Merrill Edge

General example — not Merrill Edge's dataWhat the common trading costs mean

Spread

The gap between the buy and the sell price; a cost built into the price of every trade.

Commission

A separate fee per trade, often charged on accounts with narrower spreads.

Overnight (swap) fee

A charge or credit when you hold a position overnight, based on the interest-rate difference of the instrument.

Deposit, withdrawal and inactivity fees

Costs outside trading, which may apply when you move money in or out, or when an account sits unused for a long time.

Comparing total cost

Add up the spread, commission and swap for the way you actually trade, and compare them on the same instrument and position size at each broker.

General example — not Merrill Edge's dataHow to read a broker's safety information

Checking a licence

Search for the company in the public register on the regulator's own website, and check that the company name, licence number and website match what the broker shows.

Segregated client funds

Client money is held in accounts separate from the company's own money, so it is not used to run the business.

Negative balance protection

Protection that stops an account balance going below zero after a sharp price move, so a trader cannot lose more than they deposited.

Investor compensation scheme

A fund in some jurisdictions that pays clients back, up to a set limit, if a licensed firm fails and cannot return their money.

Whether this broker has these is shown in the fields above and the conditions list below once our desk has checked.

General example — not Merrill Edge's dataAccount types commonly found, and what each is typically for

Standard account

Costs are mostly in the spread, usually with no commission.

Low-spread account with commission

A narrower spread plus a commission per trade, often used by people who trade frequently.

Cent or micro account

Small balances and position sizes, for trying real trading with a small amount.

Swap-free account

No overnight swap, though another fee may apply instead; usually available on request.

Demo account

Virtual money for practising on a platform; no real money is involved.

General example — not Merrill Edge's dataSteps you typically go through when opening an account with a broker

1. Usually you start by registering with an email address or phone number
2. Verify your identity with an ID card or passport
3. Confirm your address with a recent document that shows your name and address
4. Pick the account type you want
5. Deposit through a payment method the broker accepts, then install its trading platform or app