so have never owned or traded individual stocks. But would like to buy a few (get feet wet).

Have thought about this for years. Just never have.

Not really looking to trade. More buy a few shares of a few companies to hold.

Any advice?

Plenty of online stock companies, easy to use.

Nerdwallet has a good review:

https://www.nerdwallet.com/bes...rs-for-stock-trading

Sample companies.

https://www.fidelity.com/stock-trading/overview

https://www.schwab.com/stocks

I've been happy with Fidelity for many years. About 45 years!

Dogs of the Dow is good if you're looking for what pays the highest dividend, list a top ten every day.
https://www.dogsofthedow.com/ddoggish.htm

^^^ I agree, that's a great way to get your feet wet with blue chip companies.

Had an account with TD Waterhouse for years when I was actively trading. If I were to start trading again, I would go back to them barring any recent negatives I'm unaware of. Useful, and user-friendly (as in I'm no financial wizard) interactive analytics tools and never a problem with a trade or cash out.

^^^ Schwab took over TD Ameritrade. I don't know how that transition has changed them.

It's easy, you can do it online in matter of minutes. Like some others, my preference is Fidelity. It's plenty capable, lots of offerings and low cost.

Link to your bank account and you can transfer funds back and forth.

The addage is buy low, sell high. Theey're sure enough low now! Not sure this amounts to Buffet's buy when there's blood in the streets, but we're certianly closer than we were a month ago.

Let me know if you'd like some help.

quote:

Originally posted by 6guns:
^^^ Schwab took over TD Ameritrade. I don't know how that transition has changed them.

Moving from Scotttrade>TD>Schwab I'm enjoying my schwab experience.

quote:

Originally posted by 6guns:
^^^ Schwab took over TD Ameritrade.

Well, there ya go for me not being current. I'd be fine with Schwab too. I really did like TD's investment tools, but I'm sure Schwab is at least comparable.

Thanks guys, helpful. I appreciate it.

Looking at Fidelity. They hold your $ in a Fidelity Government money market acct? What does that mean?

It's a really good time to get in. You can probably get started on your banks online page.

quote:

Originally posted by old rugged cross:
Thanks guys, helpful. I appreciate it.

Looking at Fidelity. They hold your $ in a Fidelity Government money market acct? What does that mean?

All brokerage accounts have a cash settlement account associated with them. It's where your cash lives when not invested in a stock or where your cash goes when you sell. That's just the account Fidelity uses.

Schwab and I think others allow you to buy fractional shares. If you don’t have $1000 to buy a full share of Costco you can buy 1/4 share for $250 and all at 0 commission.

Easier to buy a small concentrated ETF or mutual fund

Very happy with Fidelity, Vanguard and Wells Fargo not so much

Fidelity has some great mutual funds too

Funds not invested at the time are automatically stored in a money market account. This is the settlement account used to pay for purchased securities or receipt of funds of securities sold. It does earn an attractive interest rate.

The gov mm acct invests in short term gov instruments such as tbills to generate that interest.

Mike sent you an email

So fidelity wants me to let them access my bank acct using finicity, a mastercard company which I do not use. Or there is an option for me to enter my bank info on my own.

This is where I get a bit skimish about this process?

quote:

Originally posted by pace40:

quote:

Originally posted by old rugged cross:
Thanks guys, helpful. I appreciate it.

Looking at Fidelity. They hold your $ in a Fidelity Government money market acct? What does that mean?

All brokerage accounts have a cash settlement account associated with them. It's where your cash lives when not invested in a stock [mutual fund or ETF] or where your cash goes when you sell. That's just the account Fidelity uses.

With Fidelity, you can choose your core position/account from three different options:

1. SPAXX - Fidelity Government Money Market Fund (default). Your cash is invested in a mutual fund and earns daily dividends, which are paid to you monthly. The 7-day yield is 3.98 % as of Mar 10, 2025.

2. FZFXX - Fidelity Treasury Money Market Fund. Your cash is invested in a mutual fund and earns daily dividends, which are paid to you monthly. The 7-day yield is 3.97 % as of Mar 10, 2025.

3. FCASH - Taxable Interest-Bearing Cash Option. Your cash is held at Fidelity as a free credit balance and earns daily interest, which is paid to you monthly. The interest rate is 2.19 % as of Mar 11, 2025.

You can change these whenever you want.

quote:

Originally posted by 6guns:
^^^ Schwab took over TD Ameritrade. I don't know how that transition has changed them.

I was with Ameritrade until the take over. I would say that AMTD was a little better in terms of transparency and service, but not by much, Schwab is fine. The one thing that I was concerned about losing was the Thinkorswim trading platform, but Schwab kept this pretty much intact. It is worth having an account with Schwab just to get access to this application, even if you trade elsewhere. I imagine E-Trade (Morgan Stanley) is about the same. The downside is Schwab pays next to nothing on uninvested cash.

quote:

Originally posted by 6guns:
I've been happy with Fidelity for many years. About 45 years!

You cannot go wrong by doing this.