NerdWallet examines the USAA‘s online brokerage platform and its ongoing promotions, rewards and bonuses offered to help consumers find the lowest prices and best online brokers to sign up for.
| Pricing |
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Open an account |
Trade free for 90 days
- Receive Commission-Free Trades: Trade free up to 90 days (maximum 50 trades) when you open a new account
- If you have maintain a balance of $5000, upgrade to an Asset Managent Account for free check writing, a debit card, and online bill pay
- Account offers 90 days of free trades
Editor’s Notes
USAA, long known for their insurance coverage, has also provided brokerage services since the 1980s. Unlike the company’s insurance policies, which are only available to active or retired members of the military and their families, both military and non-military families are eligible to trade with the firm. There’s a lot to recommend USAA – notably, its well-deserved reputation for customer service – although some of its offerings are limited.
Members consistently praise USAA’s responsive and knowledgeable customer service staff. The brokerage’s associated banking services are also a major point in its favor. Customers active with both branches of the company have access to a comprehensive list of account types and can easily link accounts and transfer funds. Banking clients with at least $5,000 invested may also opt for an Asset Management Account, entitling them to a number of banking and brokerage services (like check-writing) fee-free.
USAA’s Gold Plan, the default for all brokerage clients, is on the more expensive side for both stocks and options. Their bond and mutual fund fees are also similar to other, higher-priced brokerages. On the other hand, USAA’s list of service fees is surprisingly short, and doesn’t include charges for penny stocks, after-hours trading, account maintenance or account transfers. More-active traders can also receive discounted commissions by qualifying for the firm’s Platinum Plan.
USAA’s trading tools and research are outranked by many competitors, and while they offer most asset classes, the number of funds or stocks available is often fewer than through other firms. The brokerage’s trading tools and website have all of the standard features – including screeners, interactive charts, and third-party research from Standard & Poor’s – but little to set them apart from the competition. In addition, some users complain of site design flaws that make trading difficult at times.
Because of USAA’s unimpressive educational resources and trading tools – and relatively high fees – it likely won’t be the first priority of most investors, whether beginning or more advanced. Current USAA banking customers, though, might find the easy account-linking and friendly customer service a good deal.
Pros & Cons
| Pros |
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| Cons |
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Account Features
Research Tools
- Research Reports
(Free) - Realtime Data
- Analysis Software
Premium Features
- Automated Phone Trades (Free)
- Mobile Access
- 24/7 Customer Service
- Check Writing
- Debit Card
- Physical Branches
Asset Classes
- Stocks
- Mutual Funds
- Bonds
- Futures
- Options
- Forex
- ETFs
Additional Fees
| Excercise Fee | $8.95$0.75 + per contract |
| Paper Statements (per month) | $0.00 |
| Outgoing Wire Fee | $20.00 |
| Annual Account or Inactivity Fee | $0 |
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This brokerage is a certified member of FINRA and SIPC.
from NerdWallet Credit Card Blog
http://www.nerdwallet.com/blog/investing/usaa-brokerage-review/
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