2026 US Stock Investment Guide: Comprehensive Review of International US Stock Brokers and Taiwan Sub-Agency Services

As the global investment boom heats up, the US stock market has become the top choice for Taiwanese investors to expand their overseas assets. Whether opening accounts directly with international US stock brokers or using local Taiwanese brokers for omnibus trading, choosing a suitable trading platform is crucial. This in-depth analysis covers comparisons of top international US stock brokers, evaluations of Taiwan’s omnibus trading services, and cost analyses of different trading methods.

How to Choose a US Stock Broker? Five Key Considerations

Investors evaluating US stock brokers should look beyond commission fees and consider multiple factors comprehensively. The following are the critical factors that determine your trading experience:

Fund Security and Regulatory Qualifications

When investing overseas, the first priority is to ensure fund safety. Legitimate US stock brokers should be supervised by internationally recognized regulatory agencies, including the US Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC), Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), etc. If the broker is a member of these organizations, even if the platform encounters issues, investor assets are protected accordingly.

Trading Products and Restrictions

Different US stock brokers have varying trading scopes. Some platforms restrict options strategies, while others prohibit short selling. For advanced investors, these restrictions can significantly impact trading flexibility. Be sure to verify whether your target platform supports the types of trades you need.

Fee Structure and Hidden Costs

US stock trading fees are mainly charged either per transaction or per share. However, transparency in fees often determines overall costs. Some platforms claim low commissions but hide fees related to withdrawals, margin trading, or order routing. Comparing each platform’s fee schedule carefully is essential.

Service Language and Customer Support

Language barriers can increase trading risks. Platforms offering Chinese interfaces and 24/5 customer support can greatly reduce communication costs and operational errors.

Fund Flow Efficiency

Deposit, withdrawal, and transfer speeds directly affect trading efficiency. If fund settlement takes too long, investors may miss trading opportunities or face liquidity issues.

In-Depth Comparison of Five Major International US Stock Brokers

Core Indicator Comparison Table

InteractiveBrokers – The First Choice for Professional Investors

Fee Structure:

• Fixed: $0.005 per share
• Tiered: $0.0005–$0.0035 per share (based on monthly trading volume)

Platform Features: Founded in 1977, Interactive Brokers is one of the world’s largest online trading platforms. It supports account opening in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Mainland China, and other regions, with no minimum deposit. The product range is extremely extensive, including stocks, futures, options, forex, mutual funds, etc. The tiered fee structure benefits high-volume traders, with lower per-share costs as monthly trading volume increases. Margin accounts require a minimum of $2,000.

Suitable For: Investors with ample capital, high trading volume, and diversified asset needs.

Drawbacks: Complex platform features, high learning curve for beginners; relatively higher costs for small trades.

SogoTrade – Optimized for Large Capital Trades

Fee Structure:

• Under 100 shares: $2.88 per order
• Over 100 shares or orders with principal over $2,000: Zero commission

Founded in 1986, SogoTrade supports account opening in multiple regions. The fixed fee of $2.88 per small trade is more expensive compared to major brokers, but it offers zero commissions for large trades. The platform often runs promotional offers for new accounts, which can be attractive.

Suitable For: Institutional investors or individual investors with large single trades.

Drawbacks: Not ideal for small, scattered trades; recent risks of scam/phishing websites—must verify official channels carefully.

Firstrade – Beginner-Friendly Platform

Fee Structure:

• Trading commissions: $0
• Withdrawal fee: $25

Founded in 1985, Firstrade offers accounts with no minimum deposit or minimum balance requirements. Fully commission-free trading makes it suitable for quick entry. Supports Chinese app interface, but customer service hours are limited by US Eastern Time.

Platform Features: Offers US stocks, ETFs, options, mutual funds; simple operation; high transparency in fees.

Note: Price quotes may experience delays; watch out for order routing costs (hidden PFOF costs); some users report slow customer support responses.

Fidelity – Institutional-Level Service

Fee Structure:

• No commissions for individual investors
• Free trading of stocks, ETFs, and four proprietary mutual funds

Founded in 1946, Fidelity is a globally renowned asset management giant. Supports account opening in Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore, with no minimum deposit or balance.

Platform Features: No recurring fees (phone and broker services); offers no-cost ratio funds.

