Based on your financial expertise, provide your response or viewpoint on the given financial question or topic. The response format is open.

Free brokerage vs paid - pros and cons
Emotion aside, you can calculate the cost of the funds you have tied up at the bank.  If I can earn 5% in a CD, my "free" checking with minimum $5000 balance really costs me $250/yr. You have money tied up, I understand, but where would you place it otherwise, and at what return?  The subject of frequent trading even at zero cost is worth addressing, but not the real subject of your question. So, I'll leave it for elsewhere.