The Ascent’s 2024 Stock Broker and Robo-Advisor Awards
Our best stock brokers for beginners, options, IRAs and more
To determine the Best Stock Brokers and Robo-Advisors awards for 2024, The Ascent’s experts evaluated accounts with our ratings model, focusing on industry factors and user benefits, including:
- Assets and portfolio options
- Account variety (like 529, custodial, IRAs, and trusts)
- Features like tax loss harvesting, research, and customer service
- Trading platform and mobile app ratings
![Fidelity](https://m.foolcdn.com/media/affiliates/brokerage-art/Fidelity_Invest_Logo_SHNMpUO.png?width=280)
Best Stock Broker Overall
Fidelity
Fidelity is one of the largest and one of the most well-rounded brokerages available in the U.S. today. Importantly, Fidelity offers $0 commission for online stock and ETF trades, plus a high-quality mobile app that's good for both beginners and seasoned investors.
Fidelity disclosure
Fractional share quantities can be entered out to 3 decimal places (.001) as long as the value of the order is at least $1.00. Dollar-based trades can be entered out to 2 decimal places (e.g. $250.00)
![SoFi Active Investing](https://m.foolcdn.com/media/affiliates/brokerage-art/SoFi-logo.jpg?width=280)
Best Stock Broker for Beginners
SoFi Active Investing
SoFi has built a robust and valuable ecosystem to help manage your money in one place. SoFi Active Investing enhances that ecosystem with $0 stock commissions and low account minimums.
![Tastytrade](https://m.foolcdn.com/media/affiliates/original_images/tastytrade.png?width=280)
Best Stock Broker for Options Trading
Tastytrade
A true options-first broker that sprinkles in the ability to trade mostly stocks, ETFs, and futures. The standouts are its options trading platform and commission structure.
tastytrade, Inc. (“tastytrade”) has entered into a Marketing Agreement with Marketing Agent (“Marketing Agent”) whereby tastytrade pays compensation to Marketing Agent to recommend tastytrade’s brokerage services. The existence of this Marketing Agreement should not be deemed as an endorsement or recommendation of Marketing Agent by tastytrade and/or any of its affiliated companies. Neither tastytrade nor any of its affiliated companies is responsible for the privacy practices of Marketing Agent or this website. tastytrade does not warrant the accuracy or content of the products or services offered by Marketing Agent or this website. Marketing Agent is independent and is not an affiliate of tastytrade.
tastytrade was previously known as tastyworks, Inc.
![Interactive Brokers](https://m.foolcdn.com/media/affiliates/original_images/IB_logo_stacked_black_text3x_ZTsS8cn.png?width=280)
Best Stock Broker for International Trading
Interactive Brokers
Interactive Brokers' Trader Workstation offers access to more than 150 markets around the globe, several times more markets than any other discount brokerage firm. Investors can also trade assets in 27 different currencies.
![Charles Schwab](https://m.foolcdn.com/media/affiliates/brokerage-art/charles_SCHWAB_logo_B7VhSLT.png?width=280)
Best Stock Broker for IRAs
Charles Schwab
Schwab sports hundreds of no-commission ETFs and the largest amount of no-transaction-fee mutual funds of any broker we evaluated, and individual stock trades are now $0. Its lineup of retirement accounts expands beyond just online access to robust account management capabilities via its mobile app.
![Wealthfront](https://m.foolcdn.com/media/affiliates/brokerage-art/WealthFront.png?width=280)
Best Robo Advisor Overall
Wealthfront
If you have a large account balance or are in a high tax bracket, Wealthfront could be great for you as tax-loss harvesting can result in significant savings. Robo trading and advising capabilities are just one of the many investor-friendly features that help to simplify the process.
![Betterment](https://m.foolcdn.com/media/affiliates/brokerage-art/betterment_new_logomark-color.png?width=280)
Best Robo Advisor for IRAs
Betterment
Betterment offers a wide array of investment services and account types, along with essential cash management features such as a high-yield cash account. Best yet, Betterment is now offering up to one year managed free. Top it off with one the best robo investors available, and Betterment is a perfect fit for investors of every experience level.
Betterment disclaimers
†Betterment Cash Reserve ("Cash Reserve") is offered by Betterment LLC. Clients of Betterment LLC participate in Cash Reserve through their brokerage account held at Betterment Securities. Neither Betterment LLC nor any of its affiliates is a bank. Through Cash Reserve, clients' funds are deposited into one or more banks ("Program Banks") where the funds earn a variable interest rate and are eligible for FDIC insurance. Cash Reserve provides Betterment clients with the opportunity to earn interest on cash intended to purchase securities through Betterment LLC and Betterment Securities. Cash Reserve should not be viewed as a long-term investment option.
