Over the years, I didn’t notice that, notwithstanding my instructions, dividends were not reinvested. One thing I didn’t take note of was the failure of my online broker to execute my instructions. I should have checked and double-checked, but I didn’t.
Online brokers, in my opinion, are sloppy. The people answering the phone are poorly trained and often cannot handle technical matters. Sometimes, if I call a few times asking the same question, I get three different answers. The other maddening part of all this is the refusal to put things in writing. It’s clear to me what the reason is, but I’m not going there.
Be careful. Take notes. Note the time. Double-check everything they tell you. Double-check that instructions have been followed. Take nothing for granted and assume that if something goes wrong, they will take no responsibility for it.
