Online Brokers for Beginner Investors

Charles Schwab provides extensive phone and online support for customers, or you can receive help in person at one of over 300 branch locations. You can choose from a wide variety of investment funds and take advantage of commission-free trading. Ally Invest is one of the best low-cost brokers on the market and is a good choice for traders of all skill levels.

Best for Exploring Advanced Tools

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Other considerations may include account minimums and benefits, supported order types, customer support accessibility, and premium account offerings. Brokers with zero account minimums are more accessible to new investors, while traders with large account balances may benefit from earning interest on unused cash. For beginners and experienced investors alike, educational resources are a way to continue improving their knowledge and strategies. A broker offering tutorials, webinars, and in-depth guides can help users stay informed and grow their trading expertise. Ask any options trader and they are likely to tell you that this form of derivative trading is complex and difficult to master.

Merrill Edge also offers assistance at its financial centers around the country, which may be appealing to investors looking for in-person customer service. Experienced traders will find IBKR’s suite of trading tools and order types attractive, with industry-leading charting tools, market scanners, technical analysis and complex algorithmic trading available. Fidelity earns a spot near the top of our list for its vast investment offerings, minimal fees and breadth of expert insights and educational resources. You can access roboadvisory assistance as well as personalized wealth management from a dedicated Schwab advisor. Additionally, you can hone your trading skills risk-free with paperMoney, a virtual trading experience that lets you practice trading without using real money.

You won’t be able to trade or buy crypto, futures or fractional shares, which we think take away from Merrill Edge’s positives. Additionally, the trading platform isn’t the most beginner-friendly of the platforms in our rankings. Merrill Edge makes our list for its best-in-class advisory services and comprehensive insights.

• It includes customizable filters, over 10 order types and advanced charts with drawing tools, more than 50 indicators and 60+ on-chart technical signals.
• Picking the right investment company starts with understanding how much guidance you need and how much you’re willing to pay for it.
• The flexibility and tax advantages make them a popular choice for those looking to secure their financial future.
• Helpful courses in multiple languages, webinars, podcasts, newsletters, a trading lab and extensive news insights are available to make investing more accessible to beginners.

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As our pick for Best All-In-One Financial App, it offers far beyond investing. However, keep in mind that SoFi® is an online-only platform, so its customer service experience is crucial. While phone support is unavailable on weekends, they make up for it with 24/7 chat support, which can be a lifesaver when you need quick assistance. To help you get started, we’ve reviewed over 45 brokers to find the best beginner options, with many folks on our team actual users of these platforms themselves. Jessica focuses on investor education and brokerage industry research. Investing in two stocks for example is more risky that investing in twenty.

Best app with physical branch locations: Fidelity

It can feel like a lot to sort through, but knowing what each one offers can really help. This article looks at a list of brokerage firms for 2025, breaking down what makes them good for different kinds of investors and trading styles. An online broker may charge you to transfer money into your account or to withdraw your funds. Consider best stock brokers potential transfer fees and whether you would have to sell your investments (and pay fees and taxes) to withdraw your money.

What trading platform offers the most fractional US stocks?

That said, the user interface is less intuitive than some competitors, especially for beginners or those seeking advanced tools. If your strategy is primarily buy-and-hold investing, the platform should meet your needs. However, investors requiring more sophisticated tools or a more streamlined interface might find it less accommodating. Robinhood offers an educational hub called Robinhood Learn, which provides accessible content on the basics of investing. This resource is great for beginners looking to build foundational knowledge. While it lacks the advanced features of some competitors, its streamlined design makes it ideal for beginners who want a no-frills experience.

• If you’re new to investing, Robinhood might be a great place to start.
• Plus, Moomoo’s paper trading feature allows you to practice your strategies with virtual funds, right from the same place.
• It’s also about seamless integration with essential, no-fee banking features and industry-leading insurance.
• Vanguard offers some of the lowest cost index ETFs, plus it packs in a well-rounded feature set that is a fit for more experienced investors as well.
• Fidelity earns a spot near the top of our list for its vast investment offerings, minimal fees and breadth of expert insights and educational resources.

Best S&P 500 stocks

There is a $100 fee to transfer from Robinhood to an outside brokerage. Online trading is safe if you use a regulated online stock broker and never invest more than you are willing to lose. A good rule of thumb is to never invest more than you can afford to lose or that you might need within the next three months.

It’s important to consider all your options before settling on an online broker. Research several different companies and choose the one that aligns with your goals, preferences and level of experience. When you’re looking for a brokerage firm, think about a few key things. Second, do they offer good research and learning materials to help you make smart choices? And third, how easy is it to use their website or app, and how well do they help customers when there’s a problem? Fees can really eat into your profits, so it’s important to understand them.

A top pick for beginners, Robinhood combines $0 commission trades, an easy-to-use app, and a rare retirement deposit match. If you want an investing platform with a slick mobile app and extra financial tools, SoFi® is worth a look. They offer low fees, easy onboarding, and support for retirement accounts. Morgan Stanley combines traditional investment services with elite-level wealth planning. From self-directed trading to managed portfolios, it caters to a broad client base, including high-net-worth individuals. Empower combines a powerful free financial dashboard with personalized advice for those with larger portfolios.

Reputable brokers also offer SIPC insurance, which protects your assets up to $500,000 (including $250,000 for cash). Merrill Edge offers a well-integrated experience for clients who bank with Bank of America, combining investing, banking and financial planning in one platform. Its clean interface and powerful account tracking tools make it a logical choice for users who value centralized financial management. On Oct. 16, 2024, tastytrade even launched an options backtesting tool–a highly advanced feature very few competitors boast. In addition, tastytrade optimizes tools and content to specifically suit the needs of its options-focused client base.

These fees are fairly standard in the industry, but worth considering if you plan to engage in more complex trading activities. Explore our top-rated beginner-friendly platforms below to find the one that fits your needs. Quickly compare vetted accounts to see which providers are most appropriate for you. If you want to buy US stocks you need a US stock broker to buy them on your behalf. This is by far the most efficient way of getting exposure to a companies share price. Which is particularly important if you are trading popular stocks like Tesla, which can cost upwards of $200.

If your primary focus is straightforward stock and ETF investing, SoFi® provides everything you need without unnecessary complexity. Yes, you can teach yourself to trade, provided you have realistic expectations and stay at it through a full market boom-and-bust cycle. Don’t invest more than a fraction of your trading capital at once, and keep a trading journal noting why you entered and exited each trade and how well that trade performed. Most traders fail because they focus on chasing the upside more than managing risk. Dive deeper and learn more about using trading journals for stock trading. With its beginner-focused features, comprehensive educational offerings, and low-cost structure, Fidelity is an excellent choice for new investors.