MagnifyMoney 
Editorial Note: The content of this article is based on the author’s opinions and recommendations alone and is not intended to be a source of investment advice. It may not have not been reviewed, commissioned or otherwise endorsed by any of our network partners or the Investment company.
E*TRADE is a giant in the investing industry, and it has plenty of products to offer. Whether you’re new to the investing world or make trades often, E*TRADE offers a comprehensive lineup of trading platforms and user-friendly apps, plus a wide selection of educational resources.
However, there are still fees for specific types of accounts and features. You also won’t get much of a bonus for moving your money to E*TRADE — unless you have tens of thousands of dollars.
How much would you like to invest?
E*TRADE has solid offerings for both beginning and advanced investors. If you’re a frequent trader who needs both mobile and online platforms, E*TRADE is a good choice.
Beginner investors will like E*TRADE’s streamlined trading platform, many zero commission trading options and broad selection of commission-free mutual funds, which make diversification cheaper and simpler. And, for those who want a little more help, E*TRADE provides pre-built portfolios for mutual funds and ETFs (minimum $500 and $2,500, respectively).
For advanced investors, E*TRADE offers customizable trading tools and ample charting options. A full range of investment choices including stocks, options and futures allows advanced traders to take diversification to the next level.
| Current promotions | New accounts with a deposit of at least $5,000, may be eligible for a cash bonus, which can range from $100 to $2,500 depending on the amount deposited. |
| Stock trading fees | $0.00 per trade |
| Amount minimum to open account | No account minimums |
| Tradable securities |
|
| Account fees (annual, transfer, inactivity) |
|
| Commission-free ETFs offered | 250 |
| Mutual funds (no transaction fee) offered | 4400 |
| Offers automated portfolio/robo-advisor | |
| Account types |
|
| Ease of use | |
| Mobile app | iOS, Android |
| Customer support | Phone, 24/7 live support, Chat, Email, 30 branch locations |
| Research resources |
|
E*TRADE offers two trading platforms: E*TRADE’s website and Power E*TRADE. There are also two mobile apps: The E*TRADE Mobile app and the Power E*TRADE app.
The standard E*TRADE web platform is for investors who are just starting out and new to investing basics but still want to manage their own portfolio. You can make trades, handle money transfers, check real-time quotes and commentary and get independent research from top news organizations.
The standard platform also gives you access to investment screeners, analyzers, backtesters and optimizers. If you’re new to investing or just need a refresher, there’s a library of articles and videos to help you educate yourself on the investing journey. There’s also access to market trends and active trader analysis.
Power E*TRADE gives advanced investors risk/reward analysis and technical pattern recognition, helping users explore possible scenarios before they buy. A practice account option lets you trade stocks, options and other securities without risking real money.
E*TRADE lets you invest in a wide variety of asset classes, including:
E*TRADE charges no commissions on buying or selling U.S. stocks, ETFs, U.S. Treasuries and new-issue bonds. There are trade fees for the following asset classes, including:
Fees for things like paper statements ($2), account transfers ($25-$75) and insufficient funds ($25), also apply.
E*TRADE Core Portfolios is the company’s robo-advisor platform. When you start with Core Portfolios, you’ll answer a short form with nine questions to verify what type of investor you are, what sort of risk tolerance you have and your timeline until retirement. Core Portfolios then recommends two investment portfolios, comprised of ETFs selected by the firm’s experts.
E*TRADE doesn’t disclose the specific funds that make up each portfolio, although it does outline the portfolio’s asset allocation, plus a look at the 15-year historical returns for average, best-case and worst-case scenarios. The two options you’re presented with include a recommended portfolio and an alternative portfolio. All portfolios maintain a 1% cash allocation.
Because it’s an E*TRADE product, you have the option to talk to an advisor at any of the company’s 30 branches. Some other robo-advisors don’t offer personalized human interaction, so this is an additional perk for hands-off investors.
Keep in mind that you need No account minimums to get started, with a 0.30% annual advisory fee. Other robo-advisors, like Betterment, don’t have account minimums and charge slightly lower annual advisory fees.
If you’re looking for a safe platform to invest money, you have no worries with E*TRADE. E*TRADE bank accounts are FDIC-insured and they are compliant with all registration and license requirements. E*TRADE is also a SIPC member, which means your account is protected for up to $500,000 in cash and securities.
Of course, while your accounts are protected in the event that E*TRADE faces financial troubles, this doesn’t mean you can’t lose money in investment accounts. Stocks, bonds and other securities can decline in value and there’s always a risk associated with investing. That’s why it’s so important to understand any investments before you buy them.
E*TRADE offers options for novice investors and more experienced traders, including two different trading platforms and two mobile apps. Despite the account minimums and some fees that are higher than competitors, E*TRADE is still a solid choice for most investors. If you don’t have the minimum amount to get started on any of the accounts that require it, you may want to look elsewhere. Otherwise, you have plenty of great options with E*TRADE.
Fees mentioned in the article are accurate as of the date of publishing.
The “Find a Financial Advisor” links contained in this article will direct you to webpages devoted to MagnifyMoney Advisor (“MMA”). After completing a brief questionnaire, you will be matched with certain financial advisers who participate in MMA’s referral program, which may or may not include the investment advisers discussed.
