How to Trade
Step 1
Find a great idea
Choose an investment that fits your trading approach. And if you’re looking for a trading approach, we can help you find that, too.
Let us help you find an approach
Investment ideas
Find opportunities in news headlines, market trends, and basic investing approaches.
Knowledge section
Explore our professional analysis and in-depth info about how the markets work.2
And find investments to fit your approach
Screeners
Sort through thousands of investments to find the right ones for your portfolio.
The latest news
Monitor dozens of news sources—including a CNBC live stream.3
Step 2
Test it out
OK, you love the idea … but will it work in the real world? We can help you run the numbers and search for professional guidance.
- Advanced Charts
- Powerful indicators
- Risk management tools
- Historical Charts
Get objective information from industry leaders
Independent analyst research
Let some of the top analysts give you a better view of the market.
Ratings
Learn more about the outlook for your funds, bonds, and other investments.
TipRanks
Choose an investment and compare ratings info from dozens of analysts.
Step 3
Execute
From easy-to-use trading tickets to advanced tools for options and conditionals, we’ll help you trade, on your schedule.
Go mobile
Our mobile app lets you execute everything—from basic trades to multi-leg options orders—anywhere there’s an internet connection.
Clear, fair pricing
Pay no more than a $6.95 commission per trade on stocks, options (plus 75¢ per options contract), and exchange-traded funds (ETFs).5 Plus choose from 100+ commission-free ETFs.6
Options
We offer the sophisticated tools that option traders need—to help monitor risk, optimize approaches, and track detailed market data.
Conditionals7
Automate and fine-tune your trade with conditionals, including trailing stops, contingent, one-cancels-all, and one-triggers-all orders.
Step 4
Keep it on your radar
With clear charts, in-depth reports and mobile alerts, we make it easy to monitor your portfolio, and track the market from nearly anywhere.8
In-depth performance reports
Get an overview from your portfolio page, with quick access to:
- Performance over time
- The latest news about your investments
- Streaming quotes
- Analyst research
Watch lists
Track the investments you’re most interested in.
- Latest pricing moves
- News stories
- Fundamentals
- Options information
Mobile alerts
Get timely notifications on your phone, tablet, or watch, including:
- Pricing highs and lows
- Movements in the value of your portfolio
- Changes to your account
Real help from real humans
Financial Consultants9
Get one-on-one guidance from our Financial Consultants—by phone, by email, or in person at one of our branches. Call us now: 1-866-484-3658.
Platinum user support
For our most active traders, E*TRADE offers platinum user support, including a dedicated Financial Consultant to provide guidance and advice.
