The proliferation of online trading has allowed ordinary, everyday people to actively participate in the financial markets, with the 2021 “GameStop saga” signifying the power of retail investors in the markets. However, the sheer number of trading platforms in the market makes it confusing for new investors. Choosing the wrong trading platform can severely hamper a new trader’s progress. Therefore, it is important to use rigorous methods to evaluate an exchange that is right for you.

Some of the key verification processes include examining a trading platform’s compliance with financial regulations, evaluating the platform’s trading capabilities, reviewing customer service levels, and security and privacy features.

Many platforms are designed for professional traders and difficult to use for the average person. This can be challenging if you are a new trader just starting out and struggling with concepts like limit orders, iceberg orders, time-weighted average price (TWAP), etc. Inadequate knowledge can often result in large losses, as is the case when a trader does not know how to set stop losses and allow their trading positions to be liquidated.

Additionally, some platforms are more expensive than others, and finding an affordable one is important. This can be challenging when trying to trade on a budget. When assessing the fee structure of some online brokers and trading platforms, it can be shocking to find out that their fees can range from 0.02% to 0.3% – a 15x difference.

The final downside to using trading platforms is that it can be difficult to find a platform that perfectly suits your needs. Some platforms may have high trading volume and liquidity, but their user interface leaves a lot to be desired. Others may be missing features that are badly needed in today’s market climate. A one-size-fits-all approach is no longer acceptable for a platform when there are so many alternatives…