SoFi Invest Review 2024

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Written By
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Written By
Tobias Robinson
Tobias is a partner at DayTrading.com, director of a UK limited company and active trader. He has over 25 years of experience in the financial industry and contributed via CySec to the regulatory response to digital options and CFD trading in Europe. Toby’s expertise and dedication to financial education make him a trusted voice in the industry, including a BBC investigation into digital options.
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Fact Checked By
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Fact Checked By
William Berg
William contributes to several investment websites, leveraging his experience as a consultant for IPOs in the Nordic market and background providing localization for forex trading software. William has worked as a writer and fact-checker for a long row of financial publications.
Updated

3.8 / 5
SoFi Invest is #35 in our broker rankings.
$0
Own
Stocks, ETFs, Cryptos
SEC, FINRA
USD
Wire Transfer, ACH Transfer

Pros

  • Straightforward platform makes investing easier for beginners
  • Robo advisors can make investments according to user-defined goals and risk appetite
  • Can be tethered to other SoFi accounts, including SoFi Loans, SoFi money accounts and SoFi credit cards

Cons

  • Not much data supplied for securities
  • Limited order types (no stop-losses)
  • Basic portfolio reports with individual investment numbers only and no charts

SoFi Invest Review

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 2024 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.

Top 3 Alternatives to SoFi Invest

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

  1. Interactive Brokers – Interactive Brokers (IBKR) is a premier brokerage, providing access to 150 markets in 33 countries, along with a suite of comprehensive investment services. With over 40 years of experience, this Nasdaq-listed firm adheres to stringent regulations by the SEC, FCA, CIRO, and SFC, amongst others, and is one of the most trusted brokers for trading around the globe.

  2. IG – Founded in 1974, IG is part of IG Group Holdings Plc, a publicly traded (LSE: IGG) brokerage. The brand-US offers spread betting, CFD and forex trading across an almost unrivalled selection of 17,000+ markets, with a range of user-friendly platforms and investing apps. For 50 years, IG has maintained its position as an industry leader, excelling in all key areas for traders.

  3. eToro USA – eToro is a social investing platform that offers short-term and long-term trading on stocks, ETFs, options and crypto. The broker is well-known for its user-friendly community-centred platform and competitive fees. With FINRA and SIPC oversight and millions of users across the world, eToro is still one of the most respected brands in the industry. eToro securities trading is offered by eToro USA Securities, Inc.

SoFi Invest Comparison Table

Compare SoFi Invest With Similar Brokers
SoFi Invest Interactive Brokers IG eToro USA
Rating 3.8 4.3 4.7 4.1
Markets Stocks, ETFs, Cryptos Stocks, Options, Futures, Forex, Funds, Bonds, ETFs, Mutual Funds, CFDs, Cryptocurrencies CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, ETFs, Futures, Options, Crypto, Spread Betting Stocks, Options, ETFs, Crypto
Demo Account No Yes Yes Yes
Minimum Deposit $0 $0 $0 $10
Minimum Trade $0 $100 0.01 Lots $10
Regulators SEC, FINRA FCA, SEC, FINRA, CFTC, CBI, CIRO, SFC, MAS, MNB, FINMA, AFM FCA, ASIC, NFA, CFTC, DFSA, BaFin, MAS, FSCA, FINMA, CONSOB, AFM SEC, FINRA
Bonus Invest $100 and get $10
Education No Yes Yes Yes
Platforms Own Trader Workstation (TWS), IBKR Desktop, GlobalTrader, Mobile, Client Portal, AlgoTrader, OmniTrader, eSignal, TradingCentral Web, ProRealTime, L2 Dealer, MT4, AutoChartist, TradingCentral eToro Trading Platform & CopyTrader
Leverage 1:50 1:30 (Retail), 1:250 (Pro)
Payment Methods 2 6 6 4
Visit Visit Visit Visit Visit
Review Interactive Brokers
Review
IG
Review
eToro USA
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 Interactive Brokers IG eToro USA
CFD No Yes Yes No
Forex No Yes Yes No
Stocks Yes Yes Yes Yes
Commodities No Yes Yes No
Oil No No Yes No
Gold No Yes Yes No
Copper No No Yes No
Silver No No Yes No
Corn No No No No
Crypto Yes Yes Yes Yes
Futures No Yes Yes No
Options No Yes Yes Yes
ETFs Yes Yes Yes Yes
Bonds No Yes Yes No
Warrants No Yes Yes No
Spreadbetting No No Yes No
Volatility Index No No Yes Yes

SoFi Invest vs Other Brokers

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