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The comparison reads the same evidence fields used by broker profiles, so users can scan scores, regulation, costs, platforms, withdrawals, and caveats side by side.

Broker 1

Broker 2

VS field	Phillip POEMS poems.com.sg Stock BrokerETF BrokerETF	Charles Schwab schwab.com Stock BrokerETF BrokerMutual Fund
Decision summary
Overall score

Trust score	90	100

Cost score	82	92

Platform score	85	94

Withdrawal score	80	89

Best for	Singapore multi-asset investors · SGX/CDP users · investors combining stocks, ETFs, funds, bonds and leveraged products	Best suited for U.S.-centric investors and active traders who want a large, bank-affiliated multi-asset brokerage with $0 online listed stock/ETF commissions, strong platform dept…

Watch out	Needs verification	Needs verification

Trust & regulation
Regulators	Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) Source	SEC; FINRA; SIPC; CFTC; NFA; FDIC Source
License numbers	MAS FID lists licence statuses but no separate licence number was found in checked sources; company registration/UEN is 197501035Z. Source	Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. CRD 5393; SEC 801-29938 and 8-16514 Source
Regulated entities	Phillip Securities Pte Ltd; incorporated in Singapore Source	Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.; Charles Schwab Futures and Forex LLC; Charles Schwab Bank, SSB; Charles Schwab Premier Bank, SSB Source
Negative balance protection	No negative balance protection found; Cash Plus infosheet warns customers are responsible for shortfalls and leveraged trading losses may exceed initial funds. Source	Not disclosed as retail brokerage negative balance protection; futures/forex are leveraged and losses may exceed initial investment. Source
Investor compensation	No investor compensation scheme was identified in checked POEMS/MAS pages; assets may be held at CDP, in PSPL custody, or trust accounts depending on account/product. Source	SIPC protection up to $500,000 including a $250,000 cash limit for brokerage account assets; futures accounts are not protected by SIPC. Source
Restricted countries	Account eligibility excludes U.S. Persons; product disclaimers also state products are not offered to U.S. Persons. Source	Not all products, services, or investments are available in all countries; Schwab is not registered outside the United States and products/services may not be registered in a user's jurisdiction. Source

Trust & regulation

Regulators

Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS)

Source

SEC; FINRA; SIPC; CFTC; NFA; FDIC

Source

License numbers

MAS FID lists licence statuses but no separate licence number was found in checked sources; company registration/UEN is 197501035Z.

Source

Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. CRD 5393; SEC 801-29938 and 8-16514

Source

Regulated entities

Phillip Securities Pte Ltd; incorporated in Singapore

Source

Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.; Charles Schwab Futures and Forex LLC; Charles Schwab Bank, SSB; Charles Schwab Premier Bank, SSB

Source

Negative balance protection

No negative balance protection found; Cash Plus infosheet warns customers are responsible for shortfalls and leveraged trading losses may exceed initial funds.

Source

Not disclosed as retail brokerage negative balance protection; futures/forex are leveraged and losses may exceed initial investment.

Source

Investor compensation

No investor compensation scheme was identified in checked POEMS/MAS pages; assets may be held at CDP, in PSPL custody, or trust accounts depending on account/product.

Source

SIPC protection up to $500,000 including a $250,000 cash limit for brokerage account assets; futures accounts are not protected by SIPC.

Source

Restricted countries

Account eligibility excludes U.S. Persons; product disclaimers also state products are not offered to U.S. Persons.

Source

Not all products, services, or investments are available in all countries; Schwab is not registered outside the United States and products/services may not be registered in a user's jurisdiction.

