InsiderFlow › Guides › How to Choose an Investment Broker
Your broker is your access point to the markets: choosing well means minimal costs and zero tax surprises. Five criteria truly matter.
Beyond per-order fees, check: currency conversion costs (you buy US stocks in dollars), monthly or inactivity fees, withdrawal costs. Some "free" brokers make it back on FX and spreads.
The most underrated criterion. Some brokers compute and withhold taxes for you; others leave everything to your annual tax return. The commission savings of a foreign low-cost broker can cost you hours of paperwork or an accountant's bill.
Verify the ETFs you want are available (UCITS for European residents), the exchanges you need, and automatic investment plans, increasingly common even on low-cost brokers.
Securities are legally segregated from the broker's assets and remain yours even in a bankruptcy. Check the license (your national regulator) and the protection schemes covering cash deposits.
A clear app, easy limit orders, tidy tax reports. Experience quality matters more than it seems: a confusing interface causes real mistakes.