If you want to make your money work for you, you’ll need to look into using investments. A brokerage account is one of the best ways to make this happen, and fortunately, you can sign up for a new account in a matter of minutes.
If you’ve read our review about TD Ameritrade accounts, you already know if the account is right for you. When you’re ready, follow these steps to set up a new account for your own future investments.
Preparing for the Application
To get started with a new account, you’ll only need a few things according to the TD Ameritrade website.
You’ll need:
• Your Social Security Number (SSN) or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN)
• Your Employer’s name and address
Funds are not required to seed your new account, but you may want to have funds available as you get started. There is no required minimum cash amount to open an account, but trades cost $6.95 each. Additionally, if you want to use options or margin trading you’ll be required to have $2,000 deposited in your account.
If you run into trouble as you get started on this process, you can access customer service by phone. TD Ameritrade provides a customer service number on the application pages as well as an occasional text box for typing in questions or concerns.
Step 1: Getting Started with the Application
Before you can apply, you must navigate to the new account page on the TD Ameritrade website. Once there you will fill out basic information about yourself including your name and your contact information. This is also where you will select the type of account to open. Our directions are for opening a new TD Ameritrade individual brokerage account.
This first screen will also ask you about your plans for this new account. You will be asked about buying and holding investments as well as being asked to review the company privacy policy. When you have addressed both, you will click Continue to move to the next page.
Step 2: Entering Your Information
This page is dedicated to getting your personal information. You will enter your Social Security number, your mailing address, the date you were born and your employer’s address and information.
You will also see an area for disclosing information about you or your family’s involvement in the stock exchange. You will be asked if you or a close family member works for the stock exchange or if anyone is a director or holds 10% of a publicly traded company. The majority of people say “no” to these questions.
Step 3: Reviewing Your Information
Now you will have a chance to review the information you’ve entered. Check to be sure all of the information you’ve entered is correct. Then you can click on the Continue button to advance to step 4.
Step 4: Necessary Agreements
This page contains some areas where you will need to read and agree to certain requirements. You will be given access to the PDF versions of the client agreement, the IRA disclosure agreement, your account handbook, and the business continuity plan. After you’ve read through the documents that apply to you, you can continue with the application.
You will also be given a choice in how you’d like to handle the cash in your account hat is not being invested. The default is to put the non-invested funds into an FDIC-insured deposit account. You also have the option of having the funds deposited into a TD Ameritrade account that earns interest and is protected by the Securities Investor Protection Corporation, or SIPC.
Your final set of questions and agreements are from the IRS and resemble the W-9 form. You will check your Social Security or Tax Identification Number. Then you will have a choice about whether or not to withhold your taxes. You will be asked if you are a United States citizen as well. When you have finished with these questions, you can continue to the next page.
Step 5: Establish Your Login
Your login details are the final step in the application process. You will have a chance to select a new username and password and to set your preferred answers to the security questions. Once you’ve completed these steps, the new account will be opened.
The final screen will show that your account is opened and it will show your new account number. You can now fund your account to your liking and begin any trading activities using your new account.
Now your new account should be opened and ready for trading! Congratulations!
Many American investors are realizing that there are interesting investment opportunities in Canada thanks to the emerging marijuana market and other booming industries. If you are interested in investing in Canadian markets, a new Canadian TD Ameritrade account can give you access to the stock markets you can’t access through American exchanges.
Why not set up a new account today?