Important Restrictions: Only supports fund purchases in Taiwan; does not offer direct US stock accounts; margin rates are relatively high (5.5%–9.825%).

The Taiwanese Omnibus Trading Ecosystem

For investors preferring localized services and not wanting to open overseas accounts directly, Taiwan’s omnibus brokers are an alternative. Omnibus trading involves Taiwanese brokers executing trades via overseas brokers on behalf of clients. Most Taiwanese brokers offer this service, with notable differences in costs and services.

Comparison of Fees and Services of Taiwanese Omnibus Brokers

In-Depth Analysis of Each Broker

Fubon Securities: With a uniform fee of 0.25% and no minimum, it is very friendly to small and medium investors. Supports multiple bank account linkages, optimized deposit/withdrawal process.

Capital Securities: Offers a competitive 0.2% fee, with a minimum of only $3, and a leading 0.16% regular fixed fee, ideal for small regular investments.

Mega Securities: Uses an innovative per-share fee of $0.1, with a minimum of $1. This model is especially advantageous for fractional share trading or small investors, with highly transparent costs.

Yuanta Securities: As Taiwan’s oldest broker, with the largest network and customer base, its higher fees are offset by strong brand trust, suitable for investors prioritizing service quality.

KGI Securities: Combines Taiwan stocks, overseas stocks, and funds into three integrated accounts, with a straightforward account opening process, suitable for one-stop investment needs.

Capital and Cost Breakdown for US Stock Investment

Clarification on Account Opening Fees

Many investors mistakenly believe opening a US stock account requires a fee. In fact, legitimate financial institutions’ US stock accounts are free to open. Costs mainly arise during stock purchases.

Minimum Investment Amount Calculation

Taiwan’s stock market uses a standard lot of 1,000 shares, while US stocks are traded in units of 1 share. For example, Facebook stock at $631 per share requires $631 to buy one share without margin. This significantly lowers the entry barrier compared to Taiwan’s market.

CFD Trading Cost Structure

Beyond traditional stock trading, Contracts for Difference (CFD) trading offers a leverage mechanism. Using leverage (up to 200x), investors can control larger assets with less capital. However, understanding leverage risks is essential.

CFD Trading Cost Components:

Spread Cost: The difference between buy and sell prices. This is the main cost in CFD trading, widening with larger trade sizes.

Commission: Some platforms charge a percentage of the trade amount. No-commission platforms can save this cost.

Overnight Fees: Calculated as: number of contracts × contract size × opening price × overnight interest rate percentage. Long-term positions should account for this cost cumulatively.

Practical Tools and Features of US Stock Trading Platforms

With advances in fintech, modern US stock platforms offer analysis tools far beyond traditional brokers:

Trading Strategy Tools: Combine fundamental and technical analysis to scientifically forecast market trends, aiding in phased trading planning.

Market Sentiment and Indexes: Professional teams provide real-time industry insights; sentiment indexes show the proportion of bulls and bears, reflecting overall market attitude.

Economic Calendar: Highlights economic data releases, market holidays, key speeches, and other major events, with importance levels.

Real-Time Quotes and Charts: No-lag quotes with multi-timeframe charts enable precise price trend analysis.

Risk Management Features: Set stop-loss/take-profit orders, trailing stops, helping automate profit locking or loss control.

Investment Decision-Making and Platform Selection Logic

Choosing a US stock broker should follow these steps:

Step 1: Confirm your investment style and capital scale. Are you pursuing stable compound interest with small regular investments or large portfolio trading?

Step 2: Filter platforms based on required trading products. For futures, options, and advanced products, international major brokers are advantageous; for stocks and ETFs, domestic omnibus brokers suffice.

Step 3: Compare practical factors such as fees, withdrawal speed, and language support. Do not focus solely on one aspect (e.g., lowest commission) at the expense of overall platform strength.

Step 4: Open demo accounts to experience the trading interface and tools, ensuring the platform matches your operational habits.

Conclusion

Investing in US stocks is no longer exclusive to high-net-worth individuals. Whether opening accounts directly with international brokers or trading via Taiwan’s omnibus services, the key is to evaluate your needs rationally rather than follow trends blindly. A comprehensive platform comparison and thorough understanding of fees and services will directly influence your trading experience and long-term gains. Before trading with real money, consider practicing with demo accounts to familiarize yourself with the tools and prepare for entering the US stock market.