M1 Finance is the automated long-term investing app — not for day traders, but for investors who want to set a target allocation, make recurring deposits, and let the platform handle rebalancing automatically. The pie system is genuinely innovative and the portfolio line of credit is a useful liquidity tool. Best for patient investors building wealth over years, not days.
Pros
- Pie-based portfolio system — allocate percentages, auto-rebalance
- Automated investing: deposit and M1 fills pies proportionally
- Expert Pies: pre-built portfolios by theme (dividend, value, growth)
- M1 Borrow: portfolio line of credit at competitive rates
- IRA accounts (traditional, Roth, SEP)
- High-yield checking account with cash back debit card (M1 Plus)
Cons
- Trades execute once daily (morning window) — no real-time trading
- Not ideal for active traders or options strategies
- M1 Plus ($3/month) required for afternoon trade window and some features
- No fractional ETF shares without custom pie allocation
- Customer support is email-only; response times vary
- Crypto not available (equity-focused platform)
Full Review
Our verdict on M1 Finance
M1 Finance has built something genuinely different from Robinhood or Webull. Instead of a stock screener and buy button, M1 gives you a 'pie' — a visual circle where you allocate percentages to positions. Once you set up your pie, every deposit automatically fills your positions proportionally. Rebalancing is automatic. The experience is closer to a self-directed robo-advisor than a traditional brokerage.
How it works
Create an account, build your pie (or choose from 100+ pre-built Expert Pies), link a bank account, and set a recurring deposit schedule. Every time funds arrive, M1 automatically buys fractional shares of each holding in proportion to your target allocation. Over time, the portfolio drifts — M1 rebalances on deposit or on a one-click rebalance request. There is no manual stock picking required; the pie handles it.
Features & tools
The core product is the pie portfolio system with automatic rebalancing and fractional shares. Expert Pies include curated themes: dividend stocks, value investing, ESG, ARK Innovation-style growth, and retirement-date funds. M1 Borrow lets you borrow against your portfolio at competitive rates (portfolio line of credit, typically 4-7% depending on tier). M1 Money is a high-yield checking account (higher rate on M1 Plus) with a cash back debit card.
- Pie portfolios: allocate % to up to 100 holdings, auto-rebalance
- Expert Pies: 100+ pre-built strategies by M1 or community
- Fractional shares: trade any dollar amount in any stock or ETF
- IRA accounts: traditional, Roth, SEP
- M1 Borrow: portfolio line of credit at ~2-6% (varies)
- M1 Money: 5%+ APY checking (M1 Plus tier)
Fees & promotions
M1 Finance is free for standard accounts with one trade window per day (morning). M1 Plus costs $3/month and adds a second trade window (afternoon), a higher cash APY, and lower borrow rates. No trading commissions. No annual account fees. There may be a $100 minimum to open an IRA. M1 sometimes offers promotions for account transfers from other brokerages.
Availability
M1 Finance is available to US investors nationwide. IRA accounts are available across all states. SIPC member ($500K coverage on securities). Cash is held at partner FDIC-insured banks. Not available internationally.
Final take
M1 Finance is the right app if your investing style is 'set a plan and execute it consistently' rather than 'react to market news and trade actively.' The pie system, automatic rebalancing, and recurring deposit automation make M1 the most hands-off quality investing app available at no cost. Pair it with Webull if you also want to actively trade a portion of your portfolio.
Payout Method
Bank transfer
Platforms
iOS, Android
Category
Stock & Investing Apps
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