Scottrade is one of the top online brokerage firms, offering $7 Online Trading and a full line of investment products, as well as the SmartMoney 5-Star award winning online Scottrade Bank. The subsidiaries of Scottrade Financial Services, Inc. offer self-directed and broker-assisted investing in stocks, exchange-traded funds, mutual funds, options trading, bonds, margin trading and certificates of deposit through trading accounts, retirement investing accounts, and custodial services for registered investment advisors (RIAs).
Never mind any other brokerage firms, Scottrade offers four different trading platforms within its own system with Scottrade, Scottrader, Scottrade Mobile and Socttrade Elite. Here are a brief description of each:
Commissions and Other Fees
For years, Scottrade cleaned shop with just $7 a trade. In fact, the commissions were so good that everyone thought it was just a Scottrade promotion. However, recent competitors like TradeKing bring new meaning to the word “discount brokers. Nevertheless, $7 a trade is still very attractive for most, promotion or not.
Same story with options. Commissions are at $7 plus $1.25 per contract. Not earth shatteringly low prices but still reasonable.
Unlike the bigger brokerage firms, there are $0 fees to maintain the account no matter how much you have in your accounts. The only requirement is that it takes $500 to open an account ($2,000 for a margin account).
| Status | |
| Foundation Year | 1980 |
| License | |
| Trading Platforms | Scottrade Trading Web Site, ScottradeELITE Advanced Trading Platform, Scottrader Streaming Quotes, Scottrade OptionsFirst, Scottrade Mobile Application, Scottrade Mobile Website |
| Reliability Rate | BBB |
| Authorised Capital | |
| Brocker Fee | 7 |
| Exchange Fee | |
| Withdrawal Fee | |
| Minimum Deposit | 2500 |
| Mobile Trading | |
| Daily Analytics | |
| Bonuses & Discounts | |
| Seminars, Education | |
| Manager Support | |
| Assets Management |
| Phone: | 800 619 7283 |
| Address: | Town and Country, Missouri, United States |
| Website: | https://www.scottrade.com |
I love Scottrade, there is an office just down the street from where I live.
  jason   2016/10/10 12:43    
I went to a Scottrade location today. They are certainly happy, and I like the fact that I can see someone face to face if anything were to happen to the phones or website. I wish they would do other services like retirement planning though. As it stands, they can do everything, but nothing more, than what could be done over the phone.
jason 2016/10/10 12:43
I just did some research on Scottrade vs. Etrade and I JUST opened up a Scottrade account this morning. I am still learning how to deposit the initial 500 into my account, but I can definitely tell you what is and what is not B.S. about the promotion codes. Scottrade actually DOES have a referral program right now where if you pass around the code (mine is WAOR6466) and someone uses it, the person who opens the account AND the person who supplied the code both get three free trades. The free trades DO have an expiration date (12/29/11). So, to be totally honest, I am hoping that a whole bunch of people use my code so I can get a few more free trades. I picked my code to get the original 3 free trades online. That DID work for me, but maybe it’s because I picked the right one. I have also seen online that people complained that they got burned by someone saying you get more than 3 trades… It’s not true, they are only giving 3 away per referral. Thanks, Kev P.S. Please hook me up!! My code is WAOR6466
jason 2016/10/10 12:43
NEW FOR 2012 USE Code : ZGQJ6742 Works 100%. Get 3 Free Trades When You Open Account = $21 Free I tried it and it is wonderful……Love the streaming quotes….. NEW FOR 2012 USE Code : ZGQJ6742 Works 100%. Get 3 Free Trades When You Open Account = $21 Free I tried it and it is wonderful……Love the streaming quotes…..
jason 2016/10/10 12:43
Nice, pleasant people, but in my experience they are the worst brokerage firm I have done business with in the United States. They do NOT fill your orders at best prices but, instead, pass your stock orders to market makers who pay them for this order flow. While many firms do this, they do it in an especially obscure way and give you no options to opt out. With Scottrade you will not get the best prices and many of your orders won’t fill, even at times when the nationally listed offer prices for listed securities go below your bid! This just happened to an account I oversee yesterday on an NYSE listing. If you do any sophisticated investing, like shorting shares to hedge something else you would like to buy, they will buy your short position in arbitrarily without telling you and charge you a huge commission, to boot. When confronted with buy-ins they will cite SEC rules; when you speak with the SEC and offer their siting, the SEC will explain that that rule has nothing whatsoever to do with such buy-ins. They are also not familiar with the laws overseeing investing in the United states and have recently represented other Scottrade policies as federal regulations. Even though they have local offices and are personally nice people, do not invest your money here. You will be effectively cheated. TD-Ameritrade and Fidelity, as well as Vanguard, are much more honest firms to do business with. Lastly, Schwab, not Scottrade, garnered all those JD Powers awards (http://www.jdpower.com/Finance/ratings/self-directed-investor-firm-ratings).
