What is the best bank/online broker/credit card for first year analyst/associate in NYC?

What is the best bank/online broker/credit card for first year analyst/associate in NYC?

First starter credit card?

Thanks

11 Comments
 

If you are referring to credit card purely, I am not sure I can help you without additional information about your credit history. Capital One is easiest to get a credit card, but certainly not the best option.

In terms of bank, I love Chase bank. There are tons of Chase banks in the city and Duane Reeds, which has the Chase ATM. Can't travel two blocks without running into one so it is super convenient. You can use Chase as actual bank and build savings there or just deposit at least $500 a month and use it as a cash source (meaning deposit rest of paycheck in current bank account)

 

For checking - Schwab Investor Checking can't be beat. You can use any ATM in the world and they'll refund any fee you're charged. Yes, that even includes the $20 fees in strip clubs or casinos (I uh, heard from a friend). Not to mention it's interest bearing - doesn't matter much now since it's something like 0.5%, but it used to be 4-5% which was awesome.

For brokerage, I use TradeKing.com - $4.95 trades, fairly barebones. But it's cheap, fast, and gets the job done - I do my own research anyway.

- Capt K - "Prestige is like a powerful magnet that warps even your beliefs about what you enjoy. If you want to make ambitious people waste their time on errands, bait the hook with prestige." - Paul Graham
 
Best Response

Credit Card: CitiForward. No annual fee and 5x points on Restaurants / Books (includes Amazon.com) / Movies.

Online Broker: Fidelity. I've had them since I was a 1st year analyst. But you should check your bank's list of approved brokers. Some places allow outside online brokers such as Schwab and Fidelity. I know GS and Citi force you to use their own brokerages.

Banking: Any of the big banks will be fine. Just try to coorindate your banks with your cards, so you don't have to keep track of a dozen different websites.

 

I would definitely recommend Tradeking as an online broker. They charge less than $5 per trade, and their margin rates are reasonable. Also, optionshouse is decent.

Use more debt than your competition or get out of the business. Any other policy is either self-limiting, no-win, or a bet that the competition will go bankrupt before they displace you. - Bruce Henderson
 

I would definitely recommend Tradeking as an online broker. They charge less than $5 per trade, and their margin rates are reasonable. Also, optionshouse is decent.

Use more debt than your competition or get out of the business. Any other policy is either self-limiting, no-win, or a bet that the competition will go bankrupt before they displace you. - Bruce Henderson
 

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