If you are just getting started in the stock market and looking to learn how to make money online with by trading stocks, you’re going to need the right tools and software. While I truly do understand why it seems logical to seek out a broker as one of the first things on the “to do” list as a newer trader, it’s 100% the wrong step to take. If you are looking to manage your trades in the smartest way possible to make money, you need to first learn how to trade and build a stock trading strategy for yourself. After this important step, you can begin to ask and seek out the best online broker for your strategy and system. All brokers and platforms are designed for different strategies and styles (day trader or swing trader), so you need to identify your goals as Step 1.