We were asked, "If I sign up to use an online brokerage, can I deposit funds by just mailing in checks?" You certainly can. That's probably how most online brokerage account holders handle it. You mail in a check, and it's credited to your account. Then you can place orders by phone, over the Internet, or in person. If your brokerage has a local office, you can drop by and deposit money in person as well. And, of course, these are the days of electronic money transferring -- so you should be able to send money electronically to your brokerage as well, just as you might pay a bill online via your bank account.
Our article "You Can Trade Online" should answer many questions a prospective online brokerage customer might ask. These other articles will offer you some additional brokerage insights:
- Choose the Right Broker
- Kinds of Brokerage Orders
- Brokerage Account Minimums
- What to Expect From Brokers
- Is Your Brokerage Account Insured?
Learn all about brokerages and perhaps even find one that's right for you in our Broker Center, where we offer some guidance and help you compare brokerages. Our Discount Brokers discussion board is also useful; you can get answers to your questions there or just see what others are discussing.
