I talked to a Merril Lynch representative and he told me that you have to have $2,000 up front before they would even considering taking the time to let you pick some stocks. Is this the case for all stock companies? If so, can I just go online straight to some of these Blue Chip companies and invest online with them without even having to go through these brokers to invest in stock? For example, could I go online at Walmart or Pepsi or Mc Donald's and invest through them online?
Merril doesn't want your measily $2k. this is not a dis on you, just a statement of the "status" of brokerage houses. these places suck for the investor starting out. Go online and buy what you can afford with a discount brokerage. You can also buy shares from certain companies directly. contact investor relations departments for the companies you would like to buy from. the guy above me mentioned sharebuilder.com check it out.