Stock Broker Promotions for January 2020

Ally Invest
Pros: Low commission for stock trades No account minimums Ally platform

Cons: No physical locations
Our Review: (4.4) Ally Invest (formerly TradeKing) offers free trades for stocks and ETFs, but is it good? Learn the pros and cons and see comparisons with other online brokers in this in-depth review... Read full review
Get Up to $3,500 Cash Bonus
New Ally Invest customers only. Account must be funded for at least 60 days to be eligible for cash bonus. (Expires 3/31/2020)
Commission-Free Stock Trades
With no minimum account balance and no minimum trade activity
Get $50 Cash Bonus
New Ally Invest customers only with $10,000 minimum opening deposit. Account must be funded for at least 60 days to be eligible for cash bonus. (Expires 3/31/2020)
Get $200 Cash Bonus
New Ally Invest customers only with $25,000 minimum opening deposit. Account must be funded for at least 60 days to be eligible for cash bonus. (Expires 3/31/2020)
Get $300 Cash Bonus
New Ally Invest customers only with $100,000 minimum opening deposit. Account must be funded for at least 60 days to be eligible for cash bonus. (Expires 3/31/2020)
Get $600 Cash Bonus
New Ally Invest customers only with $250,000 minimum opening deposit. Account must be funded for at least 60 days to be eligible for cash bonus. (Expires 3/31/2020)
Get $1,200 Cash Bonus
New Ally Invest customers only with $500,000 minimum opening deposit. Account must be funded for at least 60 days to be eligible for cash bonus. (Expires 3/31/2020)
Get $2,500 Cash Bonus
New Ally Invest customers only with $1,000,000 minimum opening deposit. Account must be funded for at least 60 days to be eligible for cash bonus. (Expires 3/31/2020)
Get $3,500 Cash Bonus
New Ally Invest customers only with $2,000,000 minimum opening deposit. Account must be funded for at least 60 days to be eligible for cash bonus. (Expires 3/31/2020)
Open an Ally Invest account


TD Ameritrade
Pros: Easy to Use Thinkorswim Platform Customer Service

Cons: Trade Fees
Our Review: (4.2) TD Ameritrade fees are higher than competitors, but is it worth it? We say yes and here's why. We analyze and compare it for you in our in-depth review... Read full review
Commission-Free Trading - Online Stock, ETF and Option Trades
Applies to U.S. exchange-listed stocks, ETFs, and options. A $0.65 per contract fee applies for options trades, with no exercise or assignment fees.
Get $100 When You Deposit $25,000 or More
Open a new account and fund within 60 calendar days of account opening with $25,000 to $99,999. Offer is not valid on tax-exempt trusts, 401k accounts, Keogh plans, Profit Sharing Plan, or Money Purchase Plan. Terms apply. See TD Ameritrade's website for details. (Expires 4/30/2020)
Get $300 When You Deposit $100,000 or More
Open a new account and fund within 60 calendar days of account opening with $100,000 to $249,999. Offer is not valid on tax-exempt trusts, 401k accounts, Keogh plans, Profit Sharing Plan, or Money Purchase Plan. Terms apply. See TD Ameritrade's website for details. (Expires 4/30/2020)
Get $600 When You Deposit $250,000 or More
Open a new account and fund within 60 calendar days of account opening with $250,000 or more. Offer is not valid on tax-exempt trusts, 401k accounts, Keogh plans, Profit Sharing Plan, or Money Purchase Plan. Terms apply. See TD Ameritrade's website for details. (Expires 4/30/2020)
Open an IRA in 15 minutes or less

E*TRADE
Pros: Expansive set of resources and tools Easy to use website Industry leader

Cons: Trade fees
Our Review: (4.2) E*TRADE is a highly well-known name, but does that mean it's that much better than its competitors? Read our in-depth review and see how it compares... Read full review
Get $100 Cash Credit
Open a new non-retirement brokerage account and fund within 60 days of account opening with a minimum deposit or transfer of $5,000 to $24,999. Terms apply. See E*TRADE website for details. (Expires 3/2/2020)
Get $200 Cash Credit
Open a new non-retirement brokerage account and fund within 60 days of account opening with a minimum deposit or transfer of $25,000 to $99,999. Terms apply. See E*TRADE website for details. (Expires 3/2/2020)
Get $300 Cash Credit
Open a new non-retirement brokerage account and fund within 60 days of account opening with a minimum deposit or transfer of $100,000 to $249,999. Terms apply. See E*TRADE website for details. (Expires 3/2/2020)
Get $600 Cash Credit
Open a new non-retirement brokerage account and fund within 60 days of account opening with a minimum deposit or transfer of $250,000 to $499,999. Terms apply. See E*TRADE website for details. (Expires 3/2/2020)
Get $1,200 Cash Credit
Open a new non-retirement brokerage account and fund within 60 days of account opening with a minimum deposit or transfer of $500,000 to $999,999. Terms apply. See E*TRADE website for details. (Expires 3/2/2020)
Get $2,500 Cash Credit
Open a new non-retirement brokerage account and fund within 60 days of account opening with a minimum deposit or transfer of $1,000,000. Terms apply. See E*TRADE website for details. (Expires 3/2/2020)
Learn more about E*TRADE

