I would advise choosing a broker based on your trading skills and strategy. For example, I prefer using FP markets for scalping since their spreads and commission costs are lower than most brokers.
I suggest looking for a regulated broker with suitable trading conditions based on your trading skills. For example, I use FP Markets for scalping because they provide tighter spreads and faster executions than other ecn brokers.
The main factor to look for when choosing a broker is to use regulated brokers with good customer service like FP Markets so that they can answer your queries even during the intial stages.
It is not crime to use a broker that is not regulated, but be careful though because when things go wrong there will be no one to hold accountable but yourself. So lets just say regulation gives you that sense of security and trust even when there are other very important things to look out for. For instance, in my case with forex chief it was not just about regulation but mainly about how long they have been in the market, trading now for over 8 years now says a lot.
yes spreads is really a important financial tool which an investor should consider when choosing a broker.
most people will look for regulation and spread. An unregulated broker is more or less a scam broker and you will just lose all your money. Spreads are also important as different broker offer different spread on their trading instruments so lower spreads can really save your trading cost.
Like I said before it shouldn't just be about regulation alone even though it should be a must in the factors you consider. But look for other important factors before you choose, like I mentioned in my previous reply that I chose forex chief for being in the market for long, that can been something we consider before we choose. Or the fact that they have very good responsive customer service with several language options that's available 24/7 was another thing that drew me. That's another thing we can consider too, there are so many other very good factors to put in mind, just first define what you want.