SoFi Invest Review 2023


3.8 / 5
SoFi Invest is #37 in our broker rankings.

SoFi Invest is a good stop for investors who want automated assistance with their stock and ETF investment decisions. The fractional shares and no minimum deposit will appeal to newer traders in particular.

- Daytrading Review Team

SoFi Invest is an American wealth management and robo advisory service, providing equity and cryptocurrency investment portfolios with competitive fees. The firm is heavily regulated and registered with the SEC and FINRA. First launched in 2011, the firm has attracted millions of clients and various awards.

$0
Own
Crypto, Stocks
-
USD
Wire Transfer, ACH Transfer
Stock Trading

Trade 4000+ stocks from US exchanges as well as six ETFs with zero commission. Traders can access blue chips like Apple, Amazon and Tesla with fractional shares for as little as $5, or turn over their stock investment decisions to robo advisors.

Crypto Trading

Trade 22 cryptocurrencies including Bitcoin, Binance Coin, Uniswap and Polkadot from as little as $10, making it a good pick for beginners. The broker charges a competitive 1.25% commission on crypto trades.

✓ Pros

  • Can be tethered to other SoFi accounts, including SoFi Loans, SoFi money accounts and SoFi credit cards
  • Robo advisors can make investments according to user-defined goals and risk appetite
  • Straightforward platform makes investing easier for beginners
  • More than 4000 US stocks and ETFs with no commission
  • Start investing in fractional shares for as little as $5
  • Access to a free on-demand financial advisor
  • Automated dividend reinvestments
  • Users can participate in IPOs
  • SEC- and FINRA-regulated
  • No minimum deposit

✗ Cons

  • Basic portfolio reports with individual investment numbers only and no charts
  • Limited order types (no stop-losses)
  • Not much data supplied for securities
  • Commissions on crypto trades
  • Only six ETFs available
  • No tax-loss harvesting
  • Long withdrawal times

SoFi Invest is a cutting-edge online broker that combines a large selection of stocks, shares, ETFs and cryptocurrencies with a sleek user-orientated experience. The firm’s social and educational services are particularly helpful for beginners and the automated and hands-on features suit both manual and algorithmic traders. This 2023 review breaks down SoFi Invest’s platform, fee structure, regulation and the pros and cons of opening an account.

SoFi Invest Headlines

SoFi Invest is an offshoot of SoFi (short for Social Finance Inc.), an American online personal finance company based in San Francisco. SoFi was founded in 2011 by Dan Macklin, Mike Cagney, Ian Brady and James Finnigan. It was initially a student loan refinancing company but has since grown in scale and variety. It provides a range of financial products varying from mortgages, loans and banking to credit cards and student loan refinancing, in addition to investment services. Anthony Noto is the current CEO and Director of SoFi.

In 2018, SoFi launched fee- and commission-free trades of ETFs and stocks under the name SoFi Invest. In 2019, SoFi introduced its automated investing feature, charging no management fees. In 2019, SoFi also announced a partnership with Coinbase, offering over 20 crypto assets to users. SoFi announced it would be going public via a SPAC with an initial valuation of $9 billion in early 2021. After going public, the value of SoFi increased by over 12%.

Trading Platform

The SoFi Invest trading platform is simplistic and sleek, offering investors the ability to invest in stocks, ETFs, IPOs and cryptocurrencies. The app currently does not support any advanced charting or analysis features but it does have asset performance breakdowns.

There are two main services that SoFi invest offers via the trading platform. The Active account and the Automated account. The Active account allows you to search for individual assets, buy them and sell them with 0% commission fees. Investors can design custom watchlists connected to real-time market data to follow assets and track the market based on set preferences. This service is suitable for traders who prefer to build their portfolios with the support of their knowledge and expertise.

The Automated account allows your portfolio to be run by a robo advisor; you just need to state your investing aims (goals and risk preferences), and the AI automatically manages it for you. It also automatically rebalances and diversifies your account. This feature has no management or advisory fees. This service is suitable for those traders who would prefer a more ‘hands-off’ approach and provides a range of funds with varying assets under management (AUM).

Assets

SoFi Invest offers opportunities to invest in company stocks, Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs), Initial Public Offerings (IPOs) and cryptocurrencies. SoFi invest doesn’t currently have options to invest in mutual funds or penny stocks. As of October 2021, it is only possible to execute market and limit orders; stop-loss and stop-limit buying options are not supported.

