cableguy: Depending on how active of a trader one is, Scottrade can be very useful. Yes, there is a $22 broker assistance fee for pinks, but it's only $500 to start an account, no inactivity fee, and no fee for having less than $500 in your trading account. For the new guy who wants to get into trading and test some things out or for someone who wants to buy a stock and just sit on it, Scottrade has it's uses.