Ranking: 16 / 18 Score: 35.00
Understand our Ranking Methodology
Understand our Ranking Methodology
| Standard Platform | Commissions & Fees | ||
| Account Opening: | A | Stock Trades: | $9.95 |
| Stock Trading: | C | Option Trades: | $9.95 + $1.25/cnt |
| Options Trading: | C | Option Ex. & Ass.: | $40.00 + $0.00/cnt |
| Charts: | C | Mutual Funds: | Click for Options |
| Research Tools: | B | Margin Rates: | 4.200% - 7.200% |
| Advanced Platforms | Acct Maintenance Fees: | Click for Info | |
| No Advanced Platform | Acct Transfer Fees: | Click for Info | |
| Stock Trading: | n/a | Commission Free ETFs: | No |
| Options Trading: | n/a | Discounts Available: | Click for Offers |
| Charts: | n/a | Other Features | |
| Research Tools: | n/a | DRIPs: | Yes |
| Mobile Platforms | Extended Hrs. Trading: | No | |
| iPhone App: | B | Stock Order Types: | Click for Info |
| iPad App: | No | Clearing Firm: | Click for Info |
| Android App: | B | Tax Reporting: | Click for Options |
| BlackBerry App: | Yes (no review) | Mint.com Compatible: | Yes |
| Mobile Website: | No | Wikinvest Compatible: | Yes |
To get free trades, free cash and other great deals
visit our Discounts and Special Offers page
visit our Discounts and Special Offers page
Company Background:
The history of ShareBuilder goes back to 1996 with the founding of NetStock Direct in Bellevue, Washington. NetStock Direct then launched ShareBuilder.com as its online brokerage platform. The company was renamed Netstock Corporation in 2000 only to change its name again to ShareBuilder in 2003.
In 2007, ShareBuilder was acquired by ING Direct, a subsidiary of Dutch bank ING Group. ING Direct is the provider of the eponymously named high interest savings account. ING Group is a global diversified financial institution offering everything from retail banking, insurance and wealth management.
In June 2011, Capital One announced an offer to buy ING Direct and as part of the deal intends to acquire ShareBuilder. The deal is valued at $9 billion and is expected to close in late 2011 or early 2012. How this will potentially affect ShareBuilder is unknown at this time.
Dan Greenshields is the President and CIO of ShareBuilder. Its clearing firm is Pershing LLC.
Review Summary:
The ShareBuilder stock and options trading platforms have improved greatly after recent website upgrades but are still only average in quality. Stock trading commissions are acceptable while options traidng commissions are excessive. Charts and research tools have dramatically improved with the website redesign. The iPhone and Android apps have also improved of late and are now among the top mobile trading platforms.
See our Broker Rankings Page to compare ShareBuilder with other brokers