Experience and confidence are two most important qualities of a prudent investor and it is up to such an investor to avail the services of a dealer or not. Best of the investors do avail this for various ancillary reasons. They take on the responsibility of many of the time-consuming issues, which an investor can profitably employ elsewhere. Dealing with one's clients is their full-time job. He has the vast experience and expertise. He can look after your interests, on the basis of your instructions, in your absence as well. The services rendered by the dealers and the discount firms, more or less, are similar to each other. The ambiance of such firms and the first impression that they carry is different. They are furnished like the Offices of the multinationals, and before the advent of the internet revolution, their influence on the investors and the functioning was highly noticeable.



The internet has revolutionized working styles of dealers, but procedures are procedures! Statutory requirements spare none and they have to be complied with, well in time. Therefore, before selecting a dealer, one should not be taken in by the low service charges rates. Whether one's service is comprehensive and will save the investor from future hassles is the moot question.

The internet has pulled the carpet from the feet of the conventional brokerage offices. The online dealers provide all facilities at much cheaper rates. They are compelled to tune their operations according to the demands of the investors and offer all the facilities required by the investors. As for price and convenience, such firms are no match for online dealers. Charges for trading electronically are the lowest. With no time bar for the transactions, you can trade any time of the day or night, sitting before the computer in the comforts of the drawing room at home.

The main attraction for dealing with discount online brokers is the substantial reduction on brokerage they are willing to give to their clients. Always be on the look out for ?*conditions apply? star. This is an ill-starred star from the point of view of the customers, and unfortunately the so-called topmost service organizations including the Banking institutions and the dealers have adopted this dubious business technique. An average investor, who does not have time to go through the elaborate rules and regulations or does not care to go through, suffers losses. Show no hurry to open an account and study the issues carefully. Take care about their hidden agenda.

Study the websites like Netscape or Microsoft Internet Explorer and commercial services like CompuServe and America Online to get authentic information and choices for you to decide. The facilities provided by the dealers are advanced, and you need not go to their offices to open an account. You can submit the application through the net. Know the clever ways of the firms to extract money from the clients on one count or the other. For example, you may be enthusiastic about the low commission rates, but the dealer may charge an annual fee, that could be a substantial sum. Bargain what is best for you for rading higher-priced shares in big blocks. To pay commission on the number of shares is preferable than to calculate it on the price of shares.

East or West, Online is the best. Many dealers provide professional research and analysis services. Even if you are capable of making such analysis yourself, for the purpose of comparison and to arrive at the final decision, service of professional experts in the trade is helpful.