2025 US Brokerage Trading Panorama Scan | Taiwan Investors' US Stock Account Opening Fees and Platform Selection Guide

In today’s global investment wave, the US stock market has attracted a large number of Taiwanese investors due to its high liquidity and excellent corporate quality. However, the first hurdle for newcomers is how to select the most suitable trading platform from numerous US brokers. This article will analyze the differences between mainstream US stock brokers and local Taiwanese sub-accounts from multiple dimensions such as security, trading costs, and service quality, and provide practical account opening suggestions.

Core Considerations When Choosing a US Broker

Investors should not follow the trend blindly when selecting a US stock broker. Depending on different capital sizes, trading frequency, and risk preferences, the suitable platform can vary greatly. Although there are many US brokers on the market, before making a choice, three questions must be clarified: Are you a beginner or experienced trader? How much capital do you have available? Do you need professional risk management tools?

Security and Regulatory Certification

The primary concern for overseas investments is always fund safety. Whether a US broker is trustworthy depends mainly on whether it is recognized by authoritative regulatory agencies. The industry’s three widely recognized regulators are FINRA (Financial Industry Regulatory Authority), SIPC (Securities Investor Protection Corporation), and ASIC (Australian Securities and Investments Commission). Membership in these organizations means that even if the broker goes bankrupt or is acquired, investors’ assets are still protected by law—this is the primary factor determining the platform’s credibility.

Trading Instruments and Functional Restrictions

Different US brokers support different trading instruments. Some platforms impose thresholds for options combinations, some prohibit retail investors from short selling. For investors aiming to build hedging strategies or engage in advanced trading, such restrictions can be critical weaknesses. Before opening an account, carefully review the platform’s supported trading tools and product range on their official website.

Fee Structure and Hidden Costs

The calculation methods for US stock trading fees vary widely. Some charge per trade, some per share, some as a percentage of the transaction amount, and some offer commission-free trading. The key is not individual fee items but the overall cost. Pay special attention to hidden fees such as excess trading fees, withdrawal charges, overnight fees, etc. Additionally, many US brokers offer new customer promotions—sign-up bonuses, demo funds, rebates—that can significantly reduce initial trading costs.

Chinese Language Service and Customer Support

For Taiwanese investors who do not work primarily in English, language barriers often lead to operational errors or misunderstandings. Increasingly, US brokers recognize the importance of the Asia-Pacific market and provide 24/5 Chinese customer service, Chinese interfaces, and related support. Response speed and problem resolution efficiency also impact subsequent trading experience.

Capital Liquidity and Deposit/Withdrawal Speed

The speed of deposits, withdrawals, and transfers directly affects trading efficiency. If the platform’s deposit and withdrawal channels are inefficient or delayed, it can severely restrict investors’ capital flexibility and even cause missed trading opportunities. This is especially critical during volatile market conditions.

Benchmark Comparison of Mainstream US Brokers

Based on the above selection criteria, the table below summarizes the core data of five leading US brokers:

In-Depth Analysis of the Five Major US Brokers

Interactive Brokers: The Weaponry for Professional Investors

Founded in 1977, Interactive Brokers supports account opening in Taiwan, Mainland China, Hong Kong, and other regions worldwide. Known for its comprehensive features and rich product offerings, it covers stocks, futures, options, forex, mutual funds, and more, making it a “one-stop shop” for investments.

Fee Model: Fixed ($0.005 per share) and tiered (reducing from $0.0035 to $0.0005 per share based on monthly trading volume). Larger trading volume results in lower per-unit costs. No minimum deposit, but margin accounts require a minimum of $2,000. Supports Chinese customer service.

The core advantage of IB is its wide trading scope—not only US stocks but also UK, German, Japanese, Korean stocks, and more—ideal for professional traders engaged in global asset allocation. Its platform is powerful but complex, with a steep learning curve for beginners. Small-cap investors may face higher relative costs due to minimum fees per trade.

Suitable for: Well-funded, frequent traders with international investment needs.

Mitrade: The Best Choice for Small-Amount US Stock Investment

Founded in 2011, Mitrade has over a million users globally and has rapidly gained popularity in Taiwan. Certified by ASIC and CySEC, it is fully compliant.

