Merrill Edge vs TD Ameritrade 2013 Review

star Poor

star star Mediocre

star star star Good

star star star star Excellent

star star star star star Outstanding

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TD Ameritrade
Merrill Edge
Open Account

Trade free for 90 days + get up to $600 - Learn More

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Current Offers
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Fees

Flat-Fee Trade Plan* $9.99 $6.95
Per-Share Trade Plan N/A N/A
Mutual Fund Trade Fee* $49.99 $39.95
Options Trade Base $9.99 $6.95
Options Per Contract $0.75 $0.75
Options Exercise Fee $19.99 N/A
Options Assignment Fee $19.99 N/A
Broker Assisted Trades $44.99 $44.95
Minimum Deposit $2,500.00 $2,000.00

2013 Review Ratings

Overall star star star star Star N/A
Commissions & Fees star Star N/A
Customer Service star star star star Star N/A
Platform & Tools star star star star star N/A
Research star star star star Star N/A
Ease of Use star star star star Star N/A
Investment Offering star star star star Star N/A
Education star star star star star N/A
Mobile Trading star star star star Star N/A

Brokers

TD Ameritrade Merrill Edge

Account Features

Virtual Trading check
No Minimum Deposit
No Maintenance Fees check check
No-Fee IRAs check check
Online Trader Community check
Investment Education check check
Live Seminars check

Mobile Trading

iPhone App check check
iPad App check check
BlackBerry App check check
Android App check
Mobile Site check

Trade Types

Stock Trading check check
Options Trading check check
Mutual Funds check check
FOREX Trading check
Futures Trading check

Banking Features

Checking Accounts check
Savings Accounts
Credit Card Accounts
Debit Card Accounts check
Mortgage Loans

Margin Rates

Under $25k 9.00% 0.00%
$25k to $49k 8.75% 0.00%
$50k to $99k 8.50% 0.00%
$100k to $249k 7.25% 0.00%
$250k to $499k 7.00% 0.00%
$500k to $999k 7.00% 0.00%
Above $1,000,000 6.25% 0.00%

Recap

TD Ameritrade Merrill Edge
Open Account Open Account
Current Offers Trade free for 90 days + get up to $600 - Learn More
Broker Reviews Read full review › Read full review ›

TD Ameritrade vs Merrill Edge

StockBrokers.com 2013 review compares Merrill Edge vs TD Ameritrade. Compare Merrill Edge and TD Ameritrade trade commissions, fees and overall broker ratings by using the chart above. Is Merrill Edge or TD Ameritrade a better online broker? The StockBrokers.com staff breaks down all the key broker features, rates, and commissions charged to clients to determine the best broker.

TD Ameritrade was rated #1 overall in the StockBrokers.com 2012 Broker Review along with numerous Best in Class awards. Their ideal client includes all investors and traders as their 5 star, 24/7 customer support amongst other factors easily outweighs their higher equity commission pricing. Trade Architect and thinkorswim provide outstanding platforms and tools for active and professional investors, with thinkorswim receiving Best Overall Trading Platform in 2012. TD Ameritrade has one of largest selection of commission free ETFs, one of the many attributes that makes them a top brokerage over many other great competitors.

There is a significant price difference of $3.04 per stock trade between TD Ameritrade and Merrill Edge. TD Ameritrade's per trade stock price of 9.99 is significantly higher than Merrill Edge's per trade stock price of 6.95.

There is a large difference between TD Ameritrade's "Overall" rating of 5 stars and Merrill Edge's "Overall" rating of -1 stars.

Both Merrill Edge and TD Ameritrade have an iPhone App for mobile trading. An iPad app for mobile trading on the popular tablet is available for Merrill Edge and TD Ameritrade to download on iTunes.

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