These Commercials Aren't Out to Help You: Thoughts on Day Trading

By Matt Thalman – May 11, 2013 at 12:00PM

NASDAQ: AMTD

TD Ameritrade

Who's really making money when investors use the products and services brokerage companies offer.

In the following video, Fool contributor Matt Thalman discusses why TD AMERITRADE (AMTD), Charles Schwab (SCHW 0.59%), and all the other online brokerage houses offer investors high-tech trading platforms and services that are intended and sold to help individuals find opportunities others haven't yet seen.

While following chart patterns and trying to turn profits on a small daily moves may sound like a great idea, over the long run, most investors will end up losing more money than they make. But more importantly, every time investors buy or sell a stock, they pay a transaction fee, which will surely eat into any profits the average Joe day trader can make.

So whom are these trading platforms really making money for? Watch the video for more details.

Fool contributor Matt Thalman has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends TD AMERITRADE. We Fools don't all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.