Zecco

No minimum-deposit requirement
No inactivity or maintenance fees
Low $4.50 commission per trade

Low customer service scores
Rudimentary research and trading tools
Narrow range of offerings

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Our Analysis

February 2009. Zecco is known for its 10 free trades per month for customers with at least $2,500 in their accounts. However, as of March 1, 2009, you must now maintain a minimum balance of $25,000 in your account, or execute 25 stock trades per month in order to qualify for 10 free stock trades. All other trades cost $4.50 each. There is no minimum to open an account, and there are no inactivity or maintenance fees, although Zecco charges a $30 annual custodial fee on IRAs. Like TradeKing, Zecco has an online community, ZeccoShare, where investors can compare notes and share ideas. However, Zecco receives poor marks from reviewers for its customer service, trading and research tools, and range of offerings. If you want low costs and good customer service, you may find TradeKing a better choice, according to reviewers.

All of our top-rated reviewers -- SmartMoney magazine, Barron's, and Kiplinger's Personal Finance -- include Zecco in their latest reviews. One reviewer, StockTradingToGo.com, ranks online brokers, including Zecco, based on the cost of trades only.

Where To Buy

Our Sources

1. SmartMoney.com

SmartMoney's 2008 annual survey lists the best and the worst online brokers in each of six areas. Editors review each broker by opening sample accounts, placing trades, calling customer service and using each site's research tools. Zecco is named worst of the online brokers in two areas: research and customer service.

Review: SmartMoney's Annual Broker Survey, Neil Parmar, May 20, 2008

2. Barron's

Barron's ranks Zecco second to last overall out of 23 online brokers, giving it very low marks in nearly every category except costs.

Review: Making It Click: Annual Ranking of the Best Online Brokers, Theresa W. Carey, March 17, 2008

3. Kiplinger Personal Finance Details/Subscribe

Kiplinger's Personal Finance evaluates a dozen online brokers. This review mentions Zecco's free-trades program, but notes that you have to have $2,500 in an account to take advantage of it. (As of March 1, 2009 that minimum rises to $25,000.) Zecco is named one of the worst online brokers for its website's ease of use.

Review: Best of the Online Brokers, Thomas M. Anderson, Nov. 2008

4. StockTradingToGo.com

Site owner Blain Reinkensmeyer names his picks for top online brokers based on trading fees. "The cheaper, the better," he says. Zecco comes in first in this ranking.

Review: 5 Top Online Stock Brokers, Blain Reinkensmeyer, May 31, 2007