How The Online Brokers Stack Up
They're ranked here on each of the 11 criteria survey participants
said were most important.
Raw scores are in parentheses. |
| Criteria* |
Datek(1) |
DLJ Direct
(2) |
Ameritrade(3) |
Schwab(4) |
Fidelity(5) |
E*Trade(6) |
TD Waterhouse
(7) |
| Reliability: access even in time of heavy volume |
5
(22.22) |
1
(24.09) |
3
(22.98) |
4
(22.32) |
2
(23.43) |
6
(19.65) |
7
(16.15) |
| Real-time quotes |
1
(27.21) |
2
(25.86) |
5
(24.44) |
3
(25.51) |
6
(24.36) |
4
(25.00) |
7
(21.04) |
| Fast order confirmation |
1
(26.90) |
2
(25.23) |
5
(24.09) |
4
(24.71) |
3
(25.11) |
6
(22.94) |
7
(20.00)
|
| Best execution prices |
1
(25.90) |
3
(23.06) |
5
(22.76) |
4
(22.84) |
2
(23.13) |
6
(21.65) |
7
(21.42) |
| Up-to-date reports about site reliability |
4
(19.26) |
1
(20.79) |
2
(20.33) |
3
(19.81) |
5
(18.28) |
6
(17.41) |
7
(14.17) |
| Easy-to-implement complex trades |
1
(24.78) |
5
(23.40) |
3
(23.82) |
2
(24.53) |
4
(23.43) |
6
(22.59) |
7
(19.25) |
| Easy account administration |
4
(23.50) |
2
(24.46) |
6
(21.83) |
1
(25.35) |
3
(24.20) |
5
(21.85) |
7
(19.86) |
| Low commissions |
1
(27.65) |
6
(19.55) |
2
(27.09) |
7
(17.25) |
4
(21.14) |
5
(20.57) |
3
(23.30) |
| Easy portfolio tracking |
3
(23.51) |
1
(24.31) |
6
(20.32) |
2
(23.82) |
5
(21.61) |
4
(23.14) |
7
(17.64) |
| Customer service by telephone |
5
(21.75) |
4
(23.62) |
3
(24.75) |
2
(25.72) |
1
(25.76) |
6
(20.25) |
7
(18.69) |
| Real-time market and company news |
5
(21.85) |
1
(23.87) |
2
(23.54) |
3
(22.54) |
6
(19.92) |
4
(22.24) |
7
(19.54) |
| *In order of importance to survey participants. |