Fidelity
Pros: Research reports Beginner-friendly tools Mobile app

Cons: Restricted platform
Our Review: (4.4) Thinking of opening a brokerage account with Fidelity? There are many reasons to love Fidelity and a few reasons to think about going elsewhere... Read full review
Commission-Free Trading - Online Stock, ETF and Option Trades

Scottrade
Pros: Low per trade fees Physical locations Easy-to-navigate website

Cons: No futures trading High broker-assisted fee
Our Review: (4.2) With low trade fees, excellent resources, and superior customer service, Scottrade is a highly trusted online broker. Read on for our in-depth review... Read full review
Open an Account

Charles Schwab
Pros: Vast selection of commission-free ETFs and mutual funds 2 platforms (one for beginners and one for advanced traders) 24/7 customer service including online chat

Cons: Commission costs on mutual funds outside of the commission-free funds Robo-advisor option requires a minimum investment of $5,000
Our Review: (4.2) Charles Schwab is one of the oldest names in the world of investing. With low fees, no account minimums, and robust research tools, it's a good brokerage for all levels of investors... Read full review
$0 Commissions on Online Stock, ETF, and Options Trades
500 Commission-Free Online and Options Trades
Offer is available for new and existing Schwab clients. Clients must make a qualifying net deposit of $100,000 into their Charles Schwab & Co. retail brokerage account within 45 days of enrollment in the offer. This offer is limited to one account per client. Trades will expire 730 days after credited to account.

Robinhood
Pros: Commission-free trades No minimum

Cons: No IRAs Limited research No mutual funds & bonds
Our Review: (4.0) Robinhood lets you trade stocks commission-free and has no account minimums. Is it safe? Are there hidden fees? Read on for the pros and cons... Read full review
Invite Friends, Get Free Stocks
Free Cryptocurrency Investing
Robinhood Crypto offers commission-free cryptocurrency investments 24/7. Some of the crytocurrencies available are Bitcoin, Dogecoin, Ethereum, and Litecoin. This offer is currently available to selected states.
Free Options Investing
Robinhood offers commission-free and no monthly fee options trading.

Vanguard
Pros: Large selection of mutual funds and commission-free ETFs Broker assistance is available at no additional cost Easy to use

Cons: Commission structure penalizes frequent traders Customer service wait times Commission costs on non-Vanguard investment options
Our Review: (3.9) Vanguard Brokerage may be a full-service broker, but typically long-term investors preferring ETFs and mutual funds see the greatest return on their investment with them... Read full review

Interactive Brokers
Pros: Large number of investments, including options, futures, and forex Customize trading platform Tools and opportunities for research

Cons: $10,000 minimum to open an account. Platform can be too much for a beginner to understand Inactivity fees if you don't meet the trade commission requirements.
Our Review: (4.3) Do you have $10,000 and plenty of trading knowledge? Interactive Brokers may provide you with a solid trading platform. With their competitive fees and robust trading options, they are a common choice for the experienced trader... Read full review

Merrill Edge
Pros: No account minimums Current Bank of America customers experience seamless account integration Robust research opportunities

