Should You Dump Your Broker? Give your Broker the 5-Part Test
State of the Statement
If you think your account statements are confusing, join the club. More than one-fifth of investors say their brokerage statements are difficult to understand — even more challenging than cell phone guides, according to a recent survey by consultants Siegel & Gale. Analysts say the best account statements include a simple summary with a snapshot of how the investor fared during the statement period, plus the total value of the account. The bigger and bolder the type, the better, according to Dalbar, a firm that analyzes brokerage statements. Raymond James added larger fonts and easier-to-read charts and graphs just over a year ago, and that helped the brokerage nail high marks in two recent studies comparing account statements.
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