As TV detective Theo Kojak used to quip: "Who loves ya, baby?" That's the question online investors need to ask themselves these days. Many who are venturing back into the market will find a rather frayed welcome mat. The majority of the most popular places to trade via the Internet―12 brokerage firms handle 75% of all online trades―have instituted a multitude of service levels. The amount you pay to play―as well as the kinds of research and tools you can use―often depends on which level you qualify for. Have $1 million to invest? Or a mere $30,000 in household assets―but you make more than 120 trades a year? Then, Fidelity.com will charge only $8 for a market or a limit order. Don't have much cash―or the itch to shop for stocks once or twice a week? Then a limit order will cost you $37.95, plus 2c for shares after the first 1,000.
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