Successful Investment in the US Stock Market in 2025, Choosing the Right Trading Platform is Key

The era where real-time access to the US stock market is a privilege only for the wealthy is over. Domestic investors can now easily access US stocks, but the challenge lies in choosing the right platform. There are many factors to consider, from trading fees and security to user interface.

5 Checkpoints You Must Not Miss When Choosing a Platform

Here is a checklist of things to verify before starting US stock investment.

1. Regulatory status and investor protection measures

A safe trading environment is the foundation of all investments. Make sure the platform has passed financial supervision systems in major countries like Australia and the UK. Especially for global brokers, it’s important to check whether customer funds are kept separate from company assets and whether investor protection insurance is in place.

2. Variety of trading products

Verify whether only US stocks are available or if bonds, commodities, cryptocurrencies, and more are included. Having access to diverse asset classes on one platform is advantageous for portfolio diversification.

3. Importance of transparent fee structures

Some platforms advertise 0% trading fees, but spreads or currency exchange fees may be hidden. It’s essential to accurately calculate and compare the total trading costs.

4. Korean language support and customer service

Even global platforms that operate in Korean websites and offer real-time chat support can resolve issues much faster. This goes beyond simple convenience and directly impacts investor satisfaction.

5. Speed of deposits and withdrawals, and variety of methods

Check whether funds can be transferred via credit cards, e-wallets, etc., and how fast the processing is. Quick deposits and withdrawals are essential to respond swiftly to market changes.

Comparison of Major Trading Platforms

Global brokerage platform: MTrade

Strengths

• No trading fees (only spreads apply)
• Offers a variety of products including US stocks, forex, indices, cryptocurrencies
• Regulated in Australia and the UK, with investor insurance
• Rich Korean-language analysis materials and news
• Intuitive design on both web and mobile platforms
• Advanced features like take profit and stop loss

Weaknesses

• Only CFD products are tradable, not actual stocks (dividends are paid)

Domestic securities firms: 4 comparisons

Toss Securities

• User-friendly, simple interface suitable for beginners
• Excellent usability focused on mobile
• Past long system outages (86 hours in June)
• Lacks advanced features for professionals

Mirae Asset Securities

• Solid financial structure with 14 trillion KRW in capital
• High system stability
• Frequently runs promotions for overseas stock investors
• Experienced a customer account hacking incident in 2023
• Interface may be somewhat complex for beginners

Kiwoom Securities

• Long-standing preferential policies on overseas stock commissions
• Various benefits like cash rewards events
• High trading stability
• Mobile app usability is relatively lower

Samsung Securities

• Multi-layer security including account transfer passwords, OTP, security cards
• Operates anomaly detection systems
• Clean mobile app interface
• Experienced a ghost stock incident due to dividend error in 2018

NH Investment & Securities

With a capital of 10 trillion KRW, it is financially stable, but has a history of multiple system failures such as HTS/MTS outages and price inquiry errors in 2022.

Summary Table Comparing Platforms

Domestic Securities Firms vs. Global Platforms, Which to Choose

When to choose a domestic securities firm

• Need high reliability within the domestic financial supervision system
• Require 100% Korean language service
• Prefer KRW deposits and withdrawals
• Want dispute resolution under domestic law

When to choose a global broker

• Need to utilize short selling (short selling)
• Wish to trade with leverage
• Want to trade various assets beyond stocks
• Prioritize minimizing fees

How much is needed to invest in US stocks?

Most platforms have very low minimum deposits, but actual trading requires purchasing at least one share of the stock. For example, if a stock costs $1,000, at least $100 is needed.

Fortunately, many platforms support fractional shares (fractional shares). This means you can buy 0.1 shares at $100 or 0.2 shares at $200 for a $1,000 stock.

Using leverage allows for larger trades with less capital. At a 1:10 leverage ratio, $100 can open a position worth $1,000.

Essential features provided by trading platforms

Technical analysis tools and signals

Indicators like MACD, RSI, Bollinger Bands, and price charts are standard. Platforms offering AI alerts enable more efficient trading.

Research and market analysis materials

Using platforms that provide proprietary research enhances investment decisions. Especially those like MTrade that offer analysis in Korean are very helpful for domestic investors.

Economic calendar and earnings release schedules

Market volatility often increases around major economic data releases and corporate earnings reports. Knowing these in advance helps in timing trades.

Risk management features

Functions like take profit, stop loss, and trailing stops help reduce emotional trading and execute plans effectively. Portfolio tracking features allow real-time monitoring of unrealized gains/losses and returns.

Practical tips you must know when investing in US stocks

Diversification across sectors

Buying multiple stocks is not diversification. Buying only IT companies like Google (IT) tends to move together. True diversification involves investing in different asset classes such as Google ###IT###, essential goods companies, bonds, gold, etc.

Tax strategy planning

If capital gains from US stocks exceed 2.5 million KRW annually, a 22% capital gains tax applies. This significantly impacts net returns, so plan ahead. Using tax filing services offered by domestic securities firms can help.

( Understanding exchange rate fluctuations

US stocks require dollar exchange. Even if stock prices rise, a falling exchange rate can reduce KRW-denominated gains. Conversely, holding dollar assets during a rising exchange rate can generate forex gains.

) Collecting real-time US market information

The US stock market operates in a different time zone from Korea. Knowing trading hours precisely and regularly monitoring important news and research reports are essential habits.

Final advice

Success in US stock investing depends half on platform choice and half on investment skills.

If you need to trade various asset classes and want a global-level platform, MTrade is a reasonable choice. It is regulated in Australia and the UK, supports Korean language, and offers low fees to minimize total trading costs.

If stability is your priority, consider domestic securities firms with strong financial health such as Mirae Asset, Kiwoom, etc…

For beginners, starting small and gradually increasing investment size after gaining experience is recommended. Given the high volatility of the US stock market, it’s wise to undergo sufficient learning before full-scale investing.

Start with a simple 3-step process

Step 1: Enter personal information and submit the application
Step 2: Deposit funds via credit card or e-wallet
Step 3: Seize trading opportunities and execute orders immediately