Online brokerages/brokers

Bonds weren t always available to investors at online brokerages, but when they first were offered, they were available by calling a toll-free number listed on the web page and asking for what was available—exactly what offline investors would do by calling their broker. 

The Public Debt web site is the most comprehensive, efficient Treasury security investment platform available to individual investors today. 1 cannot stress the value and facility that have been created by the government with the use of this web site. Any questions or inquiries concerning any of the issues can be sent electronically and someone will get back to you promptly (they did for me). You can manage your investments neatly online, and periodically review your portfolio. Even if you already have a live broker, or an account with any of the online brokerage firms, 1 strongly urge you to open an account with the Public Debt online. You ll be glad you did. 

One of the biggest research firms to track the online brokerage sector early in its development is Waltham, Massachusetts-based Gomez Advisors. Julio Gomez launched the company in 1996, and one of his strongest offerings was—and still is—the Online Broker Scorecard (Figure 7.1), which tracks both discount and full-service firms. 

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