Write an article based on this "Research different brokerages. Request information about opening an account. Fill out the appropriate paperwork. Activate your account."
Take these factors into consideration when choosing your brokerage: Look for someone who has been in the industry for ten years or more. Experience indicates that the company knows what it's doing and knows how to take care of clients. Check to see that the brokerage is regulated by a major oversight body. If your broker voluntarily submits to government oversight, then you can feel reassured about your broker's honesty and transparency. Some oversight bodies include: United States: National Futures Association (NFA) and Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) United Kingdom: Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) Australia: Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC) Switzerland: Swiss Federal Banking Commission (SFBC) Germany: Bundesanstalt fur Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht (BaFIN) France: Autorite des Marches Financiers (AMF) See how many products the broker offers. If the broker also trades securities and commodities, for instance, then you know that the broker has a bigger client base and a wider business reach. Read reviews but be careful. Sometimes unscrupulous brokers will go into review sites and write reviews to boost their own reputations. Reviews can give you a flavor for a broker, but you should always take them with a grain of salt. Visit the broker's website. It should look professional, and links should be active. If the website says something like "Coming Soon!" or otherwise looks unprofessional, then steer clear of that broker. Check on transaction costs for each trade. You should also check to see how much your bank will charge to wire money into your forex account. Focus on the essentials. You need good customer support, easy transactions, and transparency. You should also gravitate toward brokers who have a good reputation. You can open a personal account or you can choose a managed account. With a personal account, you can execute your own trades. With a managed account, your broker will execute trades for you. You can ask for the paperwork by mail or download it, usually in the form of a PDF file. Make sure to check the costs of transferring cash from your bank account into your brokerage account. The fees will cut into your profits. Usually, the broker will send you an email containing a link to activate your account. Click the link and follow the instructions to get started with trading.