Brokerage Brief
Review Methodology
Methodology
How we evaluate brokerages and crypto platforms.
Brokerage Brief reviews focus on the factors that directly affect whether a user should open, fund, and keep an account.
| Category | What we evaluate |
|---|---|
| Account fit | Beginner friendliness, retirement usefulness, active trading tools, app workflow, and ecosystem fit. |
| Costs | Stock/ETF commissions, options contract fees, margin, spreads, subscriptions, transfer fees, and crypto-specific fees. |
| Offer quality | Bonus size, deposit requirement, hold period, eligibility, promo codes, and whether the offer matches user intent. |
| Risk and trust | Regulatory status, platform history, account protections, custody, disclosures, and user behavior incentives. |
| Long-term usefulness | Whether the account remains valuable after the sign-up bonus or referral promotion ends. |