How to invest online with a discount broker

How to invest and trade stocks online.   Here are some options:

If you are thinking about investing online then you should consider Vanguard, Fidelity, E*TRADE, Ameritrade, Wells Fargo or Schwab. When you invest on your own you want to keep fees and commissions down and Vanguard has no load low fee funds and electronically traded funds (ETFs).   However, Vanguard requires a substantial amount of money to be in some of their best funds.  Recently I have switched to Fidelity and Wells Fargo.  Wells Fargo will give you one hundred free trades a year if you have over $30,000 in your prime checking and other accounts.  Both Wells Fargo and Fidelity allow you to invest in CDs.  Given the recent market drop in 2008 and bank failures a CD insured by FDIC is a good place to have some money.   Fidelity has a substantial selection of mutual funds including sector funds such as gold and gold miners.  In addition, Fidelity has a smart money checking account that is covered by FDIC insurance.  If you are thinking about investing online it is a good idea to check around and consider pricing and products offered.