THE BEST of
Investing Awards

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The FinanceBuzz editors are happy to share the winners of our first annual Investing Awards. These are the companies we recommend to family, friends, and now to you. The best company is the one that works for your situation and your investment goals. Explore our top picks below.

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AWARD WINNER

Best Overall Online Brokerage

Fidelity
4.9
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Fidelity

  • $0 commissions on online U.S. stock and ETF trades
  • No account fees or minimums
  • Uninvested cash automatically earns interest, no subscription required
  • Live 24/7 support and a highly-rated mobile app, in addition to physical locations

Why They Won

The best overall online brokerage should work for just about everyone, from first-time investors learning to buy stocks to the seasoned trader running complex options strategies. Fidelity delivers on all counts. It has no account minimums, low fees, a variety of mutual fund options, and you earn interest on your uninvested cash automatically, maximizing your opportunities to grow your money. In addition to getting the product fundamentals right, Fidelity offers robust educational resources that cater to traders at all levels.

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AWARD WINNER

Best Brokerage for Beginners

E*TRADE
4.6
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E*TRADE

  • $0 commissions for online US-listed stock, options, mutual fund, and ETF trades
  • Paper trading simulator lets you practice trades before risking real money
  • Extensive library of educational resources, including live and on-demand webinars and beginner-focused guides
  • Backed by the institutional strength of Morgan Stanley

Why They Won

Getting started with investing is overwhelming, but E*TRADE shines by making the experience of opening, funding, and placing your first trade seamless for first-timers. E*TRADE’s online platform is intuitive and straightforward, but what really makes E*TRADE stand out for beginners is the paper trading feature, which lets you practice with $100,000 in virtual funds before you commit a single real dollar. Add in a robust library of educational content and on-demand webinars, and you have a platform that actively helps you learn as you invest.

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AWARD WINNER

Best Brokerage for Advanced Traders

Interactive Brokers
5.0
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Interactive Brokers

  • Access to 170+ global markets and 29 currencies from a single account
  • Trader Workstation (TWS) offers 100+ order types, algo tools, and institutional-grade risk management
  • Low fees, including low margin rates
  • Strong research and data options

Why They Won

Interactive Brokers blends a depth of investment options with tools that give serious traders everything they need in one place. Offering some of the lowest margin rates in the industry, Interactive Brokers is designed for active, experienced traders who need the ability to access securities from around the world. Interactive Brokers also offers multiple trading platforms for traders to use based on their own needs.

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AWARD WINNER

Best Online Brokerage for Long-Term Investors

Charles Schwab
4.9
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Charles Schwab

  • No account minimums and $0 commissions on online listed U.S. stocks and ETF trades
  • Extensive lineup of low-cost proprietary index funds and ETFs
  • Robust tools and products for IRA investors
  • Branches across the U.S. for those who want a more personalized experience

Why They Won

Long-term investing is built on trust, something Schwab’s name and reputation have been built on for over 50 years. Its lineup of proprietary index funds and ETFs is among the most competitive in the industry, and the platform’s breadth makes it easy to build and maintain a diversified portfolio over decades without jumping between providers. Specifically, Schwab offers excellent IRA and retirement options catered to long-term investors.

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AWARD WINNER

Best Overall Robo-Advisor

Betterment
5.0
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Betterment

  • Start with as little as $10; no account minimum to open
  • Automatic rebalancing and reinvesting
  • Low fees
  • Goal-based financial planning tools with projections and tax impact previews

Why They Won

A great robo-advisor should do more than just pick your funds. It should also actively work to improve your overall returns and keep you on track toward your goals. Betterment does both. Its automated tax-loss harvesting is available to account holders, and nearly 70% of customers using tax-loss harvesting covered their taxable advisory fees through estimated tax savings, according to the platform1. Betterment’s Premium Plan also offers unlimited calls with Certified Financial Planner (CFP) professionals and licensed financial experts for those who want a more personalized experience.

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AWARD WINNER

Best Robo-Advisor for Beginners

Stash
4.6
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Stash

  • Invest in 1,000's of stocks and ETFs with full or fractional shares, no add-on commission fees2
  • Registered Financial Advisor - get access to a professionally managed, diversified portfolio
  • Real time portfolio risk scoring and stock recommendations
Learn More
on Stash's secure website

Why They Won

Stash is the perfect example of an app that goes the extra mile to help beginners start their investment journeys3. Offering a variety of ways to start investing with the flexibility of some self-direction, Stash excels as a low-cost option for any level of investor, whether you want full automation or self-direction. Stash also doubles as an account for your cash, and you can earn stock back (like cashback) on debit card purchases.456

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AWARD WINNER

Best Robo-Advisor for Hands-Off Investing

Wealthfront
4.9
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Wealthfront

  • Low annual management fees
  • Daily automated tax-loss harvesting on all taxable brokerage accounts
  • Offers crypto trusts
  • Includes IRAs, 529s, and joint accounts to cater to more investors

Why They Won

Wealthfront is ideal for hands-off investors who want full automation at every level, from making investment strategies you can trust to automatic rebalancing and tax-saving strategies. Wealthfront's "self-driving money" approach handles everything from start to finish, including rebalancing, tax-loss harvesting, and dividend reinvestment every single day. If you want to set it and genuinely forget it, this is the platform for that.

