USAA

3-star brokerage firm rating

USAA Brokerage Investment Services Review 2012

USAA Brokerage Review 2012: Commissions, Fees and Investment Products


  • Stocks and ETFs: $8.95 for Gold members and $5.95 for Platinum members (an additional $0.01 per share and $0.005 is charged for each share over 1,000 for Gold and Platinum, respectively)
  • Stocks and ETFs broker assisted: $50 (an additional $0.005 per share is charged for each share over 1,000)
  • Options: $8.95 + $0.75 per contract for Gold members and $5.95 + $0.75 per contract for Platinum members
  • Transaction-Fee No-Load Funds: $45 minimum
  • All Listed Corporate Bonds: $25 plus $3 per bond
  • U.S. Treasury Securities at Auction: $45
  • Investment products: stocks, options, mutual funds, bonds, U.S. Treasury Securities, ETFs
  • Minimum to open USAA Brokerage account: $0
  • All USAA Brokerage fees


USAA Brokerage Pros


  • No account maintenance, inactivity or hidden fees
  • Good banking services


USAA Brokerage Cons


  • Higher than average commissions for Gold Members
  • Surcharge of $0.01 per share and $0.005 is charged for each share over 1,000 for Gold and Platinum, respectively
  • Poor trading platform
  • Few educational resources
  • Few research services


USAA Online Brokerage Review Summary


USAA Brokerage Investment Services is offering two commission plans on stocks and ETFs: $8.95 per trade for Gold members and $5.95 for Platinum members. To qualify for a Platinum plan, customer must execute 25 or more trades in a rolling 90 day period, or execute 16 or more trades in a rolling 90 day period and have $50,000 or more in eligible assets.

Smart Money magazine in its 2010 Broker Survey gave USAA Brokerage only 2 stars out of 5 in Investment Products, Trading, Research and Customer Service categories. The only category where company performed well was Banking Services.

USAA has no surcharges on extended hours trading and penny stocks but charges $0.01 per share for Gold members and $0.005 per share for Platinum members for each share over 1,000. The company has few other fees.

There are better brokerage firms for beginner investors, that offer vibrant online communities, where users could ask questions, learn from more experienced traders and even get investment ideas. Some online brokers also offer virtual trading environment, that allows users to practice trading without risking their money. If you are new to investing, check out our Best Brokers for Beginners recommendations.

USAA Brokerage's Gold member commissions are higher than average in the industry and its trading tools are basic and far behind the competitors. There are better Brokerage Firms to consider, that offer lower commissions, online investor communities, more advanced trading tools, richer research capabilities as well as virtual (paper) trading.

USAA Brokerage Promotional Code/Offer: none right now

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USAA Brokerage Reviewed by Brokerage Review on . Rating: 3.5


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