Real Brokerage Stock Investing Guide

Getting started with stock investing through Real Brokerage can seem daunting, but it's actually quite straightforward.

Real Brokerage is a commission-free online brokerage firm that offers a user-friendly platform for buying and selling stocks.

To get started, you'll need to fund your account, which can be done through bank transfers, wire transfers, or even by depositing a check.

Real Brokerage offers a mobile app that allows you to trade on-the-go, making it easy to stay on top of your investments.

The platform is also known for its low fees, with no commissions on trades and a $0 account minimum.

CBRE GROUP, INC. led the pack in the brokerage services sector, with a 5-day change of -0.81%. This is a significant drop, but it's worth noting that the company's 1-year change is a more substantial -7.45%.

The average 5-day change for the sector is a relatively small -0.75%. This indicates that while individual companies may be experiencing fluctuations, the overall trend is relatively stable.

Here's a breakdown of the 5-day changes for the top companies in the sector:

The weighted average by capitalization for the sector is -0.69%, indicating a slight downward trend.

You'll be charged an additional $25 for broker-assisted trades, excluding Extended Hours overnight session trades placed via broker between 4 a.m. and 7 a.m. ET.

Directed trades executed through E*TRADE Pro to an ECN during regular market hours and Extended Hours sessions are subject to a directed order fee of $0.005 per share.

Orders that execute in multiple lots during a single trading day are charged one commission.

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The Real Brokerage has achieved a major milestone by surpassing 5,000 agents. This significant growth is a testament to the brokerage's expanding reach and influence in the industry.

In just the past 12 months, The Real Brokerage has grown by an impressive 104%. This rapid expansion is a result of the brokerage's innovative approach and commitment to excellence.

The Real Brokerage's success can be attributed to its strong presence in both Toronto and New York. By having a solid foundation in these key markets, the brokerage is well-positioned for continued growth and success.

E*TRADE charges a variety of fees for certain activities, including index option fees, FINRA trading activity fees, and account activity fees.

Index option fees range from $0.07 to $0.55 per contract, depending on the underlying symbol. For example, the S&P 500 Index option fee is $0.55 per contract.

FINRA trading activity fees are $0.000166 per share for equity securities, with a per-transaction cap of $8.30, and $0.00279 per contract for option sales.

Account activity fees include a $25 fee for check returns due to insufficient funds, a $38 fee for mandatory reorganizations, and a $150 fee for restricted securities custody.

The following table summarizes some of the account activity fees:

E*TRADE also charges a $2.00 handling fee for each paper statement mailed to your address of record, unless an exemption applies.

Fees can be a real pain, but understanding what you're getting into can help you make informed decisions. Let's break down some of the key fees you might encounter with E*TRADE.

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Index Option Fee (IOF) is a fee charged for trading certain index options. For example, trading an S&P 500 Index option costs $0.55 per contract.

The fees charged by E*TRADE are designed to offset third-party fees, including regulatory or transaction fees, market center fees, and clearing house fees. These fees can be quite complex, but essentially, they're passed on to you to help cover the costs of trading.

FINRA trading activity fee (TAF) is another fee you might encounter. This fee is $0.000166 per share for equity securities, with a per-transaction cap of $8.30. For example, selling 1,000 equity securities would cost $0.166 in TAF fees.

You'll also need to pay a Section 31 fee, which is $0.0000278 per transaction. This fee is used to recover the costs of supervising and regulating the securities markets.

Special request fees can add up quickly. For instance, overnight mail costs $25, while account transfers (outgoing) cost $75 for full transfers.

Here's a breakdown of some of the special request fees you might encounter:

Stock and options trades are generally free, but there are some exceptions. For example, options contract fees are $0.65 for the first 29 trades per quarter, and then $0.50 for 30+ trades per quarter.

Options regulatory fees and additional regulatory and exchange fees may also apply to options orders.

Account activity fees can be a surprise, but they're usually related to specific events. For instance, a check returned for insufficient funds costs $25, while a forced margin liquidation costs $25.00.

Some account activity fees are a bit more complex, like the reorganization charge, which is $38 for mandatory actions, $38 for voluntary actions, and $50 for actions reflected on physical certificates.

Margin rates can vary depending on your balance, with a base rate of 10.70% effective as of 12/23/2024.

If you have a debit balance of less than $10,000, you'll be charged 13.20%, which is 2.50% above the base rate.

For balances between $10,000 and $24,999.99, the margin rate is 12.95%, or 2.25% above the base rate.

If you have a balance between $25,000 and $49,999.99, the margin rate is 12.70%, which is 2.00% above the base rate.

Balances between $50,000 and $99,999.99 come with a margin rate of 12.20%, or 1.50% above the base rate.

For larger balances, the margin rate decreases: $100,000 to $249,999.99 is charged at 11.70%, which is 1.00% above the base rate.

The margin rate for balances between $250,000 and $499,999.99 is 11.20%, or 0.50% above the base rate.

Here's a summary of the margin rates based on your balance:

If you're an E*TRADE customer, you might want to know about the paper statement fee. This fee is $2.00 for each paper statement mailed to your address of record.

The good news is that you won't be charged this fee if you're currently enrolled with electronic statements. That's a no-brainer – switch to electronic statements and save the $2.00!

There are some other exemptions to the paper statement fee. For instance, if you have a retirement or custodial account, you won't be charged. The same goes for global trading accounts, other relationships with E*TRADE, and stock plan accounts for current employees of current E*TRADE Financial Corporate Services clients.

Curious to learn more? Check out: How to Trade in Equity Market

If you have a combined value of $10,000 in cash and securities in linked E*TRADE accounts, you're exempt from the fee. Alternatively, if you have a combined balance of $20,000 or more in linked E*TRADE and Morgan Stanley Private Bank accounts, you won't be charged either.

Here's a summary of the exemptions: