We compared every major brokerage by the features that actually matter for implementing your Frame — auto-rebalancing, fractional shares, recurring buys, and IRA support. Here's who wins where.
We may earn a commission if you open an account through links on this page. This does not influence our rankings or recommendations. We recommend brokers that genuinely support ETF investing — regardless of commission rates.
M1 Finance is the best broker for most Five Fund Frame investors because it auto-rebalances your portfolio to match your allocation. You set your Frame percentages once, and M1 keeps them in balance automatically — no manual trading required.
If you want banking + investing in one app, SoFi. For maximum trust and institutional reliability, Fidelity. For IRA/retirement focus, Schwab.
| Feature | M1 Finance | SoFi | Fidelity | Schwab |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Auto-rebalancing | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | ❌ No | ❌ No |
| Fractional shares | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes (20+碎股) | ✅ Yes |
| $0 commissions | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Best for Frame | ✅ Auto-rebalance | Banking + investing | Maximum trust | Retirement (IRA) |
M1 Finance is the only major brokerage with automatic portfolio rebalancing built in. You create a "Pie" (your Frame), set your allocation percentages, and M1 automatically rebalances when your allocations drift. This is the closest thing to "set it and forget it" available for individual investors.
Avoid if: You want to actively trade individual stocks between rebalance cycles. M1's pie-based structure is designed for buy-and-hold, not frequent trading.
SoFi combines checking, savings, and investing in one app. Set up recurring ETF buys, earn cash back on investments (up to 1% in select accounts), and manage your entire financial life from a single dashboard. Their recurring buy feature makes it easy to dollar-cost average into your Frame.
Avoid if: You want the deepest selection of investment options. SoFi's platform is streamlined — not everything that trades is available.
Fidelity is one of the largest and most trusted brokerages in the world. Zero-fee ETF trading, fractional shares on 20+ popular tickers, and decades of institutional-grade reliability. If your priority is security and you want a broker that will still be around in 50 years, Fidelity is the answer.
Avoid if: You want a sleek mobile-first experience. Fidelity's app works well but isn't the prettiest on the market.
Schwab offers strong IRA options, zero-fee ETF trading, and excellent retirement planning tools. Their fractional share program (Schwab Stock Slices) lets you buy fractional shares of popular ETFs like VOO, QQQ, and SPY. If retirement planning is your primary goal, Schwab's tools give you the most support.
Avoid if: You want a mobile-first experience. Schwab's app is functional but not as polished as competitors.
Robinhood has the cleanest interface and fastest execution of any retail brokerage. Instant buys, options trading support, and a mobile app that's genuinely enjoyable to use. If you plan to adjust your Frame allocations frequently or want to experiment with options, Robinhood is the way to go.
Avoid if: You value customer service and institutional trust over speed. Robinhood's support has improved but still lags Fidelity/Schwab.
The best broker depends on how you plan to implement the Five Fund Frame:
Pick your life stage, set your allocations, and see every dollar assigned to its job.
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