Friends who want to start trading stocks in recent times probably have the same problem: with so many securities firms in Taiwan, which one should you choose? I wrestled with this for a long time too, and I later realized that picking a broker mainly comes down to a few key points—especially because the differences in commission discounts can be huge.

According to last year’s data, the top securities firms in Taiwan included Yuanta, KGI, and Fubon, all long-established brands. Each firm’s market share is different. However, I’ve found that many people only look at the discount, while ignoring details like how user-friendly the trading software is, whether there are enough stock sources, and how much the financing interest rate is. These are actually the keys to long-term investing.

For example, I used to work with a smaller securities firm. Their commissions were incredibly cheap, but the order placement system would often lag and freeze. In the end, I still switched over to a bigger Taiwanese securities firm. Now I use Yuanta. Even though their discount isn’t the lowest, their app is stable and deposits/withdrawals are fast—when you calculate it, it ends up being much more cost-effective.

If you’re planning to invest in US stocks or Hong Kong stocks, using an overseas broker may save you more money. For example, platforms like Mitrade or Firstrade have a completely different commission structure. Taiwanese local brokers’ fees for overseas trades are indeed relatively high—that’s something you have to accept.

So my advice is: first figure out what you mainly trade (Taiwan stocks or overseas stocks), then negotiate discounts based on the rankings of Taiwanese securities firms and your own trading volume. Don’t just focus on commission fees—system stability and service are the real long-term costs. How do you choose?