Motley Fool Money’s 2022 Stock Broker and Robo-Advisor Awards Winners
Stock brokers ratings methodology
Ratings methodology
To determine the Best Stock Brokers and Robo-Advisors awards for 2022, Motley Fool Money’s experts evaluated accounts with our ratings model, focusing on industry factors and user benefits, including:
- Investing costs
- Customer service and support
- Trading platform and mobile app
- Investment variety
Top-rated offerings were selected that we think represent the top pick for most people. Our final awards winners were determined by vote to ensure objectivity, with a final Golden Rule check: would we recommend them to a family or friend? Special attention was also paid to:
- Research quality
- Quality of online support
- Commissions rates and margin fees
- Access to ETFs and Mutual Funds
For 2022, we’ve introduced an exciting update, our Editors’ Choice awards. These awards are favorites from our experts, tailored to unique consumer needs, allowing us to explore a more diverse range of offerings and user experiences.
Best Stock Broker Overall
Fidelity

Fidelity combines all the investing essentials under one roof. This broker has an easy-to-use trading platform that works for a wide range of users with different needs, $0 commissions for online stock and ETF trades, access to a deep bench of investment vehicles, and good customer service.
Fidelity disclosure
Investing involves risk, including risk of loss
* - $0.00 commission applies to online U.S. equity trades and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) in a Fidelity retail account only for Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC retail clients. Sell orders are subject to an activity assessment fee (historically from $0.01 to $0.03 per $1,000 of principal). Other exclusions and conditions may apply. A limited number of ETFs are subject to a transaction-based service fee of $100. See full list at (https://www.fidelity.com/trading/commissions-margin-rates). Employee equity compensation transactions and accounts managed by advisors or intermediaries through Fidelity Institutional® are subject to different commission schedules.
**You could lose money by investing in a money market fund. Although the fund seeks to preserve the value of your investment at $1.00 per share, it cannot guarantee it will do so. An investment in the fund is not a bank account and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. Fidelity Investments and its affiliates, the fund’s sponsor, is not required to reimburse the fund for losses, and you should not expect that the sponsor will provide financial support to the fund at any time, including during periods of market stress. Fidelity's government and U.S. Treasury money market funds will not impose a fee upon the sale of your shares.
***Options trading entails significant risk and is not appropriate for all investors. Certain complex options strategies carry additional risk. Before trading options, please read (https://www.theocc.com/Company-Information/Documents-and-Archives/Options-Disclosure-Document). Supporting documentation for any claims, if applicable, will be furnished upon request.
****Zero account minimums and zero account fees apply to retail brokerage accounts only. Expenses charged by investments (e.g., funds, managed accounts, and certain HSAs) and commissions, interest charges, or other expenses for transactions may still apply. See (https://www.fidelity.com/trading/commissions-margin-rates) for further details.
Before investing, consider the funds' investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses. Contact Fidelity for a prospectus or, if available, a summary prospectus containing this information. Read it carefully.
Best Stock Broker for Beginners
TD Ameritrade

TD Ameritrade does a lot of things right for beginners -- and with competitively low costs. New investors can navigate the online trading platform with ease, which is critical for beginners. Importantly, there’s also $0 online stock and ETF commissions, and the ability to invest on the go with any of TD Ameritrade’s high-quality online, desktop, or mobile app platforms. These features ensure TD Ameritrade account holders can grow within the same brokerage as they advance to more complex investing needs.
Best Stock Broker for Options Trading
E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley

The $0 online stock options commission (up to $0.65/contract) are a clear, valuable perk for options investors. But where E*TRADE rounds out its feature set is in its array of investment vehicles, robust trading platforms, wide selection of account types, and extensive branch network.
E*TRADE services are available just to U.S. residents.
Best Stock Broker for IRAs
TD Ameritrade

TD Ameritrade offers everything IRA investors could ask for from a retirement account. The low costs, myriad research tools, vast mutual fund selection, and great customer service are all features we covet in an IRA account.
Best Robo-Advisor Overall
SoFi Robo Investing

SoFi Automated Investing has a low account minimum that allows practically everyone to receive robo-advisory investing services. Where SoFi Automated Investing outshines a crowded pack of valuable robo-advisors is that it offers access to human advisors with smaller account sizes. These highly regarded services are typically reserved for account holders with bigger accounts under management.
Best Robo-Advisor for IRAs
Wealthfront

The low costs, array of investing account types, and cash management options round out a packed feature set that is hard to beat for not only IRA investors but also for account holders needing access to other valuable account types. For IRA-specific investors, Wealthfront offers the standard traditional IRA and Roth IRA account, plus SEP IRAs.
Editors' Choice: Robo-Advisor for Low Costs
SoFi Robo Investing

With no management fee or account minimum, anyone can get started with SoFi Automated Investing and do so for competitively low costs. What’s more, SoFi Automated Investing offers access to human financial advisors even without paying a management fee.
Editors' Choice: Stock Broker for Customer Service
Charles Schwab

Charles Schwab leads the pack of high-quality, full-featured stock brokers with outstanding customer service. Charles Schwab's customer service ratings are consistently high, the broker is available by phone with quick replies 24/7, and account holders have a mix of service options to choose from, such as phone, online chat, and in person through its robust branch network.
Editors' Choice: Trading Platform
TD Ameritrade

TD Ameritrade has consistently won our annual trading platform award for several reasons. First off, account holders can trade on many platforms online, on desktop, and on mobile. Second, TD Ameritrade’s thinkorswim platform is the gold standard for trading as it's somehow never-endingly useful for complex trading needs while also easy to use.
Best Low-Cost Stock Broker
Fidelity

