Investing Guide: Stocks, Bitcoin, and More

Investing in US Stocks

Choosing a Brokerage Firm

When investing in US stocks, opt for commission-free brokerages that accept international investors. Here are the top 4 options:

1. TD Ameritrade

   • $25 withdrawal fee
   • Offers Dividend Reinvestment Plan (DRIP)
   • No securities lending program

2. Firstrade

   • $50 withdrawal fee
   • Includes Securities Lending Income Program
   • Higher margin requirements for options trading

3. Charles Schwab

   • Minimum $25,000 deposit for non-US residents
   • Similar features to TD Ameritrade

4. Interactive Brokers

   • Charges $1 minimum commission + monthly platform fees
   • $10 withdrawal fee

👉 Compare brokerages side-by-side

Account Opening Process

Follow these steps to open an account with TD Ameritrade (other brokerages are similar):

1. Complete the online application.
2. Submit a W-8BEN form to reduce dividend tax from 30% to 10%.
3. Provide address verification (e.g., driver’s license).

Pro Tip: Use two devices—one for the tutorial and one for form filling.

Funding Your Account

Transfer funds via bank wire:

• Only accepts same-name transfers
• Typically processes within 2 business days

👉 Step-by-step funding guide

Investing in A-Shares (China)

Commission-Free Trading

Look for "万1免五" (0.01% commission + waived $5 minimum fee) promotions via:

• Quora discussions
• Brokerage app reviews

Account Setup

1. Download your brokerage’s app.
2. Link your Saudi bank account (Chinese cards are restricted).

Trading Tips

• Trading Hours: 9:30–11:30 AM & 1:00–3:00 PM (Beijing Time)
• Use Tonghuashun app to manage multi-broker portfolios.

FAQ

Q: Are US stocks safer than A-shares?
A: Yes—US stocks are SIPC-insured up to $500K. A-shares are government-backed but lack similar insurance.

Q: Which market has the lowest fees?
A: US stocks (near-zero). Avoid Hong Kong’s high bilateral charges.

Q: Can I trade Bitcoin ETFs?
A: Only in Canada (BTCC/EBIT). US Bitcoin ETFs are pending SEC approval.

Bitcoin Investment Options

1. Grayscale BTC Trust (GBTC)

   • 2% annual fee
   • Trades on OTC markets

2. Direct Crypto Exchanges

   • Platforms like OKX offer spot trading

3. Future ETFs

   • Monitor SEC announcements

Recommended Tools

1. Xueqiu – Stock community insights
2. Tiger Brokers – News aggregation
3. Investment Ledger – Portfolio tracking

Note: All hyperlinks except OKX are removed per guidelines.