Stocks & Shares

There are a wide variety of different stocks and shares available, all listed on the NASDAQ, AMEX and NYSE. These are categorised into various groups based on particular features. For instance, there are categories based on popularity, trends and dividend payments, among others.

ETFs

There are 6 ETFs offered, made up of a total of 2,300 securities.

Unlike many other ETFs, these are weighted by growth, not just market capitalisation.

IPOs

SoFi Invest supports participation in IPOs, providing clients with the opportunity to buy company shares before they are traded on the public market.

Crypto

SoFi Invest’s partnership with Coinbase provides the ability for its customers to purchase and trade over 20 major cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, Ethereum and Litecoin.SoFi Invest eligibility calculator and pricing news

Spreads & Commission

SoFi invest has 0% commission and no-account minimums, so all you need is $1 to start investing. There are also no inactivity fees but the robo advisor service comes with a 0.25% fee for accounts worth more than $10,000. While there is no commission, some of the ETFs incorporate management fees, the highest being the TGIF and GIGE funds, with 0.59% charges. There is also a 1.25% mark-up fee with crypto trading.

Mobile App

SoFi Invest is exclusively a mobile and web trading app. The mobile application is supported for iOS and Android (APK) download and the web-based client can be accessed via the broker’s website. The app varies slightly between the mobile and web versions but, overall, it is sleek and user-friendly, providing a seamless trading experience. The app requires a 2-step login with biometric authentication and has an integrated free learning platform, which can help with navigating the app and investing.

The app is fairly basic for seasoned traders, especially regarding technical indicators. For instance, there are no price signalling/alerts features and customisability is limited. You are only able to choose from a few pre-set alerts, such as when the price of an ETF or stock reaches a 52-week high or low. The platform only allows for market-orders and limit-orders, which might be off-putting for day traders who want to utilise stop-loss and stop-limit orders.

Payment Methods

Depositing into a SoFi Invest account is a smooth experience, you need only record your basic personal and financial details and connect the bank account from which you wish to transfer your funds.

Deposits

There is no minimum deposit limit. SoFi offers instant deposits (funding) of up to $1,000, extending up to $50,000 with other SoFi products. This means you don’t have to wait until the bank transfer is completed to make your investments. The firm also supports direct deposit functionality, so you can regularly add to your account.

Withdrawals

SoFi does not charge fees for ACH withdrawals, though wire transfers incur $25. There is also a $75 outgoing fee when closing your account.

Deals & Promotions

SoFi Invest often has a range of welcome bonuses and financial incentives on offer for new clients. There is a signup bonus stock worth up to $50 for all newcomers that deposit at least $5,000. The broker will provide a $10 bonus in Bitcoin when they make their first trade worth $10 or more. SoFi also waives the management fees of ETFs for certain periods. Moreover, SoFi Invest launched a touchdown football tournament that trended on Twitter, which comes with leaderboards of average returns and exciting rewards.

Regulation & Licensing

Social Finance Inc. (SoFi) is a US-based SEC and FINRA-regulated financial services company. Being a subsidiary of SoFi Inc., SoFi Invest is also regulated by the SEC and FINRA. Client investment accounts are thus protected by the SIPC for a maximum of $500,000 in securities and up to $250,000 in cash

Automated Investing and advisory services are provided by SoFi Wealth LLC, an SEC-registered investment advisor. Brokerage services are provided to SoFi Wealth LLC by SoFi Securities LLC.

Active investing and brokerage services (‘SoFi securities’) are provided by SoFi Securities LLC, a member of FINRA/SIPC. Clearing and custody of all securities are provided by APEX Clearing Corporation.

Cryptocurrency trading is offered by SoFi Digital assets LLC, a FinCEN registered Money Service Business.

Additional Features

Account Types

Various accounts are available to consumers, each coming with complete tax documents and statements. All of these accounts can be ‘active’ or ‘automated’. You can open several accounts at once, though IRS contribution limits still apply across all accounts and are not limited per account. SoFi offers free investment advice and consultations regardless of chosen account. SoFi Active Invest accounts can be used for margin trading. The accounts are listed below:

Taxable account

Retirement account

Trading Hours

The stocks offered by SoFi Invest are listed on the NYSE, NYSE American (formerly AMEX) and NASDAQ exchanges. Therefore, the trading window for these assets corresponds to the opening times of these stock exchanges. They are all open from 09:30 EST to 16:00 EST, with holidays observed for all. Both the NYSE and the NASDAQ allow after-hours trading in the forms of pre-market and post-market sessions.

