2025 US Stock Investment Beginner's Guide: Comprehensive Comparison of Taiwanese Brokers and International Platforms

Want to invest in US stocks but don’t know how to choose a broker? As a Taiwanese investor, you actually have two options: through a local Taiwanese broker’s repurchase authorization or by opening an international account directly. This article will help clarify each option and find the most suitable trading platform for you.

Essential Knowledge Before Opening an Account: Cost Structure of US Stock Trading

Many people think opening a US stock account costs money, but that’s not true. Opening an account with a reputable financial institution is basically free, and the real costs come during trading.

The minimum purchase for US stocks is 1 share, unlike Taiwan stocks which require a full lot of 1,000 shares. For example, Facebook’s current price is $631, so you only need $631 to buy 1 share. But if you want to reduce capital pressure, there’s another way—CFD trading, which uses leverage to participate in US stock movements with less capital.

CFD costs mainly include three parts: spread, commission, and overnight fee. The spread is the difference between buy and sell prices, commissions depend on the platform’s policy, and overnight fees are calculated based on holding days. Choosing the right platform can significantly reduce costs.

Local Taiwanese Broker Repurchase Program

If you want to invest in US stocks in a familiar environment, the Taiwanese broker’s repurchase authorization is a good choice. Repurchase means the Taiwanese broker places orders with foreign brokers on your behalf. Currently, the main ones are:

Yuanta Securities

Founded in 1961, a well-established Taiwanese firm with the most branches. US stock repurchase fee is 0.5%~1%, with a minimum of $35. Regular fixed-dollar purchases are capped at $1.

Fubon Securities

Established in 1988, supports over 40 bank linkages, very convenient for deposits and withdrawals (limited to Taiwan stocks). US stock fee is only 0.25%, with no minimum fee. Fixed-dollar purchases are 0.2%.

KGI Securities

Also founded in 1988, consolidates Taiwan stocks, overseas stocks, and funds into one account, quick account opening. US stock repurchase fee is 0.5%~1%, with a minimum of $39.9. Fixed-dollar purchases are 1 TWD per transaction.

Cathay Securities

Founded in 1988, supports sub-accounts and multiple bank linkages. US stock repurchase fee is only 0.2%, with a minimum of $3. Fixed-dollar purchases are 0.16%.

Mega Securities

Established in 1989, slightly smaller scale but with a unique feature—priced at $0.1 per share, with a minimum of $1 per transaction. Fixed-dollar purchases are 0.25%.

Deep Comparison of International Broker Platforms

If you want more trading varieties and lower costs, opening an account directly with international brokers is also an option. Here are five mainstream platforms:

) 1. Interactive Brokers (IBKR)
Chinese support: Yes, but no physical branches in Taiwan

Trading Fees:

• Fixed: $0.005 per share
• Tiered: $0.0005~0.0035 per share (adjusted by monthly trading volume)

Main Advantages:

• Powerful features, preferred by professional investors
• Cost-effective for large-volume trades
• Extremely rich product range (stocks, ETFs, funds, bonds, options, futures, forex, etc.)

Main Disadvantages:

• Complex interface, beginners may find it confusing
• Higher costs for small trades

Founded in 1977, supports accounts with $0 initial deposit, margin trading (requires maintaining at least $2,000). Fees are based on share count, with volume discounts and additional third-party fees. Especially suitable for professional investors trading across multiple international markets.

) 2. Mitrade
Chinese support: Yes, with local customer service

Trading Fees:

• No commission
• Floating spread, minimum 0.01

Main Advantages:

• Simple interface, friendly for beginners
• Very low minimum investment, ideal for small investors
• US stocks with 0.01 lot size, leverage adjustable from 1x to 200x
• Wide range of products (stocks, ETFs, crypto, forex, indices, commodities)

Main Disadvantages:

• Demo account validity only 3 months

Mitrade is one of the best platforms for small-scale US stock CFD trading, with the largest user base in Taiwan. Founded in 2011, with over a million users worldwide, supports multiple countries. Its biggest feature is very low deposit threshold (only $50), with a no-commission model.

Regulation: Authorized by CIMA (SIB license 1612446), licensed by ASIC (AFSL license 398528)

Trading Products: Stocks, indices, forex, gold, oil, crypto, ETFs

Leverage: Flexible, up to 200x, allowing small capital to control large positions

Deposits/Withdrawals: Supports TWD deposits and withdrawals. If total deposits are less than $10,000, one free withdrawal per month, then $5 per withdrawal; if over $10,000, two free withdrawals per month, then $5 each.

) 3. SogoTrade
Chinese support: Yes

Trading Fees:

• Under 100 shares: $2.88 per trade
• For orders over $2,000 principal: no commission

Features: More expensive for small retail traders, better suited for large fund traders. Founded in 1986, supports $0 initial deposit, Chinese customer service available. Often offers attractive account opening promotions. However, costs for small trades can be relatively high.

