Interactive Brokers is often recommended as if the case were closed. It is not. IBKR is powerful, but it comes with interface friction, setup complexity, and a learning curve that many investors underestimate.
The real edge is not branding. It is the stack: broad market access, strong execution, low financing costs, and a platform built for people who care about detail. Those benefits are real, but they come with a usability tax.
For some investors, that trade-off is worth it immediately. For others, a simpler broker is the better decision until the complexity of the portfolio justifies the heavier infrastructure.