Source

Costs & account conditions
Minimum deposit	No general minimum opening deposit disclosed for Cash Plus/Cash Management; eNETS deposit minimum is S$1,000 and SMART Portfolio starts from S$300. Source	$0 minimum for standard U.S. brokerage and IRA accounts; Schwab One International accounts require a minimum deposit but amount is not disclosed in checked official pages. Source
Spread from	Not disclosed in checked POEMS pages; broker primarily publishes brokerage/commission rates, while FX/CFD spreads may depend on Phillip Nova/CFD product pages. Source	Not applicable to this stock/ETF investment broker profile; no CFD/FX spread schedule identified as a core product in reviewed sources. Source
Commission	Cash Plus: US 0 commission; SG 0.08% to 0.06% no min. Cash Management/Margin: SG 0.28% to 0.18% min S$25; US 0.30% min US$20. Source	stock_commission: $0 online commission for listed stocks and ETFs; OTC equities $6.95; broker-assisted service charge $25; etf_commission: $0 online commission for listed U.S.-exchange ETFs; options_commission: $0 online base commission plus $0.65 per options contract; futures_commission: $2.25 per contract, per side, for futures and futures options; exchange, regulatory, overnight, NFA, and market-data fees may apply; mutual_fund_commission: $0 on thousands of Schwab Mutual Fund OneSource funds; all other mutual funds up to $74.95 per purchase; bond_commission: New-issue bonds/CDs: $0 online/selling concession included; Treasuries online $0; most other secondary bonds $1 per bond with $10 minimum and $250 maximum; forex_commission: $0 commission; forex trade costs are reflected in the bid/ask spread Source
Maximum leverage	Cash Plus up to 5x cash deposit; CFDs up to 20x leverage. Source	Not disclosed as a single broker-level maximum; leverage/margin depends on product, account approval, and regulatory/product requirements. Source
Deposit fee	No blanket POEMS deposit fee found; S$20 + GST admin fee for missing/incorrect references; DBS MCA foreign-currency transfer has $0 fee. Source	$0 for funds entering a standard brokerage account; banking deposit services generally no monthly/account minimum fees, but certain services can have fees Source
Withdrawal fee	Ordinary cash withdrawal fee not clearly disclosed in checked pages; replacement cheque administration charge S$50 + GST and TT/bank charges may apply. Source	No fee for routine withdrawals from standard brokerage per FAQ; full outbound ACAT $50 and outgoing wire $25; Schwab Bank Investor Checking has unlimited ATM fee rebates for cash withdrawals worldwide, subject to conditions. Source
Inactivity fee	No general inactivity fee found; custody/account maintenance charges can apply if activity/asset-value waiver conditions are not met. Source	$0 annual maintenance/inactivity fee for standard brokerage accounts Source

Costs & account conditions

Minimum deposit

No general minimum opening deposit disclosed for Cash Plus/Cash Management; eNETS deposit minimum is S$1,000 and SMART Portfolio starts from S$300.

Source

$0 minimum for standard U.S. brokerage and IRA accounts; Schwab One International accounts require a minimum deposit but amount is not disclosed in checked official pages.

Source

Spread from

Not disclosed in checked POEMS pages; broker primarily publishes brokerage/commission rates, while FX/CFD spreads may depend on Phillip Nova/CFD product pages.

Source

Not applicable to this stock/ETF investment broker profile; no CFD/FX spread schedule identified as a core product in reviewed sources.

Source

Commission

Cash Plus: US 0 commission; SG 0.08% to 0.06% no min. Cash Management/Margin: SG 0.28% to 0.18% min S$25; US 0.30% min US$20.

Source

stock_commission: $0 online commission for listed stocks and ETFs; OTC equities $6.95; broker-assisted service charge $25; etf_commission: $0 online commission for listed U.S.-exchange ETFs; options_commission: $0 online base commission plus $0.65 per options contract; futures_commission: $2.25 per contract, per side, for futures and futures options; exchange, regulatory, overnight, NFA, and market-data fees may apply; mutual_fund_commission: $0 on thousands of Schwab Mutual Fund OneSource funds; all other mutual funds up to $74.95 per purchase; bond_commission: New-issue bonds/CDs: $0 online/selling concession included; Treasuries online $0; most other secondary bonds $1 per bond with $10 minimum and $250 maximum; forex_commission: $0 commission; forex trade costs are reflected in the bid/ask spread

Source

Maximum leverage

Cash Plus up to 5x cash deposit; CFDs up to 20x leverage.

Source

Not disclosed as a single broker-level maximum; leverage/margin depends on product, account approval, and regulatory/product requirements.

Source

Deposit fee

No blanket POEMS deposit fee found; S$20 + GST admin fee for missing/incorrect references; DBS MCA foreign-currency transfer has $0 fee.

Source

$0 for funds entering a standard brokerage account; banking deposit services generally no monthly/account minimum fees, but certain services can have fees

Source

Withdrawal fee

Ordinary cash withdrawal fee not clearly disclosed in checked pages; replacement cheque administration charge S$50 + GST and TT/bank charges may apply.

Source

No fee for routine withdrawals from standard brokerage per FAQ; full outbound ACAT $50 and outgoing wire $25; Schwab Bank Investor Checking has unlimited ATM fee rebates for cash withdrawals worldwide, subject to conditions.

Source

Inactivity fee

No general inactivity fee found; custody/account maintenance charges can apply if activity/asset-value waiver conditions are not met.

