When we had our orientation, this is the kind of account which was suggested to us: You want a "speculator or speculative account with margin and the approval to trade options. You want a broker with a dedicated options desk. You want to be be able to trade Covered Calls, Covered Puts and Spreads." The broker you choose SHOULD NOT let you get into trouble! You may have to trade for a bit and prove yourself before getting the approval to trade spreads. You DO NOT want an education account. You DO NOT want a retirement account. To the best of my knowledge, you DO NOT want a self-directed IRA. IF you get an account with any other specifications, you might be restricting yourself. I LOATHE using this expression: "It depends" on the kind of broker you have, the services the broker offers AND the amount you have in your trading account and the positions - the amount of companies and how much you have invested in those companies' stocks - you have. There ARE brokers which charge $1 per stock transaction - up to about 10,000 shares. This means with that $1 you can buy 10,000 shares of that company's stock. If you sold those same number of shares you bought, the "round turn" - buying and selling would be $2. There ARE brokers which charge $4 per stock transaction - up to about 10,000 shares. This means with that $4 you can buy 10,000 shares of that company's stock. If you sold those same number of shares you bought, the "round turn" - buying and selling would be $8. There ARE brokers which charge $14.95 per stock transaction - up to about 10,000 shares. This means with that $14.95 you can buy 10,000 shares of that company's stock. If you sold that same number of shares you bought, the "round turn" - buying and selling would be $29.90. There are full-service brokers which charge a percentage of the amount you invest. AND there are those brokers who have charges in between. In any event, there is absolutely no way you can avoid paying a fee to the broker. The broker ALWAYS gets its "piece of the action". Thanks for asking your Q! I enjoyed answering it! VTY, Ron Berue Yes, that is my real last name! Sources: My wonderful family! My wonderful coaches and mentors! TWO [2] of THE ABSOLUTE BEST, MOST wonderful trading groups in the world, which I am most proud to be a member of! Trading stocks and options more than 2 years. "THE University of Hard Knocks"