• Online brokerages make it easy to trade stocks.stock market analysis screenshot image by .shock from Fotolia.com
  
  Prior to the spread of the Internet, individuals who wished to engage in stock trading would call a broker and make a stock order. The proliferation of online services opened a new world for investing and gave full control of the process to individuals themselves. Online brokers do not require human interaction to process an order. This system has created many exciting advantages for those interested in trading stocks.
  
  

Quick Order Execution

• In traditional brokerage firms, and before the spread of the Internet, a considerable delay would occur between your desire to buy or sell a stock and the actual moment the order was executed. Transactions would be called in to your broker. Sometimes, additional calls were necessary until your order arrived on the floor of a financial exchange to be handled by a floor trader representing the broker. By contrast, online brokers offer instantaneous execution. If you wish to buy a stock, it can be yours within seconds. There is no contact with humans, thus any delays caused by conflicting schedules or human error are removed from the environment.
  
  

Accessibility

• Online brokerage accounts provide the ability to interact with your portfolio from anywhere in the world. All that is needed is an Internet connection. This mobility is a considerable advantage over calling a conventional brokerage to process an order. With an online broker, you can process orders quickly from anywhere. Many online brokers provide their services right over a mobile Internet device, such as a smart phone. This accessibility has revolutionized the trading industry.
  
  

Record Keeping

• Online brokers keep a strict record of all transactions on an account. Clients may log in at any time and view their order history, overall profits and losses , percentage returns and any interest payments, debits or dividends that have affected the account. Additionally, many online brokers provide a full tax center online for clients to view their exposure to different trading and investing taxes that may affect them. This level of detail is not as easily available for traditional brokerage accounts. This makes online broker services particularly appealing to those who desire the most information on their accounts.