  ScottFenton   2016/10/10 12:50    
I hope you don’t have the troubles with Scottrade that I have had. Their website has issues, everybody knows that, it’s slow, it stops, it misses trades but that’s not the worst of it. Their customer service is pretty bad. Rude people who are way too casual about a customer having a problem. They are way to relaxed about being of no help, they just couldn’t care less. They can’t do this and they can’t do that and they lost the other thing. I’ve been a customer of Scottrade for a few years now. They make several thousand dollars a year off of me. But whenever I have to deal with an actual person, it’s a nightmare!
  Simeon   2016/10/10 12:50    
Jeez, I don’t pay $9.99 after the first month.. I only pay $7.00 for a trade. Some companies have to give away 300 free trades t0 get people to sign up. I’ll stick with Scottrade. Referral coe: IXFV9382 will get you 3 free trades for opening an account. Dave
Simeon 2016/10/10 12:50
I’ve been using scottrade for almost a year and have had a pleasant experience do far. (Even in a crappy market) Low commission and no fees always make the experience better. They also have some great tools. If you’re a beginner when it comes to investing you should definitely open an account. Its also great if you’re an advanced trader as well. GET FREE TRADES WHEN YOU OPEN AN ACCOUNT WITH THE CODE: DJHS3215
  Matt   2016/10/10 12:50    
I’m pretty new to the world of online trading and decided to open a Scottrade account and all I can say is it’s been an amazing experience. Scottrade has very useful tutorials that will guide you along so you can learn everything possible about trading and there programs. On top of all the great things Scottrade offers they have offices all around where you can go to talk to someone, No more impersonal phone calls but a dedicated group of customer service reps that will always be there for you. If anyone decides to open an account place this referral code HCMS1913 My friend works for Scottrade and gave me this code it gives 7 free trades. I request that you don’t place this on other websites though. Thanks
  Leon   2016/10/10 12:50    
It’s nice that they will be giving you some free trades for the referral codes you are posting here, but Scottrade is really an inferior brokerage firm. They have nice people working locally, and it’s not their fault Scottrade is so crappy, but the they have no power with the back-office or with headquarters whatsoever. I have had a lot of experience with them, a number of discount brokers, and on the institutional side. Scottrade, as others have mentioned, sells your order flow to various market makers who game your trades and casually break all sorts of federal and state rules. The laws are so stacked in their favor, they laugh if you try to protest or file anything, no matter how much of a slam-dunk. I’ve tried. Their execution costs are inferior, their website is actually based on Windows 2000 (my developer noticed the ancient code referrals), their margin rates are some of the highest, and you have no choice where to put your trade. They also will only base your GTC on the NYSE open, so if the stock trades below your bid they often won’t fill you. The main reason for this rule, in my opinion, is so their market makers can front-run your trade. But whatever the reason, it actually violates the SEC’s intent when they stipulate “best-execution.” If for some reason you are still swayed by their feeble webinars and below-average investor-tools (please do a little bit of research and see how many other firms now offer these same tools and more and better), at least put you orders in AON, so you don’t constantly get the prison-treatment of their 3 share fills on your 1,000 share order (with supposedly low-cost $7 commission). Really don’t understand why people are still flocking with all the alternatives to this nasty piece of work.
  SteveBrooks   2016/10/10 12:50    
New Scottrade Referall code — KFOK6706 — gets you 3 free trades ($21 value!) Thats a O not a zero after the F. Thanks!
  Sean   2016/10/10 12:50    
If you decide to sign up with Scottrade you can use Referral Code: VSKB9108 This will give you 3 free trades when you open a new account with them, but it doesn’t work for existing accounts. Good luck trading!
