ShareBuilder Stays Above the Fray, Partners With Wal-Mart to Make Investing Easier

BELLEVUE, Wash. — Having more in common than most may think, ShareBuilder Corp. and Wal-Mart Stores Inc. have come together to make investing easier for those new to investing and at the same time, put a dent in the nation’s dismal savings rate.

Launched April 27, ShareBuilder’s “Easy Investing” service was presented to Wal-Mart customers and employees. In many ways, Easy Investing is the ShareBuilder service in its regular form and at usual prices. The differences are the standard program costs $8 instead of $12 per month, and investors get four instead of six pre-paid purchase transactions. The “Advantage” recurring investment program costs $16 instead of $20 per month, and investors get 16 instead of 20 pre-paid purchase transactions. Customers are also presented early with ShareBuilder’s Money Market Investing or Stock Market Investing. ShareBuilder’s regular format takes users right to a page to buy stocks or exchange traded funds. Wal-Mart employees get a $25 reward for opening and funding an account.