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One of The Best Brokerage Accounts for Beginners
By: Conor Keenan Last updated April 18, 2025
Conor Keenan, co-founder of CompareAccounts, is a notable personal finance expert with work seen in Wall Street Journal, CNN, Fox News, MSN & Yahoo Finance.
Editorial Independence: Our opinions, reviews, and recommendations are our own and not influenced by financial institutions or partners. Partner commissions keep our site free, but our content remains independent and is not commissioned by any partner or financial institution.
SoFi® offers all-in-one investing with active investing, robo investing, retirement accounts, and access to financial planners. Perfect for beginners.
Best For: All-In-One Investing
Bonus: Get up to $1,000 in stock when you open & fund a new SoFi Active Invest account7.
In addition to the bonus, you'll enjoy $0 commission on stocks & ETFs1, while being able to access alternative investments usually reserved for the top 1% of investors like commodities, private credit, pre-IPO unicorns, real estate & more2.
Are you a beginner and not sure where to start? With Automated Investing, get a customized portfolio built for your goals and receive access to personalized advice from a credentialed financial planner6.
Join a community of likeminded investors and connect with other SoFi members at exclusive events & experiences.
With all these benefits, it's no wonder why so many people are choosing to invest with SoFi.
- Trade Stocks, ETFs, & More with Ease through SoFi Securities.
- $0 Commission on Stocks & ETFs1.
- Buy Fractional Shares with as little as $5. Restrictions Apply3.
- Access Alternative Investments like Commodities, Private Credit, Pre-IPO Offerings, Real Estate & More2.
- Customized Portfolio Built for Your Goals with Automated Investing from SoFi Wealth.
- Access to Personalized Advice from a Credentialed Financial Planner with SoFi Wealth6.
- Get up to $1,000 in Stock When You Open & Fund a SoFi Active Invest7.
- Enjoy a 1% Bonus When You Transfer Your Portfolio to SoFi Active Invest8.
- See Site for Details
On SoFi® Invest's Secure Site
Open Your New Account with SoFi Now
SoFi® Invest Details: Best For: All-In-One Investing
Customers Also Viewed These Checking Accounts:
- Checking Account
- Visa® Debit Card
- Minimum Deposit: $50
- Overdraft Fees: $0
- $100 Negative Balance Buffer for eligible clients.
- Mobile Check Deposit
- No ATM Fees at Truist ATMs
- Earn $400 with qualifying activities. For new checking clients only.
- Use Promo Code: AFL2425TR1400
- Offer valid through 04/30/2025.
- Terms & Conditions Applyⓘ
- See Site for Details
Terms and Conditions for the $400 Truist One Checking Affiliate Offer 1: AFL2425TR1400
Offer Information: Open a new Truist One Checking account online from 10/31/24 through 4/30/25, receive at least 2 qualifying Direct Deposits* totaling $1,000 or more within 120 days of account opening and earn $400.
Account must be opened online. Enrollment in the promotion is required at the time of account opening using promo code AFL2425TR1400. Please refer to the Account Opening and Enrollment section below for full instructions.
*A qualifying Direct Deposit is an electronic credit (greater than $0.00) of your salary, pension, Social Security or other regular monthly income deposited into your new checking account by your employer or outside agency. Transfers made from one account to another, or deposits made via a branch, ATM, online transfer, mobile device, debit/prepaid card number or the mail are not eligible direct deposits.
Offer Eligibility: Clients that are the primary account holder on an existing personal checking account with Truist or who have closed a personal checking account with Truist on or after 10/31/23 are not eligible to participate. Offer valid for Truist One Checking accounts only. Primary account holder must be 18 or older at the time of account opening. Truist employees, Directors, Officers, and Local Boards/Advisors are not eligible. Offer available only to US residents with a valid US taxpayer identification number. The qualifying checking account must be opened online and have a mailing address in: AL, AR, FL, GA, IN, KY, MD, MS, NC, NJ, OH, PA, SC, TN, TX, VA, WV or DC.
Reward Processing: The reward will be deposited to the new checking account within 4 weeks after the qualification requirements have been met and verified. The new checking account must be open and in good standing with a balance of at least $0.01 at the time of Truist verification and until the reward is deposited to receive the reward. Truist verification will occur one time after the qualification requirements are initially met. Promotion is only applicable once per checking account and per client. Truist may report the value of any offer reward received to the IRS as required by law. Any applicable taxes are the responsibility of the recipient.
Reward Forfeiture: Reward forfeiture will occur if: (1) the checking account is changed to an account type not included in this client offer, (2) the checking account is closed prior to the reward being deposited, or (3) the new checking account has a $0.00 or negative available balance at the time Truist verifies the qualification requirements have been met.
Other Terms: Minimum opening deposit is $50. The offer is non-transferable, may not be combined with any other checking offers, is subject to change, and may be discontinued at any time. Truist reserves the right in our sole discretion to prohibit a reward payout to non-eligible individuals for any offers claimed through third-party websites with no affiliation or prior authorization from Truist. All promotional payouts will be processed no later than 1/31/26 at which point this promotion (and any related disbursements) will be considered final, and no further disbursements will be made.
Account Opening & Enrollment Instructions: To open and enroll your new account in the promotion, visit the offer website and click on “Open an account online.” Enter AFL2425TR1400 into the promo code field provided, review the offer Terms and Conditions, and then select “Accept Offer”. Accounts opened without the promo code applied will not be eligible to participate in the offer. Once enrolled in the promotion, clients may receive promotional updates via the email address provided or by calling 800.709.8700.