  RaulG.   2016/10/10 12:50    
New 2011 referral code : IXFV9382 Will get you started with 3 free trades in your new Scottrade account. Thanks for my 3 free trades also. Sammy
  Sammy   2016/10/10 12:50    
Promotion code: WAOR6466 Good starting June 29, 2011!!! Hey all, I just did some research on Scottrade vs. Etrade and I JUST opened up a Scottrade account this morning. I can tell you what is and what is not B.S. about the promotion codes. Scottrade actually DOES have a referral program right now where if you pass around the code (mine is WAOR6466) and someone uses it, the person who opens the account AND the person who supplied the code both get three free trades. The free trades DO have an expiration date (12/29/11). So, to be totally honest, I am hoping that a whole bunch of people use my code so I can get a few more free trades. I picked my code to get the original 3 free trades online. That DID work for me, but maybe it’s because I picked the right one. I have also seen online that people complained that they got burned by someone saying you get more than 3 trades… It’s not true, they are only giving 3 away per referral. Thanks, Kev P.S. Please hook me up!! My code is WAOR6466
  KevinF   2016/10/10 13:00    
New 2011 Scottrade referral code: IXFV9382 This new code will give you 3 free trades when you open any type of account. Ref code: IXFV9382 HAppy investing everybody.. Dave
  Dave   2016/10/10 13:00    
Jeez, you guys get bought off easily. TDAmeritrade gives you up to *300* free trades for the first month when you sign up with them. And they are a real brokerage, not a sell-your-order, poor-fill shop like Scottrade.
  SteveBrooks   2016/10/10 13:00    
Jeez, I don’t have to pay $9.99 after the first month. Maybe they have to give away 300 free trades for one month to get people to sign up with them. I’ll stick with Sottrade. Referral code:IXV9382 will still get anybody 3 free trades Dave
SteveBrooks 2016/10/10 13:00
I agree that $10 a trade would be a show-stopper. However, I pay $4/trade at TDA. First, I got the free trades (500 or one month), then the commission went to$5, I’ve since negotiated a buck off. For me, there’s no comparison. Also, as has been mentioned earlier, Scottrade sells your order-flow. Prices can go through your bid or offer, and you often will still not fill, and never if it happens before the stock opens on the NYSE. With TDA you can direct your trade to NASDAQ and hide to show only 100 shares at a time. A much better brokerage in almost every way. I keep accounts at both, but always go to TDA first.
SteveBrooks 2016/10/10 13:00
Scottrade Promo Code: UVTC2810 Get 3 free trades with worth $21 when you use this promo code. When Asked “How did you hear about us?” you need to select “Referred by a friend / Received a promotion code (click to enter your code)” and enter the code.
  Josh   2016/10/10 13:00    
I have been using Scottrade for months now after switching from another brokerage. My experience with scottrade has been good so far. The only thing is if you are a daytrader, it would be a bit inconvenient because after selling your stock, you can purchase another stock but then you can’t sell the new stocks that you just bought within 3 days. Scottrade requires 3 days for sales and purchases settlement. So you will have to wait about 3 days to sell your new stocks. Another thing is when it’s time to withdraw your money, you can’t just do it easily online as you can do when deposit. Other than that, it’s pretty good. If you decide to sign up and start your investment, this is my referral code: SRTF6655. You’ll get 3 free trades to start with (I also get 3 trades, win-win situation here ;) . Good luck everybody!
  Ann   2016/10/10 13:00    
GET FREE TRADES WHEN YOU OPEN AN ACCOUNT WITH THE CODE: NMNO6918 This works and it’s the most recent code.
  John   2016/10/10 13:00    
NEW CODE 2012 SCOTTRADE USE Code : ZGQJ6742 Works 100%. Get 3 Free Tardes When You Open Account = $21 Free I tried it and it is wonderful……
  kh   2016/10/10 13:00    
New 2012 Scottrade referral code: IXFV9382 will give you 3 free trades when you open any type of account with this referral code. Use this code any time in 2012 and beyond. New referral code: IXFV9382 for 3 free trades at Scottrade Terry
  Terry   2016/10/10 13:00    
New 2013 and 2014 scottrade referral code that will give anybody 3 free trades when they use this new code when opeening an account. New Scottrade code: ATTJ8587 (for 3 free trades) New Scottrade code: IXFV9382 (will also give 3 free trtades) The later code is my brothers… both will work.. Use either code. Happy investing….invest in yourself….then you’ll have a plan Dave
  Dave   2016/10/10 13:00