Discount Brokers

Discount brokers are stockbrokers who help carry a wide variety of business deals. Generally, they accept orders for stock, stock options and futures trading deals. They are known by different names such as discount commodity brokers, discount stockbrokers and discount real estate brokers. Compared to full-service brokers, discount brokers buy and sell orders at a reduced commission.
Discount brokers allow a person to buy "no-load" mutual funds at a reduced commission. Through an arrangement with a particular fund, free mutual funds are sometimes offered. Discount brokers will often provide (for a small fee) a free 1-page Standard & Poor's Stock report on the stocks you are requesting and a 5-10-page research report. Twenty-four hour telephone stock quotes services are also provided, allowing the person to build trades.
There are four types of discount brokerage firms,