Imagine you want to trade apples, and there’s a bustling street market where buyers and sellers meet. The market acts as a hub for Apple transactions.
However, instead of people directly exchanging fruits, they use stalls to make deals.
This works quite similarly in the forex world. Here, currencies are bought and sold. Just like the street market, buyers and sellers need a place to connect. The challenge is that they can be far apart, sometimes even in different countries. That’s where a broker steps in.
In simple terms, a broker is like the stalls in our apple market.
It’s basically a middleman who brings a lot of people together that’re willing to purchase as well as sell currencies. The broker usually provides the correct tool and platform to make transactions occur smoothly. This can happen even if the sellers and buyers live miles apart.
Forex Brokers – Their Types and How They Work
1: No Dealing Desk Broker
An NDD (No Dealing Desk) forex broker Thailand operates without a dealing desk.
It means they don’t trade against their clients. Instead, they gather the best quotes from various forex providers to get liquidity for the market. Each provider shares their best market prices with the NDD broker, who then executes transactions and fills orders for clients.
The broker may make a profit by charging a commission or slightly widening the bid/ask spread, and sometimes they do both.
2: Market Maker
A forex market maker usually works as a broker who offers information about currency prices by using their in-house trading desk. Once a consumer accepts the data, the person will choose the opposite side of the trade by either selling or purchasing the
The primary goal for market makers is to generate profit from the spread, which is the difference between the buying and selling prices.
Additionally, they aim to prudently handle risk by engaging in trades on both sides of the market. Rather than immediately closing significant trades, market makers may choose to incorporate them into their portfolio or close them later, anticipating market movements.
3: ECN Broker
An ECN forex broker doesn’t operate its own trading desk.
Instead, it offers an electronic platform where banks, market-makers, and traders can submit their buying and selling prices. Some ECNs allow traders to remain anonymous when posting prices, which can be helpful for those who prefer not to reveal their trading intentions.
How to Choose a Forex Broker?
Choosing the right online broker is more accessible than ever due to increased competition, driving down costs and boosting services. However, with the surge in retail investors, new firms are entering the market, making it challenging to find the ideal broker.
To make the right choice, consider factors like trade commissions, platform quality, and institution size. Ultimately, it begins with understanding your investment goals.
1: Choose the Type of Account You Want to Use
Before you do anything, take note of the account options provided by different brokers.
For example, newer platforms like Robinhood may not have retirement accounts like traditional or Roth IRAs available yet. While you can typically open an individual account with most online brokers, be aware that you’ll be taxed on any capital gains and dividends earned in that account.
2: Do You Have to Pay any Commissions?
When you make investments, there are fees you might have to pay.
Many online brokers don’t charge fees for buying or selling stocks and ETFs, but if you’re into options, some brokers may have commissions. Consider what you’re planning to invest in and pick a broker with low fees for those types of investments.
3: What about Their Reliability?
Before choosing a broker, investigate whether they have a track record of platform issues during turbulent market conditions.
Platform outages during market stress can be highly frustrating, especially if you plan to trade actively. If a broker has a history of such problems, it might be a warning sign for active traders.
4: Tools and Features Used by Them
Brokers extend beyond basic trading functions, offering additional services such as educational materials for novice investors and research tools for those seeking investment opportunities.
Some brokers also provide the option of buying fractional shares, enabling investors to purchase less than a full share if they prefer not to invest in an entire unit.
5: Efficiency of Their Customer Support
Dealing with customer support can be a hassle, but it’s comforting when help is easy to reach.
Online brokers vary in their support availability – some provide phone and chat assistance for most of the day, while others make it more challenging to get in touch.
Newer brokers have faced customer service complaints, so make sure you know how to get assistance before picking one.
The Benefits of Hiring a Forex Broker
If you have somehow found the best possible forex broker for your purpose, it’ll be easier for you to gain a lot of traction in the market. Here’s what you need to know about it.
1: They Can Help with ORA (Objective Risk Assessment)
Insurance brokers simplify the process of choosing insurance by analyzing your risks and liabilities based on their experience and training.
They provide a great objective assessment, helping you logically decide the coverage you need. Independent brokers take time to understand your specific needs before offering solutions.
With access to technology-based tools, brokers make it easy to compare insurance options, allowing you to choose the policy that best fits your situation. This eliminates the need for you to become an expert in various types of insurance, reducing stress.
Brokers offer peace of mind by addressing potential liabilities comprehensively.
Whether it’s protecting your business from product-related lawsuits or safeguarding your home from unforeseen events like fires, brokers create a customized plan to address all your concerns. Knowing you have adequate insurance coverage provides reassurance during potential risks.
2: They are Supportive
Your broker does more than just sell you insurance.
They help you pick the right plan and support you during enrollment. Afterward, they’re the go-to for payment issues, billing questions, or any assistance you need.
3: Can Help with Negotiation
Brokers collaborate with several insurance companies, allowing them the flexibility to explore various plan options on your behalf. They employ their expertise and relationships with different companies to find the best coverage value for you. Such a broader understanding helps them negotiate and identify the most suitable insurance solutions.
4: Highly Knowledgeable
A broker leverages their expertise to handle the time-consuming task of exploring various insurance plans. They offer tailored recommendations for individuals, employees, or businesses.
With extensive industry knowledge, they tend to stay informed about trends, upcoming changes, and competitive challenges.
5: Can Offer Excellent Customization
Brokers ask many questions to grasp your needs thoroughly. They assist in discovering various insurance choices that match your budget. A key benefit of having a broker is their guidance in tailoring your policy effectively, offering insights you might not have thought about.
