When asked by friends what brokerage firm I use the answer is the best! I use TradeKing, because they make it safe and easy for me to watch my stock portfolio grow and have smart trades that are done at the right price. This is because while every stock broker is supposed to buy and sell at the best price and with the way they treat customers this is not even a concern. I have tried a couple other brokerage firms and just did not feel comfortable with the way they treat women or their website bogging down when everyone is logged in during market crashes. There are other benefits I have found since I have been using TradeKing are:

• It is free to sign up and make an account to begin buying and selling stock, with a nominal fee.

• They have terrific research tools that allow me to research stocks prior to buying them and knowing when the best time to sell might be.

• The advantage of being your own broker for day trading on a website that is easy to navigate, page after page.

• The ability to make trades or when needed broker assisted trades for the same low price. This is a great advantage when you can’t be at your computer or your Internet service is not working right. It means not missing buying or selling at the right price, because of a computer issue or because you are out and not at the computer.

• Stock brokers are obligated to execute customers’ orders at the best price but with TradeKing they offer the best execution, which includes speed of transaction, execution price, as well as price improvement opportunities and liquidity. The one other thing they offer is if the broker does not get the best price available, then the trade is free. This is

• A snap shot of all the essential facts can be seen on one screen; about the company, the stock trade, insider activity, options chains and advanced chart.

• They have been featured in top money magazines like Barron’s SmartMoney and Kipplinger’s reviews. TradeKing was said by Barron’s and and SmartMoney to be the “Best for Long-Term Investing and the Best for Option Traders.”

• The brokerage firm has won Best Customer Service awards, which speaks volumes for the investor.

• Taxes aren’t a problem when using TradeKing as a brokerage firm; they make it easy to have everything you need with the Maxit Tax Manager. The schedule D can be printed out automatically, both unrealized and realized gains and losses are available with the touch of the keyboard button. It is easy to handle wash sales automatically, adjust for mergers, splits and spins and track the cost of all securities and transactions.

These are some of the reasons that make me feel confident and comfortable with my money in this brokerage firm and know that every time I go on the website that it is a friendly interface for any research I want to do and especially when I want to buy or sell stocks. Having a brokerage firm that focuses on customer service is a big plus and the thrill of being able to buy and sell myself is exciting but when I can’t get near the computer the fact that a broker can do it for me at no extra cost is great. The one other great thing is the fast execution and routing, which allows me to purchase shares at the price I want, because I know when they reach that price fast.