Cons: Platform is not friendly for frequent traders who execute quick trades No commission-free ETFs available Market research reports can be hard for beginners to understand
Our Review: (4.3) If you are looking for excellent customer service, competitive pricing, and robust investment options, you may have found what you are looking for in Merrill Edge... Read full review
Get $150 with New Merrill Edge Account
To get $150 bonus, use offer code 900ME when opening a new account. Deposit $20,000 - $49,999 within 45 days of account opening. Maintain qualifying balance for at least 90 days. You must be enrolled in Preferred Rewards as of 90 days from meeting funding criteria to receive bonus. Offer is valid for new and existing individual Merrill Edge IRAs or Cash Management Accounts (CMAs). (Expires 4/15/2020)
Get $225 with New Merrill Edge Account
To get $225 bonus, use offer code 900ME when opening a new account. Deposit $50,000 to $99,999 within 45 days of account opening. Maintain qualifying balance for at least 90 days. You must be enrolled in Preferred Rewards as of 90 days from meeting funding criteria to receive bonus. Offer is valid for new and existing individual Merrill Edge IRAs or Cash Management Accounts (CMAs). (Expires 4/15/2020)
Get $375 with New Merrill Edge Account
To get $375 bonus, use offer code 900ME when opening a new account. Deposit $100,000 to $199,999 within 45 days of account opening. Maintain qualifying balance for at least 90 days. You must be enrolled in Preferred Rewards as of 90 days from meeting funding criteria to receive bonus. Offer is valid for new and existing individual Merrill Edge IRAs or Cash Management Accounts (CMAs). (Expires 4/15/2020)
Get $900 with New Merrill Edge Account
To get $900 bonus, use offer code 900ME when opening a new account. Deposit $200,000 or more within 45 days of account opening. Maintain qualifying balance for at least 90 days. You must be enrolled in Preferred Rewards as of 90 days from meeting funding criteria to receive bonus. Offer is valid for new and existing individual Merrill Edge IRAs or Cash Management Accounts (CMAs). (Expires 4/15/2020)
$100 Bonus Offer
Open a new, qualifying Merrill Edge account using offer code 600ME. Make a qualifying net deposit of $20,000 to $49,999 within 45 days of account opening. Maintain qualifying balance for at least 90 days to receive $100 bonus. Bonus will be deposited into your Merrill Edge IRA or CMA within 2 weeks following the end of the 90 day period.
$150 Bonus Offer
Open a new, qualifying Merrill Edge account using offer code 600ME. Make a qualifying net deposit of $50,000 to $99,999 within 45 days of account opening. Maintain qualifying balance for at least 90 days to receive $150 bonus. Bonus will be deposited into your Merrill Edge IRA or CMA within 2 weeks following the end of the 90 day period.
$250 Bonus Offer
Open a new, qualifying Merrill Edge account using offer code 600ME. Make a qualifying net deposit of $100,000 to $199,999 within 45 days of account opening. Maintain qualifying balance for at least 90 days to receive $250 bonus. Bonus will be deposited into your Merrill Edge IRA or CMA within 2 weeks following the end of the 90 day period.
$600 Bonus Offer
Open a new, qualifying Merrill Edge account using offer code 600ME. Make a qualifying net deposit of $200,000 or more within 45 days of account opening. Maintain qualifying balance for at least 90 days to receive $600 bonus. Bonus will be deposited into your Merrill Edge IRA or CMA within 2 weeks following the end of the 90 day period.

Stash
Pros: Invest with as little as $5 Guidance to beginners Automatically invest extra funds

Cons: Fees are high for small balances High ETF expense ratio Limited research
Our Review: (3.8) Worried that investing is too expensive or overwhelming? You aren't alone. But Stash claims that with just $5, you can start investing confidently. Is it true?... Read full review
Sign Up and Get $5
Sign up online and add at least $5 to your account.
Get $50 After You Deposit $300 in a 30 Day Period
Sign up for Stash and direct deposit at least $300 in a 30 day period into your Stash banking account for a $50 bonus. Debit Account Services provided by Green Dot Bank and Stash Visa Debit card issued by Green Dot Bank, Member FDIC.


Acorns
Pros: No minimum investment Invest with spare change Free for college students

Cons: Fees are high for small balances No tax benefits Limited investment options
Our Review: (3.7) Acorns automatically invests your spare change, so you can invest without thinking. It's great for novice investors, but there are downsides. Read on... Read full review
$10 Sign-Up Bonus
$5 Sign-Up Bonus
Try Acorns Today!
Acorns Later: IRA Account
The easiest way to save for retirement.
Try Acorns Today! $10 Sign-Up Bonus

ZacksTrade
Pros: Fees starting at $3 per trade Outstanding research tools No additional fees for broker assisted trades

Cons: Not beginner friendly $2,500 minimum to start
Our Review: (4.4) Stock traders that hear the name Zacks likely think of research. That's because Zacks has been a top provider of investment research for many years. The company has since broadened their services to offer an online brokerage firm... Read full review


M1 Finance
Pros: Choose your own investments Can invest in individual stocks No account fees

Cons: Not beginner friendly No human advisors Can only trade once a day
Our Review: (4.5) M1 Finance is a robo-advisor that lets you choose your investments. But is M1 safe and really free? Read this M1 Finance review for the pros and cons... Read full review

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