Its biggest selling point is zero commission + very low minimum deposit—starting a trade with just $50, with spreads as low as 0.01. Supports TWD deposits and withdrawals, and offers flexible leverage (up to 200x), enabling small investors to participate in US stock trading with less capital. The platform provides full Chinese support, including 24/5 customer service, Chinese app, and educational resources.

Its product range is also extensive—stocks, ETFs, cryptocurrencies, forex, indices, commodities, including CFD leverage trading, allowing ordinary investors to leverage small capital for potentially larger gains.

Demo accounts (with $50,000 virtual funds) are valid for three months, enough for beginners to familiarize themselves with the platform before upgrading to real trading.

Suitable for: Beginners, small retail investors, those seeking quick start and minimal costs.

SogoTrade: The Cost Trap of Traditional Brokers

Founded in 1986, SogoTrade supports account opening in Taiwan and other regions, with no minimum deposit. Its fee structure: $2.88 per trade for under 100 shares, and free for orders over $2,000.

This fee setup favors large-volume traders (commission is $0), but for small and medium investors, costs are relatively high—$2.88 per trade on a $1,000 order is 0.288%, and on a $500 order, 0.576%. The platform often offers account opening promotions, but long-term trading costs are less competitive.

Risk Warning: Recently, phishing scams using fake SogoTrade websites have appeared. Always verify through official channels before opening an account.

Suitable for: Investors with larger single trades (>USD 5,000).

Firstrade: Zero Commission but Hidden Costs

Founded in 1985, Firstrade supports account opening in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, and other regions. Its main advantage is completely free trading commissions, no minimum deposit, and no minimum account balance—very attractive for beginners.

However, there is no free lunch: Firstrade profits through PFOF (Payment for Order Flow)—meaning your orders are routed to third-party market makers, which may cause quote delays or less favorable execution prices. The platform has a Chinese app, but customer service is only available during US Eastern Time, leading to time zone issues, and user feedback indicates slow response times.

Suitable for: Investors eager to try US stocks at low cost and capable of solving issues independently.

Fidelity: The Dilemma of Institutional-Level Platforms for Taiwanese Investors

Founded in 1946, Fidelity is one of the world’s top asset management firms, supporting account opening in Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore, and other regions. Individual investors enjoy commission-free trading for stocks and ETFs.

But a key limitation is: Taiwanese users can only buy funds, not directly trade US stocks. This makes the platform practically unusable for most Taiwanese retail investors. Margin interest rates are also relatively high (5.5%-9.825%), not friendly for leveraged trading.

Suitable for: High-net-worth investors who have already registered accounts in Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore, or other regions and seek institutional-level services.

Comparison of Local Taiwanese US Stock Sub-Accounts

Buying US stocks through Taiwanese brokers is called “sub-commission”—local brokers act as intermediaries, placing orders with foreign brokers on behalf of investors. This method’s advantage is avoiding international account opening procedures, but it involves layered fees and potential execution delays.

Yuanta Securities: One of Taiwan’s oldest brokers, with the widest branch network, suitable for investors needing offline services.

Fubon Securities: Best US sub-commission rate (0.25% no minimum), supports over 40 bank integrations, convenient deposits and withdrawals.

KGI Securities: 0.5%-1% fee with a minimum of $39.9, suitable for larger trades.

Cathay Securities: 0.2% fee with a minimum of , low-cost for regular investors.

Mega Securities: Pioneered a $0.1/share fee model, optimal for small trades (minimum $1), suitable for retail investors with fewer shares.

CFD Leverage Trading: Balancing Risks and Rewards

Besides traditional stock trading, CFDs (Contracts for Difference) offer another way to participate in US stocks. This trading method uses margin and leverage, allowing investors to control larger positions with less capital.

Cost Components of CFD Trading:

1. Spread: The difference between buy and sell prices, the main cost paid by traders. Narrower spreads are better; some platforms (like Mitrade) offer spreads as low as 0.01.

2. Commission: Some platforms charge a percentage of the transaction amount; Mitrade offers zero commission.

3. Overnight Fees: Holding positions overnight incurs interest costs, calculated as: number of lots × contract size × opening price × overnight rate%. For example, in gold, Mitrade’s overnight fee is approximately -0.0168% for buy positions and -0.014% for sell positions.