Version 3 10022024 AFL2425TR1400
Truist Bank, Member FDIC. ©2024, Truist Financial Corporation. Truist, Truist Purple and the Truist Logo are service marks of Truist Financial Corporation.
On Truist's Secure Site,
Member FDIC
- Checking Account
- No. Fees. Period.
- No Monthly Fee
- No Insufficient Funds Fee
- Fee-Free Overdraft Protection
- Set Up Direct Deposit & Access Funds up to 2 Days Sooner with Early Pay
- Access 60,000+ Fee-Free ATMs
- Send Money with Zelle®
- Cashback Bonus: up to $360 per yearⓘ
- Debit Card Cashback – Earn 1% Cash Back on up to $3,000 in Debit Card Purchases Each Month
- See Site for Details
On Discover's Secure Site,
Member FDIC
- Checking Account
- No Monthly Maintenance Fee
- Min. Opening Deposit: $10
- Send Money with Zelle®
- KeyBank Enhanced Debit Mastercard® Offers Security & Convenience
- Deposit Checks in The Mobile App
- 24-hour access to 40,000+ KeyBank & AllPoint® ATMs Nationwide
- Earn a $300 Cash Bonus: Make the Minimum Opening Deposit of $10, Plus One Single Eligible Direct Deposit of at Least $1,000 within the First 60 Days of Account Opening
- To be Bonus Eligible, You Must Open Your Account by May 16, 2025
- Overdraft Protection Services Available
- Accounts are Subject to Approval
- Terms & Conditions Apply
- See Site for Details & Other Offers
On KeyBank's Secure Site,
Member FDIC
SoFi Invest Disclosures:
1. Other fees, such as exchange fees, may apply. Please view our fee disclosure to view a full listing of fees.
2. Investing in alternative investments and/or strategies may not be suitable for all investors and involves unique risks, including the risk of loss. An investor should consider their individual circumstances and any investment information, such as a prospectus, prior to investing. Interval Funds are illiquid instruments, the ability to trade on your timeline may be restricted. Brokerage and Active investing products offered through SoFi Securities LLC, Member FINRA(www.finra.org) /SIPC(www.sipc.org).
3. There are limitations with fractional shares to consider before investing. During market hours fractional share orders are transmitted immediately in the order received. There may be system delays from receipt of your order until execution and market conditions may adversely impact execution prices. Outside of market hours orders are received on a not held basis and will be aggregated for each security then executed in the morning trade window of the next business day at market open. Share will be delivered at an average price received for executing the securities through a single batched order. Fractional shares may not be transferred to another firm. Fractional shares will be sold when a transfer or closure request is initiated. Please consider that selling securities is a taxable event.
4. Options involve risks, including substantial risk of loss and the possibility an investor may lose the entire investment Before trading options please review the Characteristics and Risks of Standardized Options [HYPERLINK: https://www.theocc.com/getmedia/a151a9ae-d784-4a15-bdeb-23a029f50b70/riskstoc.pdf
5. Utilizing a margin loan is generally considered more appropriate for experienced investors as there are additional costs and risks associated. It is possible to lose more than your initial investment when using margin. Please see https://www.sofi.com/wealth/assets/documents/brokerage-margin-disclosure-statement.pdf for detailed disclosure information.
6. SoFi Plus members can schedule an unlimited number of appointments with a financial planner during periods in which the SoFi Plus member meets the eligibility criteria set forth in section 10(a) of the SoFi Plus Terms and Conditions. SoFi members who are not members of SoFi Plus can schedule one (1) appointment with a financial planner. The ability to schedule appointments is subject to financial planner availability. SoFi reserves the right to change or terminate this benefit at any time with or without notice. Advisory services are offered by SoFi Wealth LLC, an SEC-registered investment adviser. Information about SoFi Wealth’s advisory operations, services, and fees is set forth in SoFi Wealth’s current Form ADV Part 2 (Brochure), a copy of which is available upon request and at www.adviserinfo.sec.gov.
7. Customer must fund their Active Invest account with at least $50 within 30 days of opening the account. Probability of customer receiving $1,000 is 0.028%. See full terms and conditions.
8. Terms and conditions apply. Roll over a minimum of $20K to receive the 1% match offer. Matches on contributions are made up to the annual limits.
9. Must be a SoFi Plus member at the time a recurring deposit is received into your SoFi Active or Automated investing account to qualify. Bonus calculated on net monthly recurring deposits made via ACH and paid out as Rewards Points. See Rewards Terms of Service. SoFi reserves the right to change or terminate this promotion at any time without notice. See terms and limitations. https://www.sofi.com/sofiplus/invest/#disclaimers
10. For full promotion terms please visit: SoFi.com/ACATterms. You must transfer at least $20,000 before April 17, 2025 and keep the investments in your SoFi Active Invest account through December 31, 2025 to be eligible for the incentive, which will be paid by January 31, 2026. SoFi does not accept cryptocurrencies and has some limitations on mutual funds and OTC stock.
Brokerage and Active investing products offered through SoFi Securities LLC, member FINRA(www.finra.org)/SIPC(www.
Advisory services are offered by SoFi Wealth LLC, an SEC-registered investment adviser. Information about SoFi Wealth’s advisory operations, services, and fees is set forth in SoFi Wealth’s current Form ADV Part 2 (Brochure), a copy of which is available upon request and at www.adviserinfo.sec.gov.
INVESTMENTS ARE NOT FDIC INSURED • ARE NOT BANK GUARANTEED • MAY LOSE VALUE
*National Savings Rate Average as published by FDIC