All of us have to decide at some point which broker we want to use to build our investment portfolio. What type of broker is right for you? There are a number of factors that go into deciding what kind of broker you are best served using for your investment portfolio.
Your level of knowledge in the stock market has a lot to do with your decision of what broker is right for you. If you are a beginner and know very little about the market and investments as a whole, you are likely better off with a full service broker. A full service broker is generally pretty expensive, but you get the extra services of a personal advisor to work with toward your retirement and financial goals. 
If you are the type of investor who believes you know quite a lot about your investments, but still want a little bit of help along the way, a discount broker may be right for you. Discount brokers generally have excellent resources available to their customers, and can get some advice, though not as comprehensive as with full service brokers. Many investors have found this area to be a great middle ground for price and investment advice.
If you are an expert who wishes to simply get the very best deal on your investment trades from a price standpoint, you are likely best served finding a deep discount broker. Deep discount brokers provide customer service, but no advice, and a very cheap trading rate.
Smart Money just released their 2007 broker survey, which takes a look at the customer satisfaction ratings on the different types of brokers. This article is a good read and helps investors see which companies are strongest in each area. Before you invest your money, you should be careful to educate yourself on exactly what type of broker is best for you.
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