The first step to building your portfolio is to open a brokerage account. These accounts allow you to purchase stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and other investments by paying professionals to buy or sell the items you tell them to. The fee you pay them is called a "commission", and can range from as low as $5 to $10 dollars, to upwards of several hundred dollars. The price difference arises when you choose between either a discount or traditional broker. Traditional brokerages provide a wider range of services, and have the price tag to match. They serve along the lines of professional money managers and can offer advice as to what investments might be right for you. Like many investors, you may enjoy some of the conveniences of an online brokerage account, like checking your brokerage account information at any time of day or night, buying and selling securities, or even transferring money between your brokerage account and another account. But if you do not take steps to protect your personal information when you go online, you could be telling your own story of identity theft. To find out more information, fill out the form on the left hand side of your screen! >>
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