If you ask most people how to generate wealth, most would be able to answer “You have to invest.” Typically, those investments refer to stock investing. However, not as many people know how to get started with the stock market.

Traditionally, people use a stockbroker when they first start with the stock market. A brokerage offers you a platform on which to make trades while also providing stock investment advice to help you reach your goals. 

However, a brokerage’s service comes with a fee. You may wonder, what are brokerage fees like? What do they cover? 

If so, you’ve come to the right place! In this guide, we’ll give you all the essential information you need to understand brokerage fees. 

What are Brokerage Fees?

A brokerage fee is what a company charges for handling your account transactions. These fees cover two categories relating to your account.

First, brokers can charge fees for expenses related to the services they provide. Second, they can charge fees for any transactions associated with your account. 

In many cases, people wonder how brokerage fees apply to their transactions. For this, we must explain what types of trades the brokerage can manage. 

Brokerage companies manage trades of several security types, such as stocks, bonds, and mutual funds. Each of these transactions could become subject to a brokerage fee.

However, not all brokerage fees are equal. Different types exist, which we’ll explore in the following few sections. 

Full-Service Brokerage Fees

If you work with a full-service brokerage, they may offer a fee-based service. So, instead of paying fees with each transaction, you’ll pay a fee for their combined services. 

What would you pay for in this case? Essentially, full-service brokerage fees pay for the expert advice and services that investors receive. In many cases, you’ll pay this fee annually.

Discount Brokerage Fees

Full-service brokers handle all your transactions on the stock market for you. In contrast, discount brokerages give you a little more control over your transactions. These options are often more popular for long-time, experienced investors.

These brokerages often charge you less for trades, with the cost being low or altogether absent. These companies rarely charge much money to join, giving them an additional bonus.

Online Brokerage Fees

Online brokerages often intersect with discount brokerages. These are often the most adaptable types of brokerages, offering varying levels of stock investor advice. They provide comprehensive customer service access as well, along with high-quality trading tools. 

Several mobile apps exist for online brokerages, such as Robin Hood. Other brokers allow countries outside the US to trade US stocks. An example of this is monexsecurities.com.au. 

Online brokerage fees can vary but often remain on the lower end of the spectrum. In this way, they have more in common with discount brokerages.

Find Your Best Brokerage Today

If you were wondering, “What are brokerage fees?” we hope you found an answer. Different types of brokerages offer varying fees, each depending on the level of service they offer. Find the brokerage that fits with your financial goals!

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