Best Brokers for IRA and Retirement Investing 2026

Your choice of retirement account broker is one of the most consequential financial decisions you'll make. Expense ratios, fund selection, planning tools, and account features compound over decades into massive differences in wealth. The best retirement brokers keep your costs at near-zero while giving you the tools to actually plan your retirement.

Quick Comparison

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Broker	Rating	Commissions	Min. Deposit	Best For
Fidelity	4.5	$0.65/contract	$0	Retirement investing	Open Account →
Charles Schwab	4.4	$0.65/contract	$0	Full banking + investing integration	Open Account →
M1 Finance	4.3	Free	$100	Automated DCA investing	Open Account →

In-Depth Reviews

#1

Fidelity Long-Term Investing Last reviewed Feb 2026

4.5 / 5

Best for: Retirement investing

From

$0.65/contract

Open Fidelity Account → Full review →

Fidelity is the gold standard for long-term investors. Zero-expense-ratio index funds, best-in-class research, and a reliability record unmatched by any competitor make it the default choice for serious wealth building.

Min. Deposit $0

Commission $0.65/contract

Options Fee Commission-free stocks and ETF

Regulated By FINRA

What stands out

✓Zero-expense-ratio index funds (FZROX, FZILX)

✓Exceptional research — Morningstar, S&P, CFRA

✓Best-in-class retirement account management

Watch out for

✕Options platform trails Tastytrade and Webull

✕Interface is dated compared to newer platforms

✕No cryptocurrency trading

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#2

Charles Schwab General Trading Last reviewed Feb 2026

4.4 / 5

Best for: Full banking + investing integration

From

$0.65/contract

Open Schwab Account → Full review →

After acquiring TD Ameritrade, Schwab now offers the legendary thinkorswim platform alongside full banking integration — giving traders and investors the best of both worlds under one roof.

Min. Deposit $0

Commission $0.65/contract

Options Fee Free stocks and ETFs

Regulated By FINRA

What stands out

✓thinkorswim — one of the best trading platforms ever built

✓Schwab Intelligent Portfolios (robo-advisor) free at $5K

✓Best banking integration of any broker

Watch out for

✕TD Ameritrade merger created temporary confusion

✕Schwab.com interface less intuitive than thinkorswim

✕Commission-free ETF list excludes some popular funds

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#3

M1 Finance Automated Investing Last reviewed Feb 2026

4.3 / 5

Best for: Automated DCA investing

From

Free

Start Investing on M1 → Full review →

M1's Pie-based portfolio system automates dollar-cost averaging with surgical precision. Set your target allocations once, and every deposit automatically rebalances toward them. Genuinely set-and-forget investing.

Min. Deposit $100

Commission Free

Options Fee No commissions, no management

Regulated By FINRA

What stands out

✓Pie-based portfolio automation is brilliant for DCA

✓Fractional shares on any stock or ETF

✓Automatic rebalancing keeps allocation on track

Watch out for

✕No options trading — purely for stock/ETF investing

✕Single daily trading window limits tactical moves

✕Not designed for active trading

Start Investing on M1 →

Frequently Asked Questions

Fidelity vs Vanguard vs Schwab for IRA — which is best?

Fidelity edges out the competition for most investors with its ZERO expense ratio funds, better research tools, and more responsive customer service. Vanguard remains excellent for pure index fund investors loyal to its founder-owned structure. Schwab wins if you want thinkorswim trading capabilities alongside retirement investing.

Should I choose a Traditional IRA or Roth IRA?

If you expect your tax rate in retirement to be higher than now, choose Roth (pay taxes now, withdraw tax-free). If you're in your peak earning years and want a deduction today, Traditional makes sense. For most people under 50, Roth is the better long-term choice because tax-free compounding is extraordinarily powerful.

What's the IRA contribution limit for 2026?

The 2026 IRA contribution limit is $7,000/year (under 50) or $8,000 (50+) — a $500 increase from 2024. You can contribute to both a Traditional and Roth IRA but the combined total can't exceed this limit. Many people also contribute to a 401k alongside their IRA.