Risk Warning: Recently, phishing sites have appeared; always open accounts through official channels.

) 4. Firstrade
Chinese support: Yes, with app but no live online chat

Trading Fees:

• No commission
• $25 withdrawal fee

Main Advantages:

• Good for quick onboarding for beginners
• Wide product range (US stocks, ETFs, options, mutual funds)
• No minimum deposit or account balance

Main Disadvantages:

• Quotes may lag
• No commission but watch out for hidden PFOF costs
• Customer service response can be slow
• Time zone differences affect support hours

Founded in 1985, supports accounts in multiple regions, but Chinese customer service is only available during US Eastern Time.

5. Fidelity

In Taiwan: Only supports trading, cannot open accounts

Trading Fees: No commission

Main Advantages:

• No commission for individual investors
• No recurring fees (phone, broker fees, etc.)
• Free stock and ETF trading

Key Limitations:

• Only funds can be purchased in Taiwan, no US stock accounts
• Margin interest rates are relatively high (5.5%~9.825%)

Founded in 1946, supports accounts in Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore, but not very friendly for Taiwanese users.

International Broker Fee Comparison Table

How to Choose Without Falling into Pitfalls?

Before choosing a US stock broker, ask yourself these five questions:

1. How is my funds’ safety guaranteed?
Key is whether the broker is regulated by authoritative agencies. US’s FINRA, SIPC, Australia’s ASIC are industry-recognized. Members of these agencies’ brokerages are protected even if they go bankrupt.

2. What products can I trade?
Different platforms have different trading scopes. Some restrict options combos, some prohibit short selling. Clarify your needs before choosing.

3. Can I accept the fee structure?
Not just trading fees, also consider withdrawal fees, overnight costs, and other hidden expenses. Small traders should pay close attention to fee structures.

4. Is language support adequate?
If English isn’t strong, encountering issues can be troublesome. Prefer platforms with Chinese customer service and local support teams.

5. How fast can I deposit and withdraw?
Slow withdrawals can affect capital turnover, especially in fast-moving markets. This is particularly important when market conditions change rapidly.

Three Steps to Quick Account Opening (Using Mitrade as an Example)

Most Taiwanese investors now prefer online account opening—free and convenient. Taking Mitrade as an example, just three steps:

Step 1: Create an Account
Visit the official website and click “Create Account,” fill in email, password, select base currency (USD/AUD, etc.). You can also connect via Facebook or Google.

Mitrade offers two account types: demo and real. After registration, you get a demo account with $50,000 virtual funds to familiarize yourself risk-free. Upgrading to a real account is straightforward, with all verification done online. You need to provide residence, name, ID type and number, date of birth, phone, etc. The system will perform KYC, and customer support can communicate in Chinese or English during the process.

Step 2: Deposit Funds
Supports multiple deposit methods: Skrill, Poli, Visa, MasterCard, wire transfer, etc.

Step 3: Start Trading
Mitrade offers nearly 400 financial products, including stocks, indices, forex, gold, crypto, ETFs, etc., selectable based on your needs.

What Other Tools Are Needed for US Stock Investment?

After choosing a platform, leverage its analysis tools to improve trading efficiency. For example, Mitrade provides free tools such as:

Trading Strategies: Based on fundamental and technical analysis, forecast recent trends and future movements to aid decision-making.

Trading Opinions: Industry experts’ short- and medium-term views on popular assets, reflecting market sentiment.

Economic Calendar: Highlights key events affecting prices, including data releases, holidays, speeches, with importance levels.

Real-time News: Covers forex, commodities, crypto, indices, technical analysis, economy, countries, etc., providing timely market updates.

Real-time Quotes: Supports live price tracking with multiple chart tools, clearly showing price trends over different periods.

Sentiment Index: Summarizes market bullish/bearish ratios, helping you gauge overall market attitude toward an asset.

Risk Management: Offers take-profit, stop-loss, and trailing stop functions. Trailing stops allow the stop-loss level to follow profits automatically, locking in gains or controlling risks without constant monitoring.

Final Summary

The core logic of choosing a US stock broker is simple: first determine your investment needs and style, then compare platforms based on safety, costs, and service quality.

Taiwanese investors mainly have two paths:

• For simplicity and convenience → choose Taiwanese broker’s repurchase authorization, familiar environment but slightly higher costs
• For lower costs and more products → open an international account, which requires more effort to learn

Whichever path you choose, do thorough research and be cautious, because overseas investments are less familiar than local stocks, and you rely heavily on the broker’s professionalism.

Take the first step now—register, deposit, and start trading to begin your international investment journey.