Behind every broker, real estate and robo advisor review we put out, a lot of work goes on behind the scenes to ensure the review and scores you see are painting a fair reflection of what our expert broker review team has experienced.
The review itself is of course carried out by a team of our highly-skilled industry experts. These experts have a number of criteria and large amount of variables to assess in order to make sure the entire process works in a transparent and unbiased manner.
The Review Process
We cover all of the essential categories when it comes to finding the perfect institution for you. Leaving nothing to chance means that all of our reviews are conducted only after hundreds of hours of hands-on testing with a particular broker.
These hours are invested by our review experts who have no affiliation with any broker or financial firm. This means that we can deliver a completely honest and uninfluenced review of every firm, every time.
Only after this entire process has been completed are we satisfied that the ranking we deliver is one which we believe to be completely accurate.
Evaluation Criteria and Categories
The following are the categories which we review when looking into a particular broker, and these are also some of the key points which we strive to find in each area:
Products and Fees
Here we are focused on looking both at what the broker or firm has to offer traders in terms of trading market availability, and also what the cost of trading will be when fees are calculated.
To perform well in this area, the following attributes should be present:
- An extensive and varied catalogue of assets which provides choice in many markets to traders.
- A very competitive fee structure which is clear and open in what they charge, with no hidden fees or deliberately costly structures.
Platforms/Tools
In this category, we are taking a detailed analysis of the trading platforms offered by a particular company, and also how these are complemented with professional trading and research tools.
To perform well in this area, the following attributes should be present:
- Availability of well-respected and known trading platforms which are fully functional through all mediums offered by the platform.
- A selection of research and trading tools which can be used effectively by traders at no additional cost
Banking
The funding and withdrawal mechanisms, their accessibility, convenience, and associated costs are areas which we delve deeply into within this category.
To perform well in this area, the following attributes should be present:
- Funding and withdrawal through major, globally respected methods.
- Timely discharging of these functions to allow for trading and client access to funds as soon as possible.
- Broker fees to be kept to a minimum.
Customer Support
In this category, we are examining all aspects of the support network provided by the broker in question.
To perform well in this area, the following attributes should be present:
- Responsive and knowledgeable agents available on a regular and convenient schedule.
- A number of support mediums to be utilized including, live chat, email, and telephone.
Education
Here we are looking at the strength and depth of any educational material provided, and whether or not it can be realistically beneficial to traders.
To perform well in this area, the following attributes should be present:
- A sufficient range of top-quality professional material to be available to assist in trader growth when desired.
- Material should be relevant, multi-level, and up to date.
Security
An extensive investigation into all aspects of broker security and regulation, both internal, and external is undertaken.
To perform well in this area, the following attributes should be present:
- Regulation by at least 1 top-tier financial regulatory body.
- A history of compliance and good conduct in the industry.
All of these categories are extensively considered, and then weighted accordingly to produce our final review ranking, which we believe is one that you can trust unreservedly in its accuracy.