It's hard to go wrong choosing an online brokerage these days. Just about all of the firms in our recent broker ranking allow investors to trade stocks, bonds, mutual funds and exchange-traded funds online, and all provide ample research and tools to help users make educated financial decisions. With so many brokers offering similar services (and at reasonable prices), your choice may depend on one or two features.

Here are some lesser-known online brokerage perks.

Income Estimators

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Dividend-paying firms typically disburse cash every three months. If you invest for income, you may have a diverse portfolio of stocks, but if many of them pay out on the same schedule, you may find yourself going through long spells with little cash flowing in.

Three brokers -