Free Trading Apps Shake up Industry

Traditional stock trading firms are beginning to feel the pressure from fintech startups who offer in many cases free trading or significantly cheaper trading; the wealth management industry as a whole has been under pressure in recent years to lower fees; these new apps are forcing traditional houses to bring prices down, though some are sticking to their model as they claim the process of clearing and settlement is not cheap; the issue fintech startups will need to figure out is how they can make money in the long term since they will need to reach a certain scale or raise prices to drive revenue; as with many other areas of financial services fintech firms are providing a better, cheaper experience but the questions of if they can make enough revenue and ultimately profit is unknown. Source.