Bridges Financial Services
merrill edge
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Overview
Bridges Financial Services was founded in 2014 and is headquartered in Australia, while merrill edge was established in 2010 and is based in USA. Bridges Financial Services holds licences including ABN 60 003 474 977, while merrill edge is regulated by Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) among others. Bridges Financial Services serves 10,000+ clients worldwide; merrill edge has 10,000+. The minimum deposit is $100 at Bridges Financial Services and $250 at merrill edge.
| Feature | Bridges Financial Services | merrill edge |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $100 | $250 |
| Regulation | ABN 60 003 474 977, AFSL No. 240837 | Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC), Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA), Pepperstone Markets Limited is incorporated in The Bahamas (number 177174 B), Licensed by the Securities Commission of The Bahamas (SCB) number SIA-F277 |
| Founded | 2014 | 2010 |
| Country | Australia | USA |
| Clients | 10,000+ | 10,000+ |
Fees
Fees are a critical factor when choosing between Bridges Financial Services and merrill edge, directly affecting your bottom line as a trader. Bridges Financial Services has a lower barrier to entry with a minimum deposit of $100 (vs $250 at merrill edge). Bridges Financial Services charges withdrawal fees while merrill edge does not, a notable advantage for frequent withdrawers. Bridges Financial Services charges deposit fees; merrill edge does not. Overall, Bridges Financial Services scores higher on fees in our assessment.
| Feature | Bridges Financial Services | merrill edge |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $100 | $250 |
| Withdrawal Fees | Yes | No |
| Inactivity Fees | No | No |
| Deposit Fees | Yes | No |
| CFD Fees | Yes | No |
Platforms
Bridges Financial Services offers MT4, MT5, cTrader, while merrill edge 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. Bridges Financial Services edges ahead on platform breadth and functionality in our scoring.
| Feature | Bridges Financial Services | merrill edge |
|---|---|---|
| MT4 | Yes | No |
| MT5 | Yes | Yes |
| cTrader | Yes | Yes |
| Windows App | Yes | Yes |
| iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | MetaTrader 4 | MT4, MT5, Mac, ZuluTrade, Web Trader, cTrader, Tablet & Mobile apps |
Education & Research
Education and research tools help traders at every level make more informed decisions, and here's how Bridges Financial Services and merrill edge compare. Bridges Financial Services runs regular live webinars; merrill edge does not. Both provide video tutorials. Bridges Financial Services publishes daily market commentary; merrill edge does not. Both integrate third-party research tools. Bridges Financial Services maintains an archive of past webinars for on-demand viewing. Bridges Financial Services scores higher overall in education and research.
| Feature | Bridges Financial Services | merrill edge |
|---|---|---|
| Forex Education | Yes | Yes |
| CFD Education | Yes | No |
| Weekly Webinars | Yes | No |
| Daily Commentary | Yes | No |
| Trading Central | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes |
Deposits & Withdrawals
Convenient deposit and withdrawal options reduce friction for traders, especially important when managing positions across time zones. Bridges Financial Services accepts 2 of the tracked payment methods (bank transfer, credit/debit card), while merrill edge supports 5 (bank transfer, credit/debit card, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller). merrill edge uniquely supports PayPal and Skrill and Neteller among the two brokers. merrill edge scores higher on deposit and withdrawal flexibility.
| Feature | Bridges Financial Services | merrill edge |
|---|---|---|
| Bank Transfer | Yes | Yes |
| Credit Card | Yes | Yes |
| PayPal | No | Yes |
| Skrill | No | Yes |
| Neteller | No | Yes |
Support
Responsive customer support matters most when you're locked out of your account or need urgent help with a trade. Both Bridges Financial Services and merrill edge offer live chat support. Both provide phone support. Email support is available at both brokers. Bridges Financial Services supports 2 languages and merrill edge supports 8, giving merrill edge broader global reach. Both brokers are comparable on support quality.
| Feature | Bridges Financial Services | merrill edge |
|---|---|---|
| Live Chat | Yes | Yes |
| Phone Support | Yes | Yes |
| Email Support | Yes | Yes |
| Languages | English, and Chinese | English, Spanish, Polish, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, and Arabic |