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Forex Financial Services

5.2/10
merrill edge logo

merrill edge

7.4/10
8/10RegulationWinner10/10
0/10FeesWinner1/10
9/10WinnerPlatforms7/10
0/10Education & ResearchWinner4/10
4/10Deposits & WithdrawalsWinner10/10
10/10SupportTied10/10

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Overview

Forex Financial Services was founded in 2008 and is headquartered in Australia, while merrill edge was established in 2010 and is based in USA. Forex Financial Services holds licences including Australian Securities and investment Commission (ASIC), while merrill edge is regulated by Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) among others. Forex Financial Services serves 10,000+ clients worldwide; merrill edge has 10,000+. The minimum deposit is $2500 at Forex Financial Services and $250 at merrill edge.

merrill edge wins this category
FeatureForex Financial Servicesmerrill edge
Min. Deposit$2500$250
RegulationAustralian Securities and investment Commission (ASIC)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
Founded20082010
CountryAustraliaUSA
Clients10,000+10,000+

Fees

Fees are a critical factor when choosing between Forex Financial Services and merrill edge, directly affecting your bottom line as a trader. merrill edge has a lower barrier to entry with a minimum deposit of $250 (vs $2500 at Forex Financial Services). Neither broker charges withdrawal fees. Forex Financial Services charges deposit fees; merrill edge does not. Overall, merrill edge scores higher on fees in our assessment.

merrill edge wins this category
FeatureForex Financial Servicesmerrill edge
Min. Deposit$2500$250
Withdrawal FeesNoNo
Inactivity FeesNoNo
Deposit FeesYesNo
CFD FeesNoNo

Platforms

Forex 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. Forex Financial Services edges ahead on platform breadth and functionality in our scoring.

Forex Financial Services wins this category
FeatureForex Financial Servicesmerrill edge
MT4YesNo
MT5YesYes
cTraderYesYes
Windows AppYesYes
iOS AppYesYes
Android AppYesYes
Trading PlatformsMT4MT4, 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 Forex Financial Services and merrill edge compare. merrill edge has a video library; Forex Financial Services does not. merrill edge integrates third-party research tools (Autochartist); Forex Financial Services does not. merrill edge scores higher overall in education and research.

merrill edge wins this category
FeatureForex Financial Servicesmerrill edge
Forex EducationNoYes
CFD EducationNoNo
Weekly WebinarsNoNo
Daily CommentaryNoNo
Trading CentralNoNo
AutochartistNoYes

Deposits & Withdrawals

Convenient deposit and withdrawal options reduce friction for traders, especially important when managing positions across time zones. Forex 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.

merrill edge wins this category
FeatureForex Financial Servicesmerrill edge
Bank TransferYesYes
Credit CardYesYes
PayPalNoYes
SkrillNoYes
NetellerNoYes

Support

Responsive customer support matters most when you're locked out of your account or need urgent help with a trade. Both Forex Financial Services and merrill edge offer live chat support. Both provide phone support. Email support is available at both brokers. Forex Financial Services supports 2 languages and merrill edge supports 8, giving merrill edge broader global reach. Both brokers are comparable on support quality.

Tied
FeatureForex Financial Servicesmerrill edge
Live ChatYesYes
Phone SupportYesYes
Email SupportYesYes
LanguagesEnglish, and ChineseEnglish, Spanish, Polish, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, and Arabic