The main advantage of CFDs is low entry barrier and flexible leverage, but risks are amplified—leverage magnifies both gains and losses. Beginners should use low leverage (1:1 or minimal) until they understand risk management, then gradually increase leverage.

Practical Guide to Opening a US Stock Account

Taking Mitrade as an example, the complete account opening process involves only three steps:

Step 1: Register an Account
Click the “Create Account” link on the official website, fill in email, set password, select base currency (USD/AUD, etc.). Alternatively, quickly link via Facebook or Google. After registration, you automatically receive a demo account with $50,000 virtual funds for risk-free practice.

Step 2: Identity Verification and KYC
To upgrade to a real trading account, complete personal info: country of residence, name, ID type and number, date of birth, phone number, etc. As an ASIC-regulated platform, Mitrade’s KYC process is strict but fully online, with Chinese support available.

Step 3: Deposit and Start Trading
Supports Skrill, Poli, Visa/MasterCard, or wire transfer, with a minimum of $50 to start. Once logged into the real account, you can trade nearly 400 financial products immediately.

Starting Capital and Cost Structure of US Stock Investment

There are many misconceptions about the costs of US stock investment. First, it should be clarified that opening a US stock account at legitimate financial institutions almost incurs no fees—most platforms offer free account opening.

The real cost lies in purchasing stocks. In Taiwan, the trading unit is “lot” (1000 shares), while in the US, the minimum is 1 share. For example, Facebook (Meta) is currently around $300 per share, meaning buying 1 share costs about $300. This is much lower than the minimum NT$20,000 investment threshold in Taiwan.

For limited funds, CFD leverage trading offers another route—using $50 with 200x leverage, theoretically controlling a $10,000 position. But leverage is a double-edged sword—it amplifies both gains and losses.

Total costs include spread, commissions (if any), overnight fees, and financing interest. Zero-commission platforms can save a significant part of costs, and platforms with low spreads are advantageous for high-frequency trading.

Practical Tools Provided by US Stock Trading Platforms

Modern US stock platforms are not just order execution tools but also integrate extensive analysis and risk management features. Taking Mitrade as an example:

• Trading Strategy Library: Provides predictive analysis based on fundamental and technical data for popular assets, aiding in strategy formulation.

• Expert Opinions: Summarizes insights and trend forecasts from industry experts, referencing market sentiment indicators.

• Economic Calendar: Highlights key economic data releases, market holidays, central bank speeches, etc., with impact level indicators.

• Real-Time News: Covers forex, commodities, cryptocurrencies, indices, technical analysis, economic indicators, geopolitical events, ensuring timely information.

• Quotes and Charts: Offers real-time quotes with zero delay, multi-timeframe candlestick charts, supports overlaying technical indicators, clearly displaying price movements.

• Market Sentiment Index: Shows the balance of bullish and bearish forces, helping investors gauge overall market attitude.

• Risk Management Tools: Built-in take-profit and stop-loss functions, supports trailing stops to protect accounts from extreme market swings.

Final Recommendations

Choosing a US broker essentially involves selecting an optimal combination of information, costs, and experience. The decision process can be summarized as follows:

Step 1: Clarify your capital size and trading frequency. If your capital is less than $1,000 and you prioritize experience, Mitrade’s zero commission, low spreads, and small account opening advantages are clear. If your capital exceeds $10,000 and you trade frequently, Interactive Brokers’ tiered fee structure is more economical.

Step 2: Compare each platform’s regulatory status and user reputation. Safety is always the top priority; it’s better to pay slightly higher trading fees than risk fund freezing.

Step 3: Use demo accounts to test. Most platforms offer free simulated trading to evaluate platform operation, customer service responsiveness, and tool completeness before investing real money.

Step 4: Pay attention to risk management. Leverage and CFD products are attractive but carry higher risks for beginners. It’s recommended to start with traditional stock investments to build experience, then gradually explore advanced products.

In summary, between US brokers and Taiwanese sub-accounts, the former offers lower costs but requires managing international accounts independently, while the latter provides convenience at higher fees. The choice depends on individual risk tolerance and investment plans.