Established in 2003, Cobra Trading is a US-based brokerage specializing in equities and options contracts. The firm offers 3 powerful platforms and is aimed at professional clients or those looking for retirement accounts. Cobra Trading is regulated by the NFA and SIPC and is a member of FINRA.
Charles Schwab is a large US investment broker offering a massive range of stocks, ETFs and equity derivatives in a variety of savings and investment accounts. The trustworthy brand has been offering financial services for 45+ years with over 35 million brokerage accounts and $870+ billion in assets under management. Charles Schwab is also regulated by top-tier watchdogs including the SEC and FCA.
Comment by Reviewer
"After exploring this popular US brokerage, I think experienced stock traders who can deposit at least $30,000 to open an account with appreciate the broker’s low trading fees of $0.0015 per share."
"Charles Schwab will serve long-term investors looking for managed accounts, financial advice and self-directed trading opportunities. Fees are competitive, with zero-commission stock and ETF trading and no account minimums for individual brokerage accounts."
Pros
I’m happy with the broker’s regulatory status in the US, with oversight from reputable bodies including the SIPC, NFA and FINRA. This, coupled, with the broker’s strong reputation since 2003 is a great sign of a trustworthy firm
I think the choice of 3 platforms means all strategies and trading styles are catered to. All platforms offer comprehensive charting packages, with sophisticated analysis tools and advanced order types
I found some reasonably low fees at Cobra Trading, including shares from $0.0015, options from $0.30 and margin rates as low as 8%
Cobra Trading offers a good range of account types, including traditional and Roth IRA’s, plus joint, corporate and trust accounts
I like that Cobra Trading doesn’t enforce any minimums on trades and there are also no locate fees
Powerful trading software with real-time quotes, fundamental research and investment screeners
Responsive customer support team available 24/7 via live chat or telephone
Competitive trading fees with no commissions on stocks and ETFs
Fractional shares on the S&P 500 with a $5 minimum investment
Thematic investing categories and ESG compliant portfolios
Strong regulatory oversight from the US SEC and UK FCA
No account minimums for individual brokerage accounts
High-quality educational resources for new investors
Cons
Despite the low trading fees, this broker does charge several other platform and admin fees which will soon add up, including monthly software fees from $100 and market data packages from $18 per month
Unfortunately, Cobra Trading isn’t going to be suitable for novices, as the minimum deposit to open an account is $30,000. I think it’s a shame that there are no beginner-friendly accounts at this broker
I did find that pattern day trading (PDT) restrictions will apply, though this is expected from a US brokerage
Only US markets available (except 12 foreign markets on the Global Account)
High minimum investment of $5000 to use robo-advisors
Charles Schwab supports indirect crypto trading through digital coin trusts and crypto-related stocks. You can get exposure to popular digital currencies such as Bitcoin, Ripple and Ethereum.