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Brokerage Account Review🥧 Best Automated Investing

M1 Finance

M1 Holdings

Stock trades $0. Hands-off investors who want automated, allocation-based investing rather than individual trade execution.

At a Glance

Stock Trades

$0

Options Trades

Not supported — M1 does not offer options trading

Min. Deposit

$100

Research Tools

Basic

Fractional Shares

Yes

Crypto Trading

Yes

Rates & Fees

Stock Trades

$0

Options Trades

Not supported — M1 does not offer options trading

Min. Deposit

$100

Account/Inactivity Fee

$3/mo ($36/yr) unless you hold $10,000+ across M1 accounts or subscribe to M1 Plus

Full Transfer-Out Fee

$100 for a full account transfer

Key Features

"Pies" let you build a target-allocation portfolio and auto-invest new deposits proportionally

Automated rebalancing keeps pie allocations on target

M1 Plus membership unlocks a lower margin rate and an additional trading window

Crypto investing available (14 cryptocurrencies via a Bakkt-powered Crypto Account)

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Excellent automated, allocation-based investing model
  • Fractional shares make target allocations precise
  • Borrowing against your portfolio (M1 Borrow) at competitive rates

Tradeoffs

  • No options trading
  • Monthly platform fee unless you meet the balance threshold or subscribe to M1 Plus
  • Limited to scheduled trading windows rather than real-time execution for standard accounts

Best for: Hands-off investors who want automated, allocation-based investing rather than individual trade execution

How to Apply

Decide which account type fits your goal — M1 Holdings offers Individual, Joint, Roth IRA, and more.

Have your Social Security number, employment information, and a funding source (bank account or transfer) ready.

Open the account directly on M1 Holdings's site or app; identity verification is required by federal law for all brokerages.

Fund the account with at least $100 to meet the minimum deposit requirement.

Review commission schedules and any account fees before placing your first trade.

How It Compares

Current product highlighted
ProductStock TradesOptions TradesMin. Deposit
M1 Finance$0Not supported — M1 does not offer options trading$100
Fidelity Investments$0$0.65/contract$0
Charles Schwab$0$0.65/contract$0
E*TRADE$0$0.65/contract ($0.50 for 30+ trades/qtr)$0

Frequently Asked Questions

Does M1 Holdings charge fees to trade stocks?

M1 Holdings's stock trade commission is "$0." Options trades are priced at Not supported — M1 does not offer options trading, and other fees (like broker-assisted trades or account transfers) can still apply.

What's the minimum deposit for M1 Holdings?

M1 Holdings requires a minimum deposit of $100 to open this account.

Can I trade fractional shares and crypto with M1 Holdings?

M1 Holdings supports fractional shares, and does offer direct crypto trading.

Are there any ongoing or account-closing fees with M1 Holdings?

Account/inactivity fee: $3/mo ($36/yr) unless you hold $10,000+ across M1 accounts or subscribe to M1 Plus. Fee to transfer your full account to another broker: $100 for a full account transfer. Transfer-out fees are common industry-wide and are charged by the broker you're leaving, not the one you're moving to.

How does M1 Holdings compare to other brokerages?

See the "How It Compares" table on this page for a few close alternatives side by side, or browse the full list of brokerage accounts to compare commissions, minimums, and platform features.

Other Brokerage Accounts

Fidelity Investments

Stock trades: $0

Charles Schwab

Stock trades: $0

E*TRADE

Stock trades: $0

Fees and features shown are illustrative as of 2026 and subject to change — always confirm current terms directly with the broker before opening an account.

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