control over your investing budget and pace. This is a great way to maintain a consistent investment habit.

The practice of making smaller, regular investments over time is known as Dollar-cost Averaging or DCA, which can help smoothen short-term market volatility and lower your average entry price. This strategy is recommended for beginners.

With Webull's RSP, you can pick and mix from a rich selection of US- and SG-listed securities to diversify your portfolio and hedge against overexposure to any one sector or region.

Create Watchlists

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You can create personalized watchlists on Webull to follow specific securities.

These watchlists can include companies related to a specific theme, such as sustainability or healthcare.

To create a watchlist, go to the “Watchlists” tab and click on the three dashes in the upper left corner.

Tap “+ Add List” to get started and name your watchlist.

You can choose specific stocks to follow, like Amazon or Tesla, by tapping the heart button on the stock and adding it to your watchlist.

Using the hexagon in the upper right corner, you can customize your watchlist based on order, price, color, and refresh frequency.

This allows you to tailor the display to your personal preferences.

Watchlists are an easy way to make observations before committing to buying specific securities.

Account Management

To keep your investments safe, it's essential to secure your Webull account. Enabling two-factor authentication is a simple step you can take to protect yourself from high-profile scams and data breaches.

Using indicators can help you gauge the performance of a specific stock or the economy as a whole, giving you a better understanding of your investments.

Open an Account

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To open a Webull account, you'll need to be at least 18 years old and have a valid Social Security number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number. You'll also need to live in the U.S. or a U.S. territory and have U.S. citizenship, a permanent residency card, or a visa.

You can open an account via the company's website or by downloading the Webull app. To open an individual account, you'll need to decide between a cash or margin account. A cash account is straightforward, while margin trading is a bit more complicated and risky.

Webull accepts customers in the United States, India, Brazil, Turkey, the Philippines, Malaysia, Japan, China, and Korea. You'll need to complete an application and provide both personal and financial information to open an account.

To fund your account, you'll need to link an external bank account. You can do this by selecting your bank from a pre-populated list or searching for it. Webull will securely connect to your bank, and you can choose which account you want to use.

For more insights, see: Open Brokerage Account

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Here are the steps to fund your account:

  • Tap the Webull logo at the bottom of the screen, then tap "Transfers" at the top of the screen.
  • Tap "Deposit" and choose your desired method (e.g., ACH or wire transfer).
  • Follow the on-screen instructions to add your bank account or select a bank account you previously added.
  • Key in your deposit sum, then tap "Submit".
  • Your deposit will be reviewed, and once processed, the funds will be made available in your trading account.

Customize Your Layout

Customizing your layout is a crucial step in making your trading experience more efficient and enjoyable.

You can choose which watchlists, charts, and companies you want to keep track of and how you want that information to be displayed.

Simply drag different widgets into your Webull workspace to customize your display.

Tailor different color schemes to your preference, which is important if you want to change what colors signify and how they appear in your charts.

Low Fees

Webull is designed to offer the best value-for-money experience by lowering its fees as much as possible.

For mutual funds, Webull charges a $0 subscription fee, redemption fee, and platform fee*. The only cost to investors is the management fee, which is charged by the fund house.

With Webull, you don't have to worry about platform fees when trading stocks and ETFs. There are no platform fees charged when trading stocks and ETFs.

Webull charges a commission ranging between 0.02% to 0.03%, subject to minimum charges of US$0.50, HKD 12 or CNH 12, where relevant. This is a significant advantage over other trading platforms.

Take a look at this: How Bond Etfs Work

Financial Information

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To get started with Webull, you'll need to provide some basic financial information. This includes the value of your liquid assets, such as cash and savings, which is a crucial factor in determining your investment risk level.

The application will also ask for the value of your current income, which helps Webull understand your overall financial situation.

You'll also need to specify the type of employment you have, such as full-time, part-time, or self-employed, as this affects your investment options.

Webull wants to know about your investing goals and objectives so it can determine what types of assets are more likely to be suitable for you.

Getting Free Stocks

Webull offers free stocks via promotions, similar to Robinhood. In June, customers were offered one free stock just for opening a Webull brokerage account.

To get a second free stock, you need to make an initial deposit of $100 or more. This is a great way to start investing with some free money to play with.

Remember to do your homework before investing and ensure your portfolio matches your risk tolerance, timeline, and goals.

Get Free Stocks

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Webull offers free stocks via promotions, similar to Robinhood. They've had offers like one free stock for opening an account and another for making an initial deposit of $100 or more.

You can get started with Webull by opening a brokerage account and taking advantage of their promotions. Just be sure to do your homework before investing.

Webull's mobile app and desktop platform make it easy to place orders and check on your positions. You can also create a watchlist to keep track of your favorite stocks and funds.

The platform is packed with real-time data, including news stories, past performance, and financials. This can be overwhelming for new investors, but Webull's paper trading feature lets you practice making trades without using real money.

Is Free?

Webull is a commission-free trading platform, meaning you won't be charged for buying or selling stocks, including cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin. This is a common practice in the industry, even among traditional brokerages.

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You may still see small fees, like $0.02 per trade, from regulatory agencies. These fees are usually very small and come from places like the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA).

Webull makes money through various means, including payment for order flow, stock loans, interest on free credit balances, and margin interest. For example, they charge interest on margin loans, with an annual margin rate of 6.99% for a debit balance up to $25,000.

Basic U.S. market data is free on Webull, but if you want more in-depth market data, you can subscribe to Level 2 Advance for $1.99 a month. This partnership with NASDAQ gives you a better understanding of a stock's availability and demand.

Here are the ways Webull generates revenue:

  • Payment for order flow
  • Stock loans
  • Interest on free credit balances
  • Margin interest

Frequently Asked Questions

How to invest $5 on Webull?

To invest $5 on Webull, you can buy fractional shares of stocks or ETFs with a minimum order of 0.00001 shares and a purchase quantity of $5. This allows you to own a portion of your favorite companies for just $5.

Is Webull legit for beginners?

Yes, Webull is a reliable choice for beginners, offering an excellent user experience and commission-free options contracts. It's worth considering for those new to trading, but keep in mind some fees may apply for other services.

Do you actually own the stock on Webull?

No, you don't directly own the stock on Webull, as it's held in 'street name' through Apex Clearing. However, you're identified as the beneficial owner, and records are kept to reflect your ownership.

Does Webull charge a monthly fee?

No, Webull does not charge a monthly fee. However, there is a $75 fee for transferring securities out of your account.

How does the Webull app work?

The Webull app uses real-time market data to simulate trading with virtual funds, allowing you to practice and refine your skills in a risk-free environment. This interactive platform lets you execute trades and track your performance over time.

Felicia Koss

Junior Writer

Felicia Koss is a rising star in the world of finance writing, with a keen eye for detail and a knack for breaking down complex topics into accessible, engaging pieces. Her articles have covered a range of topics, from retirement account loans to other financial matters that affect everyday people. With a focus on clarity and concision, Felicia's writing has helped readers make informed decisions about their financial futures.

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