Fidelity is a go-to stock broker for investors wanting to save on costs without sacrificing value. The broker offers $0 online stock and ETF trades and has more than 3,400 no-transaction-fee mutual funds, including its popular branded funds.
Fidelity disclosure
Investing involves risk, including risk of loss
* - $0.00 commission applies to online U.S. equity trades and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) in a Fidelity retail account only for Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC retail clients. Sell orders are subject to an activity assessment fee (historically from $0.01 to $0.03 per $1,000 of principal). Other exclusions and conditions may apply. A limited number of ETFs are subject to a transaction-based service fee of $100. See full list at (https://www.fidelity.com/trading/commissions-margin-rates). Employee equity compensation transactions and accounts managed by advisors or intermediaries through Fidelity Institutional® are subject to different commission schedules.
**You could lose money by investing in a money market fund. Although the fund seeks to preserve the value of your investment at $1.00 per share, it cannot guarantee it will do so. An investment in the fund is not a bank account and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. Fidelity Investments and its affiliates, the fund’s sponsor, is not required to reimburse the fund for losses, and you should not expect that the sponsor will provide financial support to the fund at any time, including during periods of market stress. Fidelity's government and U.S. Treasury money market funds will not impose a fee upon the sale of your shares.
***Options trading entails significant risk and is not appropriate for all investors. Certain complex options strategies carry additional risk. Before trading options, please read (https://www.theocc.com/Company-Information/Documents-and-Archives/Options-Disclosure-Document). Supporting documentation for any claims, if applicable, will be furnished upon request.
****Zero account minimums and zero account fees apply to retail brokerage accounts only. Expenses charged by investments (e.g., funds, managed accounts, and certain HSAs) and commissions, interest charges, or other expenses for transactions may still apply. See (https://www.fidelity.com/trading/commissions-margin-rates) for further details.
Before investing, consider the funds' investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses. Contact Fidelity for a prospectus or, if available, a summary prospectus containing this information. Read it carefully.
Best Stock Broker for ETFs and Index Investing
Fidelity

Many full-featured stock brokers are on equal footing when it comes to ETF investing, including to offer $0 online commissions and access to popular ETFs. But where Fidelity outshines the rest is that it offers fractional share investing for ETFs for as little as $1. Combine this with an otherwise robust brokerage offering, and it’s hard to overlook Fidelity if ETF investing is important.
Fidelity disclosure
Investing involves risk, including risk of loss
* - $0.00 commission applies to online U.S. equity trades and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) in a Fidelity retail account only for Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC retail clients. Sell orders are subject to an activity assessment fee (historically from $0.01 to $0.03 per $1,000 of principal). Other exclusions and conditions may apply. A limited number of ETFs are subject to a transaction-based service fee of $100. See full list at (https://www.fidelity.com/trading/commissions-margin-rates). Employee equity compensation transactions and accounts managed by advisors or intermediaries through Fidelity Institutional® are subject to different commission schedules.
**You could lose money by investing in a money market fund. Although the fund seeks to preserve the value of your investment at $1.00 per share, it cannot guarantee it will do so. An investment in the fund is not a bank account and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. Fidelity Investments and its affiliates, the fund’s sponsor, is not required to reimburse the fund for losses, and you should not expect that the sponsor will provide financial support to the fund at any time, including during periods of market stress. Fidelity's government and U.S. Treasury money market funds will not impose a fee upon the sale of your shares.
***Options trading entails significant risk and is not appropriate for all investors. Certain complex options strategies carry additional risk. Before trading options, please read (https://www.theocc.com/Company-Information/Documents-and-Archives/Options-Disclosure-Document). Supporting documentation for any claims, if applicable, will be furnished upon request.
****Zero account minimums and zero account fees apply to retail brokerage accounts only. Expenses charged by investments (e.g., funds, managed accounts, and certain HSAs) and commissions, interest charges, or other expenses for transactions may still apply. See (https://www.fidelity.com/trading/commissions-margin-rates) for further details.
Before investing, consider the funds' investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses. Contact Fidelity for a prospectus or, if available, a summary prospectus containing this information. Read it carefully.
Best Stock Broker for Mutual Fund Investing
Vanguard

Vanguard stands out by offering investors access to thousands of no-transaction-fee funds. But the real difference-maker is that investors can buy Vanguard's own mutual funds commission-free, which is a rarity.
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.
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.
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 Cash Management
Betterment

Betterment gets the top spot for a high-yielding cash management account feature and an available no-fee checking account. These features, combined with a sought after robo-advisor offering, make Betterment a solid pick if you want to manage many of your savings and investing needs under one roof.
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.
Best Investing App Overall
SoFi Active Investing

SoFi’s investing app offerings are a fantastic experience overall. Within the app, accountholders can manage their SoFi Active Invest and SoFi Automated Investing accounts, among many other products that integrate with the rest of SoFi’s services. Importantly, the app is easy to use and it also offers investor education resources to help manage your money on the go.
Best Investing App for Beginners
SoFi Active Investing

We’re big fans of SoFi’s investing app offerings and that’s for good reason. Few services can go toe to toe with SoFi’s ecosystem of services that make managing your finances with one company a realistic option. For beginner investors, we think SoFi’s Active Investing product is an accessible way to get started investing without breaking the bank and paying nuisance fees.
Best Investing App for Robo-Advisors
SoFi Robo Investing

SoFi Automated Investing is the company’s solution for investors seeking a robo-advisor for a hands-off way to grow their savings. Like all of SoFi’s other services, its robo-advisor service is fully accessible in app with a modern user interface that is both simple to use and robust. We’re not the only ones singing the app’s praises. The SoFi app consistently receives great ratings from iOS and Android users.
*A complete list of 2022 award winners, from credit cards to car insurance companies, can be found here.
**You can also find more brokers and robo-advisors to compare by checking out Motley Fool Money's best stock brokers and best robo-advisors guides.
