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Hidden Fee #1 – Inactivity Fees

It's no secret that stockbrokers make money when you trade. Indeed, a criticism of many full-service brokers is that they push you to trade frequently to pump up commissions.

Now, discount brokers are trying to push customers to trade actively by charging inactivity fees to customers who don't trade frequently enough.

WallStreet*e charges a $100 fee for inactive accounts. Interactive Brokers charges a monthly fee that can range from $3 to $10, and E*trade charges $40 a quarter. But you can get that fee waived if you keep enough money in your E*trade brokerage account or have other banking relationships with E*trade.

Buy-and-hold investors, or even those who trade a few times a month, need to look closely at these fees to see when they kick in.

Or better yet: Find a broker that doesn't penalize you for not trading.

Not sure if a full-service broker is right for you? Get help here.

NEXT – Hidden Fee #2