Betterment
Boston Merchant Financial
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Overview
Betterment was founded in 2008 and is headquartered in USA, while Boston Merchant Financial was established in 1988 and is based in Dubai. Betterment holds licences including Unregulated, while Boston Merchant Financial is regulated by Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC) among others. Betterment serves 10,000+ clients worldwide; Boston Merchant Financial has 10,000+. The minimum deposit is $0 at Betterment and $50 at Boston Merchant Financial.
| Feature | Betterment | Boston Merchant Financial |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $0 | $50 |
| Regulation | Unregulated | Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC) |
| Founded | 2008 | 1988 |
| Country | USA | Dubai |
| Clients | 10,000+ | 10,000+ |
Fees
Fees are a critical factor when choosing between Betterment and Boston Merchant Financial, directly affecting your bottom line as a trader. Betterment has a lower barrier to entry with a minimum deposit of $0 (vs $50 at Boston Merchant Financial). Betterment charges withdrawal fees while Boston Merchant Financial does not, a notable advantage for frequent withdrawers. The two brokers are broadly comparable on fee structure.
| Feature | Betterment | Boston Merchant Financial |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $0 | $50 |
| Withdrawal Fees | Yes | No |
| Inactivity Fees | No | No |
| Deposit Fees | No | No |
| CFD Fees | No | No |
Platforms
Betterment offers MT5, cTrader, while Boston Merchant Financial supports MT5, cTrader. Both brokers provide mobile trading apps for iOS and Android. Both brokers support copy or social trading, catering to less hands-on investors. The two brokers are closely matched on platform offering.
| Feature | Betterment | Boston Merchant Financial |
|---|---|---|
| MT4 | No | No |
| MT5 | Yes | Yes |
| cTrader | Yes | Yes |
| Windows App | Yes | Yes |
| iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | Mac,iPhone,iPad,WEB,Desktop | MT4, Web Trader, Tablet & Mobile apps |
Education & Research
Education and research tools help traders at every level make more informed decisions, and here's how Betterment and Boston Merchant Financial compare. Betterment runs regular live webinars; Boston Merchant Financial does not. Betterment has a video library; Boston Merchant Financial does not. Betterment publishes daily market commentary; Boston Merchant Financial does not. Betterment integrates third-party research tools (Trading Central); Boston Merchant Financial does not. Betterment maintains an archive of past webinars for on-demand viewing. Betterment scores higher overall in education and research.
| Feature | Betterment | Boston Merchant Financial |
|---|---|---|
| Forex Education | No | No |
| CFD Education | Yes | No |
| Weekly Webinars | Yes | No |
| Daily Commentary | Yes | No |
| Trading Central | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | No | No |
Deposits & Withdrawals
Convenient deposit and withdrawal options reduce friction for traders, especially important when managing positions across time zones. Betterment accepts 2 of the tracked payment methods (bank transfer, credit/debit card), while Boston Merchant Financial supports 2 (bank transfer, credit/debit card). Both brokers support the same set of payment methods.
| Feature | Betterment | Boston Merchant Financial |
|---|---|---|
| Bank Transfer | Yes | Yes |
| Credit Card | Yes | Yes |
| PayPal | No | No |
| Skrill | No | No |
| Neteller | No | No |
Support
Responsive customer support matters most when you're locked out of your account or need urgent help with a trade. Both Betterment and Boston Merchant Financial offer live chat support. Both provide phone support. Email support is available at both brokers. Both brokers offer support in 2 languages. Both brokers are comparable on support quality.
| Feature | Betterment | Boston Merchant Financial |
|---|---|---|
| Live Chat | Yes | Yes |
| Phone Support | Yes | Yes |
| Email Support | Yes | Yes |
| Languages | English, and Chinese | English, and Chinese |