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FAQs |
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What makes ShareBuilder unique? |
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How does Automatic Investing work? |
How much does it cost? |
What kind of account can I open? |
How do I fund my account to buy stock? |
| Can I buy stocks immediately? |
How do I get started? |
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What makes ShareBuilder unique?
ShareBuilder is an online brokerage designed to make investing easy, affordable and accessible for both beginning and experienced investors. We take a long-term approach and seek to help investors build wealth over time.
With the ShareBuilder Plan, you can invest regularly through automatic investments, allowing you to buy partial shares of stocks and accumulate your investments over time. To complement your investing strategies, you can use Real-time Trades to buy and sell stocks immediately during market hours.
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How does Automatic Investing work?
With a ShareBuilder Automatic Investment Plan you can:
• Invest any dollar amount on Tuesdays exclusively online
• Schedule investments on a weekly or monthly basis
• Select from our list of over 5,000 stocks and ETFs
Investment and funding instructions can be edited up to 2pm PT on the Monday before your purchase. Real-time Trade fees apply to all sales. (see next FAQ)
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How much does it cost?
ShareBuilder has something for everyone
ShareBuilder offers three Investing Programs to help you meet your investing goals. The Investing Program you choose will set your account's commission structure, as well as your access to online investing tools. |
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* Automatic investments are recurring or one-time purchases of stock.
All sales of stock are made real-time and are subject to real-time commissions.
** The annual fee is waived per each IRA/ESA account subscribed to the standard on Advantage Investing Programs.
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What kind of account can I open?
Whether you're planning for retirement, your children's college education, or a new home, ShareBuilder offers you the convenience and flexibility to set up an investment account that fits all of your needs. |
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To fit your personal goals: |
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Individual Account - just for you |
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Joint Account - for you and someone else |
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To help set goals for a child or grandchild: |
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Education Savings Account (Coverdell ESA) - investing solely for a child's educational expenses |
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Custodial Account - an account in your name on behalf of a minor |
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To plan retirement goals: |
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Traditional or Rollover IRA - retirement investing with opportunities for tax deductions |
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Roth or Conversion IRA - retirement investing with tax-free growth potential |
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How do I fund my account to buy stock?
How do I fund my account?
The easiest method to fund a ShareBuilder Account is through automated, no-fee electronic funds transfers from a checking or savings account. You can also fund your ShareBuilder Account through payroll deductions, Express Funding, or by simply mailing a check or wiring money. |
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How do I buy stock?
With ShareBuilder, there are 2 ways to buy stocks:
| Automatic Investing |
Real-time Trades |
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Buy stocks in dollar amounts automatically |
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Schedule monthly or weekly investments |
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Automatic investments help you build your portfolio over time |
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Buy or sell stocks in share amounts real-time |
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Execute market orders in seconds during market hours |
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Real-time and Express Funding enable you to act immediately on investment decisions |
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Can I buy stocks immediately?
Express Funding allows you to place a Real-time Trade order when you do not have available funds in your Money Market Cash Balance to cover the entire order, eliminating the need to wait for your deposit to process.
If you are trying to place a buy order that exceeds your available funds, selecting Express Funding will automatically create an electronic funds deposit to transfer the required amount from your checking or savings account. ShareBuilder will then place your trade as instructed without delay while we process the transfer.
You can use Express Funding for Real-time buy orders in Individual, Joint and Custodial accounts. You have a limit of $5,000 in outstanding Express Funding deposits at any one time, and the minimum deposit is $10. There is a $5 fee for each trade that uses Express Funding, which is added to your normal Real-time Trade commission.
How do I get started?
1. Set up a ShareBuilder Account
This is a brokerage account that allows you to buy and sell stocks that will help you achieve your investing goals.
2. Select an Investing Program
Establish pricing preferences for automatic investing and Real-time Trades.
3. Set up a ShareBuilder Plan for automatic investing
Choose which stocks and the dollar amount you'd like to invest in on a weekly or monthly basis. Establish a recurring automatic transfer of funds from your checking or savings account or payroll deposit. ShareBuilder will automatically invest according to your instructions.
4. Fund your ShareBuilder Account for Real-time Trading
Set up a no-fee electronic transfer of funds from your checking or savings account, wire money or mail us a check. Then enter your Real-time Trade order instructions. You may be able to take advantage of Express Funding to execute your buy order immediately.
Did you know?
For a faster setup of your ShareBuilder Account, have this information handy:
- Your Social Security number
- Name and address of your employer
- Credit card or checking/savings account information |
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