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AWARD WINNER

Best Robo-Advisor for Custom Portfolios

Schwab Intelligent Portfolios
4.6
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Schwab Intelligent Portfolios

  • No advisory fee or commissions
  • Over 80 portfolio variations spanning 20+ asset classes
  • Tax-loss harvesting available

Why They Won

Though “custom” usually doesn’t align with roboadvisors, advanced traders looking to integrate a robo-advisor into their larger investment strategy have learned to trust Schwab. Schwab Intelligent Portfolios offer 80+ portfolio variations across 20+ asset classes, distinct investment strategies, and multiple risk profiles, giving you far more say in how your money is managed than most automated services allow.

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AWARD WINNER

Best Robo-Advisor for Low Fees

SoFi® Active Invest
4.3
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SoFi® Active Invest

  • Get up to $1,000 in stock when you fund a new account with at least $5078
  • Trade stocks and ETFs with $0 commissions9
  • Invest in IPOs before they trade on the public market10
  • Fractional shares let you buy a piece of your favorite companies11
  • Get a diversified portfolio automatically managed for you
Learn More
on SoFi's secure website

Why They Won

Among robo-advisors that offer managed portfolios, automatic rebalancing, and access to financial planners, SoFi has one of the lowest barriers to entry.12 The $50 minimum makes it accessible for investors just starting out, and the 0.25% fee13 is on the low end of what you’d pay with any serious robo-advisor. The complimentary CFP session is a nice addition that most robo-advisors simply don't offer at this price point.14

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AWARD WINNER

Best Everyday Trading App

Robinhood
4.2
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Robinhood

  • Buy and sell stocks 24 hours a day, 5 days a week with Robinhood's "24 Hour Market"
  • Commission-free trading (other fees may apply)
  • No account minimum
  • Trade stocks, options, ETFs, and more
  • Earn 3.75% (as of 11/03/25) APY15 on your uninvested cash with Robinhood Gold, subscription fee applies
Learn More
on Robinhood's secure website

Why They Won

Robinhood is the market leader in daily trading with good reason. Its interface, ease, and frictionless user experience have stayed top-of-class as it’s transitioned from market disruptor to industry leader. Robinhood isn’t just about stocks; it’s an all-in-one platform that includes banking, retirement, crypto,16 and even prediction markets, leveling up with its users as a well-rounded financial app.17 With zero commissions16, a beautiful app, and deep market access, Robinhood’s core has always been about bringing investing to the masses, and it’s consistently done a good job of doing so.

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AWARD WINNER

Best for High-Wealth Financial Planning

Fisher Investments
4.8
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Fisher Investments

  • Dedicated Investment Counselor assigned to every client for personalized, ongoing support
  • Bespoke portfolio construction based on your individual goals
  • Comprehensive financial planning services, including retirement, estate planning, and tax planning guidance
  • Fee-only fiduciary structure where they only make money if you do

Why They Won

At a certain level of wealth, the questions get more complex than any algorithm can handle. Fisher Investments offers a tailored, personalized approach to financial planning, with high-touch client service that caters to high-net-worth customers and all the financial complications that come with being one. Every client gets a dedicated Investment Counselor, helping you make personalized choices that will benefit your family’s unique financial circumstances. As a fee-only fiduciary, Fisher only makes money when you make money, so you know they aren’t just selling you products without believing in them.

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AWARD WINNER

Best Social Investing Platform

Webull - Investing
4.4
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Webull - Investing

  • Commission-free trading on stocks, ETFs, options, futures, and crypto
  • Built-in community feed shows most-discussed stocks and real comments from other investors, updated in real time
  • Post trade ideas, create polls, follow other investors, and track their prediction accuracy directly in the app
  • Options paper trading simulator lets you test strategies risk-free before committing real money

Why They Won

Blending an investment app with the transparent validation of social media, WeBull18 offers a robust community of investors that brings a human element to online investing. WeBull integrates social and analytical tools seamlessly, letting you see the most popular and talked-about stocks, follow traders, and engage in its in-app trading community.


Methodology
Methodology

When choosing our FinanceBuzz Investment Award winners, we considered quantitative factors like our star ratings as well as qualitative inputs based on discussions within our editorial team. We've aimed to identify the best companies for specific purposes or types of people. While some winners may be partners, this did not influence who we chose to win awards.

How we chose the winners

We began by compiling a list of over 50 brokerages, investment apps, and service providers, collecting data on each, and scoring them. Then, for each category, we identified minimum criteria to be included in our evaluation group. For example, when looking for the best brokerage for beginners, we looked at trading and account management costs, how intuitive the platform was, and whether it provided educational support for new investors.

Then within that narrowed group, we determined the most important ranking factors to compare the accounts head-to-head. Those ranking factors tie directly to the award category and vary for each award. Some of the factors we examined were quantitative, such as account minimums and account management fees, while others were qualitative, such as website usability. In the end, each account received a category-specific score that was used to determine the award winner.