Service
Question: How does your level of support and service compare?
Why this Matters:
Prior to opening an account, funding and withdrawing, experiencing an issue with technology or a trade, and working with a broker as a client rather than as a prospect, it is difficult to answer this question.
One of the best ways to do so, however, is to act like a client, contact (phone, email, instant message, voicemail) a firm, and see what their response is. Service is a factor that seems as though it can be sacrificed, until it actually comes into play. See how fast a message is responded to, whether a firm's representatives are available and knowledgeable at odd hours or on weekends, and whether they process your application paperwork in a timely fashion, prior to sending funds.
Don't let this one become a deal-breaker, but be sure you understand what you are getting into in terms of support quality before making a purchase (that is what opening an account is).