Discount Broker vs Full-Service Broker: Which One Suits You?

Discount brokers charge a flat fee per order and give you a platform, nothing more. Full-service brokers bundle research, advisory calls and often a relationship manager, and charge a percentage of turnover.

If you make your own decisions and trade frequently, flat per-order pricing is usually cheaper. If you rely on research and prefer offline assistance, a full-service broker can be worth the higher cost.

Run your typical order size through a brokerage calculator before deciding. Percentage-based pricing becomes expensive quickly on larger delivery orders.