For newcomers to the online forex market, choosing a forex broker is a key step to becoming a successful trader. You will want to choose a broker who will be a good fit for you and who has the experience necessary to help you be successful. The choice should be one that will last throughout your trading career. A “good” broker is not necessarily the right broker for every trader. You need to find a broker who will match you in aggressiveness, who is experienced working with the kinds of investments you are wanting to make and that you can afford. Following are some simple steps to follow in the process of finding a forex broker.

Step 1: Research

When seeking a forex broker, there are certain credentials you will want to look for. Be sure to find a broker who is registered with one or more regulating authorities. Brokers in the United States should be affiliated with the National Futures Association (NFA) or the Commodities Futures Trading Commission (CFTC); for brokers in the United Kingdom, look for the Financial Service Authority.

How much or how little leverage does the broker require for a trade? This question is very important to a new trader who does not have a lot of capital to work with. Some brokers will only broker a deal with a substantial investment. If you are a conservative trader or have a slim budget to get started, be sure to seek a broker who will work with what you can afford and will not pressure you to go beyond your limits.

If you plan to hold positions overnight, it will be necessary to find a forex broker who credits or debits daily rollover interest. This is a practice that not all brokers will take part in, and depending on the kind of trading you are hoping to process, this will be a very important point.

Step 2: Compare Brokers

Once you have researched a number of forex brokers, and have narrowed your choice down to the top two or three options, take the time to compare their histories and statistics. There are websites available that will delineate vital information about each broker so you can compare their strengths and weakness, their habits, and their requirements. Use this to rank your choices.

Step 3: Open Demo Accounts and Ask Questions

Demo trading sites are available online. New traders can “practice” without investing money at these sites. It is advisable that you choose two brokers, and open a demo account with each of them. This will give you an opportunity to experience simulations of real trade experiences so that you can ask educated questions and observe each broker as they respond to various situations. The advantage here is twofold: first, you will learn a great deal about the practice of forex trading before investing any real money, and second, you will get to experience each broker's techniques and reactions in real life scenarios. After this experience, you will likely have chosen your most appropriate forex broker.