Funds held in your brokerage accounts are not FDIC‐insured but are protected by SIPC. Funds in transit to or from Program Banks are generally not FDIC‐insured but are protected by SIPC, except when those funds are held in a sweep account following a deposit or prior to a withdrawal, at which time funds are eligible for FDIC insurance but are not protected by SIPC. See Betterment Client Agreements for further details. Funds deposited into Cash Reserve are eligible for up to $1,000,000.00 (or $2,000,000.00 for joint accounts) of FDIC insurance once the funds reach one or more Program Banks (up to $250,000 for each insurable capacity—e.g., individual or joint—at up to four Program Banks). Even if there are more than four Program Banks, clients will not necessarily have deposits allocated in a manner that will provide FDIC insurance above $1,000,000.00 (or $2,000,000.00 for joint accounts). The FDIC calculates the insurance limits based on all accounts held in the same insurable capacity at a bank, not just cash in Cash Reserve. If clients elect to exclude one or more Program Banks from receiving deposits the amount of FDIC insurance available through Cash Reserve may be lower. Clients are responsible for monitoring their total assets at each Program Bank, including existing deposits held at Program Banks outside of Cash Reserve, to ensure FDIC insurance limits are not exceeded, which could result in some funds being uninsured. For more information on FDIC insurance please visit www.FDIC.gov. Deposits held in Program Banks are not protected by SIPC. For more information see the full terms and conditions and Betterment LLC's Form ADV Part II.
**The annual percentage yield ("APY") on the deposit balances in Betterment Cash Reserve ("Cash Reserve") is 4.00% and represents the weighted average of the APY on deposit balances at the banks participating in Cash Reserve (the "Program Banks") and is current as of Feb. 6, 2023. This APY is variable and subject to change daily. Deposit balances are not allocated equally among the participating Program Banks. A minimum deposit of $10 is required, but there is no minimum balance required to be maintained. The APY available to a customer may be lower if that customer designates a bank or banks as ineligible to receive deposits. APY applies only to Cash Reserve and does not apply to checking accounts held through Betterment Checking. Cash Reserve and Betterment Checking are separate offerings and are not linked accounts.
For Cash Reserve (“CR”), Betterment LLC only receives compensation from our program banks; Betterment LLC and Betterment Securities do not charge fees on your CR balance.
![SoFi Automated Investing](https://m.foolcdn.com/media/affiliates/brokerage-art/SoFi_horz_RGB_Turquoise_CircleR_Upward.jpg?width=280)
Best Robo Advisor for Low Costs
SoFi Automated Investing
With no management fee or account minimum, anyone can get started with SoFi Automated Investing and cut their costs.
![Charles Schwab](https://m.foolcdn.com/media/affiliates/brokerage-art/charles_SCHWAB_logo_B7VhSLT.png?width=280)
Best Online Trading Platform
Charles Schwab
Charles Schwab has aggressively slashed fees on its mutual funds and ETFs, eliminated common account fees, and lowered its base commissions to $0 per trade, making it one of the least-expensive brokers.
![Vanguard](https://m.foolcdn.com/media/affiliates/brokerage-art/Vanguard_logo_WoNgxsS.png?width=280)
Best Stock Broker for ETFs
Vanguard
Vanguard is the pioneer of the low-cost index fund. While you can trade Vanguard's excellent ETFs without commissions other places, a Vanguard brokerage account also gives you commission-free access to its mutual fund family that can't be found elsewhere.
Vanguard disclosures
Visit vanguard.com to obtain a prospectus or, if available, a summary prospectus, for Vanguard and non-Vanguard funds offered through Vanguard Brokerage Services. The prospectus contains investment objectives, risks, charges, expenses, and other information; read and consider carefully before investing.
Options are a leveraged investment and are not suitable for every investor. Options involve risk, including the possibility that you could lose more money than you invest. Before buying or selling options, you must receive a copy of Characteristics and Risks of Standardized Options issued by OCC. A copy of this booklet is available at theocc.com. It may also be obtained from your broker, any exchange on which options are traded, or by contacting OCC at 125 S. Franklin Street, Suite 1200, Chicago, IL 60606 (888-678-4667 or 888-OPTIONS). The booklet contains information on options issued by OCC. It is intended for educational purposes. No statement in the booklet should be construed as a recommendation to buy or sell a security or to provide investment advice. For further assistance, please call The Options Industry Council (OIC) helpline at 888-OPTIONS or visit optionseducation.org for more information. The OIC can provide you with balanced options education and tools to assist you with your options questions and trading.
Commission-free trading of Vanguard ETFs applies to trades placed both online and by phone. All ETFs are subject to management fees and expenses; refer to each ETF's prospectus for more information. Account service fees may also apply. All ETF sales are subject to a securities transaction fee. See the HYPERLINK "https://investor.vanguard.com/investing/transaction-fees-commissions/etfs" Vanguard Brokerage Services commission and fee schedules for full details.
Vanguard funds not held in a brokerage account are held by The Vanguard Group, Inc., and are not protected by SIPC. Brokerage assets are held by Vanguard Brokerage Services, a division of Vanguard Marketing Corporation, member FINRA and SIPC.
Vanguard Marketing Corporation, Distributor of the Vanguard Funds
Best Stock Broker for Mutual Funds
J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing
One of the few brokers we've come across with a $0 mutual fund commission. The fact that you can manage your J.P Morgan self-directed and separate robo-advisor accounts under one roof is a nice plus.
J.P Morgan Disclosure
INVESTMENT AND INSURANCE PRODUCTS ARE: NOT A DEPOSIT • NOT FDIC INSURED • NO BANK GUARANTEE • MAY LOSE VALUE
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About the Author
We're firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers. The Ascent, a Motley Fool service, does not cover all offers on the market. The Ascent has a dedicated team of editors and analysts focused on personal finance, and they follow the same set of publishing standards and editorial integrity while maintaining professional separation from the analysts and editors on other Motley Fool brands.