Online Stock Broking Company

Week 3: We will look at the use of stock in personal 
financial investments. You will evaluate the choices in purchasing stock via 
online brokerage accounts (where you can buy and sell stock via the Internet) 
and the use of dividend reinvestment plans (known as DIPs and DRIPs) or mutual 
funds or index funds. For online brokers, you will be looking for the 
requirements to open the accounts: costs, minimum balances, and other features. 
Because most DIPs or DRIPs are available from publicly traded companies, you can 
search their Web sites or a search engine on these plans and their requirements. 
Perhaps the most famous and useful Web site for these programs is http:// www. directinvesting.com/. Finally, we want 

you to compare and contrast online brokerage to DIPs and DRIPs.

Research online trading sites and DRIPS as outlined below, and summarize your 
findings. Make sure to include a summary table of the relevant information.

1. Search three online trading sites, and determine the requirements for 
   trading, including the price per trade. Compare and contrast the online trading 
   companies. (2–3 pages)
2. Search the Web for three companies (look for investor information) that 
   offer DIPs or DRIPs. (2–3 pages)
3. Compare and contrast the requirements, including minimum investments, nature 
   of the return, costs, and other features. (1–2 pages)