Source

$0 annual maintenance/inactivity fee for standard brokerage accounts

Source

Markets, platforms & payments
Tradable assets	Stocks, ETFs, CFDs, bonds, unit trusts/funds, forex, futures, options, RSP/SBP, robo-advisory and money-market/cash solutions. Source	Stocks; fractional shares; ETFs; mutual funds; bonds/CDs/fixed income; money market funds; options; futures; futures options; forex; international stocks/ADRs/foreign ordinaries; cash products; annuities; alternatives; crypto ETPs/securities/futures. Source
Trading platforms	POEMS Mobile 3 app, POEMS 2.0 web portal, POEMS Pro Windows desktop, POEMS Mobile 2.0 and broker-assisted trading representative access. Source	Schwab.com; Schwab Mobile; thinkorswim desktop; thinkorswim web; thinkorswim mobile; paperMoney Source
Account types	Cash Plus, Cash Management/CDP-linked, Margin, Prepaid (CC), Custodian, SMART Portfolio and Managed Account options. Source	Individual Brokerage; Joint Brokerage; Schwab One Brokerage; Investor Checking-linked brokerage; Futures Account; Global Account; IRAs; custodial, education, trust, estate, organization, and business retirement accounts; Schwab Intelligent Portfolios. Source
Deposit methods	PayNow, DBS MCA transfer, FAST, eNETS, EPS, Internet Bill Payment, eGIRO, USD cheque and cross-border telegraphic transfer. Source	ACH/electronic transfer/MoneyLink; wire transfer; check/mail check; Schwab Mobile Deposit for checking; direct deposit for checking; account transfer/ACAT; branch/in-person deposit where available. Source
Withdrawal methods	Login to POEMS > Stocks > Online Forms > Withdrawal form; transfer to pre-registered local bank account via quick cheque or collect cheque from cashier; not available for Cash Trading Account. Source	Transfer to linked bank/checking; wire transfer; check; ATM/debit card for Schwab Bank Investor Checking; ACAT outbound account transfer. Source
Withdrawal processing time	Before-10am linked-bank withdrawals are described as almost immediate; rejected-payment refunds: PayNow up to 1 week, other modes at least 2 weeks. Source	Cash moved from brokerage to linked Investor Checking is generally available in seconds, but weekend/after-hours transfers may not be available until the next business day; other withdrawal methods vary/not fully disclosed on checked pages. Source

Markets, platforms & payments

Tradable assets

Stocks, ETFs, CFDs, bonds, unit trusts/funds, forex, futures, options, RSP/SBP, robo-advisory and money-market/cash solutions.

Source

Stocks; fractional shares; ETFs; mutual funds; bonds/CDs/fixed income; money market funds; options; futures; futures options; forex; international stocks/ADRs/foreign ordinaries; cash products; annuities; alternatives; crypto ETPs/securities/futures.

Source

Trading platforms

POEMS Mobile 3 app, POEMS 2.0 web portal, POEMS Pro Windows desktop, POEMS Mobile 2.0 and broker-assisted trading representative access.

Source

Schwab.com; Schwab Mobile; thinkorswim desktop; thinkorswim web; thinkorswim mobile; paperMoney

Source

Account types

Cash Plus, Cash Management/CDP-linked, Margin, Prepaid (CC), Custodian, SMART Portfolio and Managed Account options.

Source

Individual Brokerage; Joint Brokerage; Schwab One Brokerage; Investor Checking-linked brokerage; Futures Account; Global Account; IRAs; custodial, education, trust, estate, organization, and business retirement accounts; Schwab Intelligent Portfolios.

Source

Deposit methods

PayNow, DBS MCA transfer, FAST, eNETS, EPS, Internet Bill Payment, eGIRO, USD cheque and cross-border telegraphic transfer.

Source

ACH/electronic transfer/MoneyLink; wire transfer; check/mail check; Schwab Mobile Deposit for checking; direct deposit for checking; account transfer/ACAT; branch/in-person deposit where available.

Source

Withdrawal methods

Login to POEMS > Stocks > Online Forms > Withdrawal form; transfer to pre-registered local bank account via quick cheque or collect cheque from cashier; not available for Cash Trading Account.

Source

Transfer to linked bank/checking; wire transfer; check; ATM/debit card for Schwab Bank Investor Checking; ACAT outbound account transfer.

Source

Withdrawal processing time

Before-10am linked-bank withdrawals are described as almost immediate; rejected-payment refunds: PayNow up to 1 week, other modes at least 2 weeks.

Source

Cash moved from brokerage to linked Investor Checking is generally available in seconds, but weekend/after-hours transfers may not be available until the next business day; other withdrawal methods vary/not fully disclosed on checked pages.

Source

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