Crypto can be traded at any time as the cryptocurrency market is open 24 hours, 7 days a week.

Customer Support

SoFi Invest customer service gives relevant and quick responses to queries and issues like your account not working or you can’t withdraw your money. The team can be contacted via telephone or live chat through both the mobile and web platforms, though email support is not available. Telephone support can be accessed 05:00-19:00 Monday-Thursday and 05:00-17:00 Friday-Sunday.

Safety & Security

Opening a SoFi Invest account takes a matter of minutes and the identifications process can take up to 48 hours. For this, you must fill in various forms and provide personal and financial information. You can then choose the investment style you would prefer (i.e. automated vs active) and the chosen funding method.

SoFi Invest offers a two-step login (2FA) to increase app security. This can be turned on via the ‘My profile’ menu in the account settings. The broker also uses several tools to secure client holdings against theft, including SSL encryption, two-factor authentication and partnering with reputable exchanges like Coinbase to deliver transactions, whilst ensuring personal and financial information is kept secure.

SoFi Invest itself is not backed by a financial institution, however, Social Finance Inc. and its subsidiaries are regulated by the SEC and FINRA. SoFi is a publicly traded company, meaning that operations results and balance sheets can be found online. SoFi’s investment accounts are protected by the SIPC for a maximum account of $500,000 in securities and up to $250,000 in cash. On the other hand, FDIC insurance does not immediately apply to SoFi Invest.

Overall, SoFi Invest has very positive reviews. It has a 4.8 rating on the Apple App Store from 107,400 reviews and a 4.4 rating on the Google Play Store from 14,000 customers.

SoFi Verdict

SoFi Invest is a functional, accessible and user-friendly broker with a polished interface and favourable trading conditions. The firm’s fractional shares and lack of commissions and deposit limits mean that anyone can get started with the range of stocks, ETFs and cryptos on offer. The broker is great for hands on and hands off traders with its easy-to-use active or automated trading accounts. However, SoFi Invest’s services are slightly lacking for some more advanced traders, with limited data, order types and analysis tools. Additionally, it would be good to see the firm incorporate demo trading accounts and reduce the management and transaction fees for its ETFs and cryptos.

FAQs

How Much Capital Do I Need To Trade At SoFi Invest?

You can get started with a little as $1 with SoFi Invest; there is no minimum deposit.

Does SoFi Invest Offer A Demo Account?

SoFi Invest currently does not offer a demo account, which is slightly disappointing. This means that there is no capability for new clients to trial the services before investing real money.

Is SoFi Invest Regulated?

Social Finance Inc. and its subsidiaries, including SoFi Invest, are all regulated by both the SEC and FINRA, which are top-tier regulators.

Is SoFi Invest A Trustworthy Broker?

SoFi is a trustworthy, legitimate brokerage. It is a publicly-traded company, meaning that operations results and balance sheets are available to the public. SoFi Invest generally has positive user reviews that frequently comment on its accessibility and performance.

Is SoFi Invest A Good Investment Broker?

SoFi Invest is a functional and accessible broker that is particularly helpful for beginner traders. It offers a wide range of investing options, including stocks, ETFs and cryptocurrencies. These can either be managed actively or automatically and clients can open a variety of accounts, whether it be a joint taxable account or a Roth IRA accounts. It is currently only possible to carry out market and limit orders; stop-loss and stop-limit orders are not possible.

Does SoFi Invest Have Fractional Shares?

SoFi Invest does offer fractional shares, which allow users to invest in large, expensive companies by purchasing less than one single stock, making them much more accessible. These are only available for the larger companies on offer, such as Gamestop.

Where Can SoFi Invest Be Used?

SoFi Invest is only available to clients in the USA. It is currently not available for non-US resident and international clients in the UK, Europe, Singapore, Canada, Australia, Hong Kong or Malaysia, among other countries worldwide.

Accepted Countries

SoFi Invest only accepts traders from United States.

