A streamlined screen design and the links topping each page make it easy to surf despite the wide array of features. Trading area includes a separate, generous-size window with stock quotes and charts. This functional website with pulldown menus allows for easy transitions from one page to another. Online help is always just one click away.
Navigation is a breeze.
Quick links in some sections make for fast access to account and trading screens. Real-time quotes are available at the bottom of each page. We placed a minimum of five calls and sent at least five e-mails to customer service, checking average response times and answer quality. We also judged how easy it was to open an account by evaluating on-site demos, counting the number of ways to apply and tracking how long it took to begin trading. Reps, consistently the most helpful of those we tested, picked up the phone in less than three minutes.