I just sorted out the rankings of U.S. securities firms and realized that picking a U.S. stock broker really depends on your own trading style. If you’re dealing with large capital and low-frequency trading, an established U.S. brokerage like Schwab is indeed professional, but the account opening threshold is $25,000, which is a bit discouraging. The friends around me who use these the most tend to be Interactive Brokers and TD Ameritrade—one suits high-frequency traders, and the other has the most complete product lineup.

What’s interesting is that many new users now care more about trading fees instead. According to the rankings of U.S. securities firms, Mitrade and eToro may both be CFD platforms, but their fees are indeed the lowest (0.01–0.015%), and the account opening minimum is only $50, making them suitable for people who want to get started quickly. However, you should also pay attention to the risks of these two platforms—leveraged trading is not something to take lightly.

Overall, if you’re a beginner, I’d recommend starting with Firstrade or Futu, which offer Chinese language support. Even though there are many U.S. securities firm rankings, there’s no need to try them all—just find one that matches your style. For long-term investing, choose a large brokerage; for short-term trading, choose low-fee options, and don’t let yourself be fooled by all kinds of promotions.