Payment Methods

SoFi Invest Details

Minimum Trade $0
Regulated By SEC, FINRA
Islamic Account No
Mobile Apps iOS & Android
Margin Trading Yes
Volatility Index No
Spot Trading Yes
Perpetual Swaps No
ELWs No
REITs No
AI / Machine Learning No
Robo Advisor No
P2P Trading No
Negative Balance Protection No
VPS Hosting No
Tournaments No
Demo Competitions No
Managed Accounts No
Market Maker No
Social Trading Yes
Guaranteed Stop Loss No
Stock Exchanges
  • New York Stock Exchange

Cryptocurrency Trading Details

Crypto Spread N/A
Crypto Lending No
Crypto Staking No
Crypto Mining No
Crypto Auto Market Maker No
Crypto Coins
  • AAVE
  • ADA
  • ALGO
  • ATOM
  • BAT
  • BCH
  • BNT
  • BTC
  • COMP
  • DOGE
  • DOT
  • ENJ
  • ETC
  • ETH
  • FIL
  • GRT
  • LINK
  • LTC
  • MANA
  • MATIC
  • MKR
  • SNX
  • SOL
  • SUSHI
  • UNI
  • XLM
  • XTZ
  • YFI

Top 3 Alternatives to SoFi Invest

Compare SoFi Invest with the top 3 similar brokers that accept traders from your location.

  1. IG Group – IG is an award-winning broker that has an excellent reputation globally. The brand-US offers spread betting, CFD and forex trading across a comprehensive suite of markets. IG is also multi-regulated, provides a great trading app and has 50 years experience.
    Go to IG Group
  2. Interactive Brokers – Interactive Brokers is a leading global brokerage that provides access to a comprehensive offering of stocks as well as forex, futures, metals, bonds and cryptos. The firm has over 40 years experience in the online trading industry and is heavily regulated by SEC, FCA, IIROC, and SFC. Day traders can use the proprietary Trader Workstation and can access powerful tools and data feeds as well as comprehensive educational resources.
    Go to Interactive Brokers
  3. Firstrade – Firstrade is a US-headquartered discount broker-dealer with authorization from the SEC. The company is also a member of FINRA/SIPC. With welcome bonuses, powerful tools and apps, plus commission-free trading, Firstrade Securities is a popular online brokerage. It is also quick and easy to open a new account.
    Go to Firstrade

SoFi Invest Comparison Table

Compare SoFi Invest With Similar Brokers
SoFi Invest IG Group Interactive Brokers Firstrade
Rating 3.8 4.4 4.3 4
Markets Stocks, Crypto CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, ETFs, Futures, Options, Crypto, Spread Betting Forex, Stocks, Commodities, Crypto Stocks, ETFs, Options, Mutual Funds, Bonds, Cryptos, Fixed
Demo Account No Yes Yes No
Minimum Deposit $0 $0 $0 $0
Minimum Trade $0 0.01 Lots $100 $1
Regulators SEC, FINRA FCA, ASIC, NFA, CFTC, DFSA, BaFin, MAS, FSCA SEC, FCA, IIROC, SFC SEC, FINRA
Bonus Deposit Bonus Up To $4000
Education No Yes No Yes
Platforms Own MT4, AutoChartist, TradingCentral AlgoTrader, OmniTrader, eSignal, TradingCentral Own
Leverage 1:30 (Retail), 1:250 (Pro) 1:50
Payment Methods 2 6 11 4
Visit Visit Visit Visit Visit
Review IG Group
Review
Interactive Brokers
Review
Firstrade
Review

Compare Trading Instruments

Compare the markets and instruments offered by SoFi Invest and its competitors. Please note, some markets may only be available via CFDs or other derivatives.

Compare SoFi Invest Trading Instruments
SoFi Invest IG Group Interactive Brokers Firstrade
CFD No Yes Yes No
Forex No Yes Yes No
Stocks Yes Yes Yes Yes
Commodities No Yes Yes No
Oil No Yes No No
Gold No Yes Yes No
Copper No Yes No No
Silver No Yes No No
Corn No No No No
Crypto Yes Yes Yes Yes
Futures No Yes Yes No
Options No Yes Yes Yes
ETFs Yes Yes No Yes
Bonds No Yes Yes Yes
Warrants No Yes Yes No
Spreadbetting No Yes No No
Volatility Index No Yes No No

SoFi Invest vs Other Brokers

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SoFi Invest is an American wealth management and robo advisory service, providing equity and cryptocurrency investment portfolios with competitive fees. The firm is heavily regulated and registered with the SEC and FINRA. First launched in 2011, the firm has attracted millions of clients and various awards.