Investors need to know the pros and cons of buying without brokers

Article Excerpt

We have often heard from investors who assumed their brokers had their best interests at heart before learning otherwise. Some then shopped around for better stock-trading advice from a new broker. Of course, others chose instead to start investing without one. Buying and selling online is a great way of buying stocks without a broker and saving money on commissions. Some investors may look at online trading as a fairly quick and convenient way to build wealth. Still, there are many hidden dangers that may not be easy to spot at first. The main risks of online trading come from the fact that it all may seem deceptively easy. The lower costs and higher speeds of online trading can lead otherwise conservative investors to trade too frequently. As a result, you could wind up selling your best picks when they are just getting started. The apparent ease of online trading may even encourage conservative investors to take up short-term trading or day trading. That’s…