A friend of mine recently showed me this site. Apparently you can connect all investments owned, your checking account and forget about your savings account. Their money market is better.

Money isn't really a long term idea anymore. With the net, we can now easily find information we used to pay a broker for. Our parents taught us the long run concept of investing, but I'm finding it really doesn't work that way at all. There really is money to be made no matter how bad the market looks.

Etrade offers us a ton of information, but no advice. It's inexpensive to trade. One thing I will say, inform yourself! Even then, you can lose money. I don't suggest anyone using money they need for their home gambling on the market.

Does anyone use etrade or anything like this? What is your opinion? I'm looking for a way to retire. My long term investments are decent, but there really is a whole lot more money to be made, or lose.

Opinions welcome!!

I haven't personally had any dealings with E*Trade. Below are some sites listings complaints about them; bear in mind that E*Trade are an international company founded 14 years ago and therefore almost certain to have upset someone amongst all their customers since then.

Consumer Affairs - Complaints about E*Trade

E*Trade fined for slow complaint response

Complaints.com

http://www.my3cents.com/search.cgi?criteria=E-trade

Another person's complaint

Looking for good reviews didn't turn up anything like as much information, but then people don't usually bother to write if they're satisfied. I did find one!

E*Trade Compliment

I know very little about the stock market, but I am given to understand that it is the long-term investments and consistant support of specific stocks that make the real financial gains.

I understand that trading around stocks is actually counter-productive and costs you money in the end.

Thank you for the info! I think e-trade is definitely worth it. There are too few complaints per member. Don't walk into this ignorantly. I never do when it comes to my cash!

It's not like that Sher! An election is coming, which will dramatically influence some stock prices. Persoanlly, I think Democrats are going to be 'in'. That dictates a different choice in high riding stocks that maybe you should sell while high. I want to buy in before Democrats take House and Senate, with a low price.

There definitely is short term money to be made even in a low market. Our parents only had a bit of information available. We have everything known of a stock. Long term investing is for my parents, not me.