The best in investing

Charles Schwab brings it all to customers, whether they’re beginners or advanced investors. Extensive research and a solid education form the cornerstone at Schwab, and it’s enhanced by knowledgeable customer support, more than 4,000 mutual funds without a transaction fee and, of course, no commissions on stocks or ETFs.

A strong trading platform appeals to volume traders, while the ability to buy fractional shares helps newer investors put all their money to work. Plus, Schwab regularly offers one of the best sign-on bonuses in the industry.

Many investors will appreciate what Fidelity Investments has to offer, but beginners may find it particularly appealing. Low trading costs will help make sure your portfolio isn’t eaten up by commissions and other fees, and Fidelity’s extensive research and education offering will help you stay informed.

For those starting out small, the broker offers Stocks by the Slice, which lets you buy fractional shares in stocks that new investors might not otherwise be able to afford. On top of all that, Fidelity offers nearly 3,400 mutual funds with no transaction fees.

TD Ameritrade brings a trifecta of goodness to advanced traders: a wide range of securities that can be traded at low cost on the broker’s strong trading platforms, including the highly regarded thinkorswim platform in web, desktop and mobile versions. Add on strong research that includes well-built-out stock and fund pages with plenty of third-party research, and you have a broker that should appeal to advanced traders.

TD Ameritrade, which was purchased a few years ago by Charles Schwab, will be integrated with that broker over the course of 2023, and the thinkorswim platform is coming along, too.

TD Ameritrade outclassed the competition when it came to research and tools, bringing among the most detailed stock and fund pages and the deepest educational offerings. Research on individual stocks and funds provided in-depth news, analysis and third-party reports, while the education component provided a range of access, including articles and videos, to get clients up to speed.

Top these features off with highly capable trading platforms, including the thinkorswim platform in three versions, including a mobile app, and you have the best broker for research and tools.

If you’re investing for retirement, you shouldn’t have any trouble finding what you’re looking for at Fidelity Investments. The broker offers just about every retirement account you could want, ranging from traditional and Roth IRAs to SEP IRAs and solo 401(k)s. You’ll also get commission-free stock and ETF trades and can even invest in fractional shares if you’re starting with small amounts. Fidelity also offers more than 3,000 mutual funds with no transaction fees, making sure your returns aren’t eaten up by unnecessary costs.

Betterment has been a top robo-advisor for several years and is one of the largest that isn’t affiliated with a major bank or brokerage firm. The company offers investors an easy way to have their investment portfolio managed at a low cost, with two different plans available to meet your needs. Betterment even offers access to certified human advisors for those less-routine questions.

Customers are also well-served by its strong selection of investing tools to help set their financial goals, its solid educational components, a cash management account and a robust tax-loss harvesting plan.

Wealthfront offers huge capabilities in one easy-to-use investing app, including strong portfolio management, a wide selection of low-cost investments and premium features such as tax-loss harvesting. The robo will build you a customized portfolio, from core funds, socially responsible funds, cryptocurrency funds and others, while a capable cash management account, a robust planning tool and automated bill paying and management make Wealthfront a place for you to run your money life.

Yet for all this, it charges no more than other robo-advisors offering less.

As the U.S. arm of the larger Binance organization, Binance.US offers some of the lowest commissions for trading cryptocurrency, perfect in a new industry that often marks up its prices. Binance offers volume-based pricing, with falling commissions as you trade more, and even offers discounted commissions that can be obtained without churning hundreds of thousands of dollars as well as no commissions on spot trading of Bitcoin and Ethereum.

If you’re thinking about getting into trading cryptocurrency, Binance.US should be your first look.

Ellevest aims to serve women, a group that’s been traditionally underserved by financial companies, by factoring in their specific circumstances, such as career breaks and pay gaps, into their robo-advisor offering. Ellevest offers two levels of service all at a flat monthly fee, starting at just $5, plus there’s no minimum to get started.

You’ll get access to planning tools, education on investing and, for an additional fee, access to certified financial advisors. In reality, just about anyone can benefit from this mission-focused robo-advisor.