In order to begin trading, you will need to find a forex broker. The job of the forex broker is to connect you to an underlying market that you wouldn’t otherwise be able to access. This way you can transact your trades there. Your choice of broker is extremely important. Make sure you take the necessary steps to compare forex brokers and find the best forex broker that is well suited to your trading style.

Here are 5 key things that you should consider when choosing a forex broker:

Safety

Check to see if your broker of choice is registered with a regulatory agency. For example, the National Futures Association (NFA) or Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) in the US or the Financial Service Authority (FSA) in the United Kingdom. The forex broker is probably not a safe choice if they aren’t registered with these agencies or an equivalent in the country that they are based in.

Trading Conditions of the Forex Broker

Review the trading conditions for the forex broker. Do they operate under a dealing desk or market-making model? Are fixed spreads available, and how wide are the spreads compared to other brokers? If trading with direct access into the interbank market, how competitive is the broker’s commission charges and other account fees?

Leverage

What level of leverage is available from the broker? Does it suit your strategy, your appetite for risk, and your financial goals? Excessive use of leverage causes many traders to go bust. Try to choose a broker who offers you an appropriate amount for your needs rather than simply the one with the most leverage. For new traders, “micro-accounts” can be a good way to start out. “Micro accounts” allow smaller lot sizes – does the broker offer these?

Strategy

If your trading strategy requires you to hold positions overnight, does the broker credit or debit interest on any rollover from one day to the next? The costs of paying interest on leveraged short positions can soon add up in your brokerage account.

Services Offered by the Forex Broker

If premium services are important to your trading plan, can your broker provide these at a competitive price? Check the availability of charting, news feeds, and market commentary, along with any other tools you may need.

You can compare forex brokers on this site. They also have some of the most detailed and in-depth reviews that I have been able to find online. They only list two brokers that serve clients in the US, so if you’re wanting to open an account from there then I suggest looking at sites like stockbrokers.com, which list stock brokers that also offer forex trading.