The $6.99 monthly fee is an investment expense, not a commission. The additional $2.99 fees are commissions. Here's the explanation:

 

In order for an expense to be a commission it must be identified and incurred because of a specific action you take with regard to the purchase or sale of an asset. Since the $6.99 is charged whether or not you trade in a month it is not a commission. Since the additional $2.99 charges are only incurred when you make trades beyond the 2/month you're allowed, and the $2.99 charge is applied to each transaction in excess of 2, it is a commission.

 

Ira Smilovitz

 

Paul Bleicher wrote:
> We are a new club (and I am a new treasurer) thinking of
> using buyandhold.com, which charges $6.99 per month
> (covering up to 2 trades) and $2.99 for each additional
> trade within the month.  We would use accountsync, but I am
> just trying to understand the allocation of commissions to
> expenses.
>
> Does the $6.99 get associated with two specific trades each
> month?  Or is it a standalone expense?  What if you do only
> one trade - is it all linked to the one trade?  How about if
> you do NO trades?
>
> Is there a difference listing it as an investment expense
> vs. an actual fee associated with a specific trade?

Good question!  Did you ever get an answer?
Marsha