M1 FinanceMF

M1 Finance Review 2026

"Automated investing with the precision of a professional portfolio"

📅 Updated February 2026 Automated Investing Reviewed by the Option Stack editorial team
4.3
out of 5 · Overall score Best for: Automated DCA investing, long-term portfolio building, set-and-forget investors
Quick Verdict

M1 is the best platform for systematic, automated long-term investing. If you want to build wealth through regular contributions with zero effort after setup, nothing matches M1's Pie system. Not for active traders.

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Key Specs

Min. Deposit $100
Commission Free. M1 Premium at $3/mo
Account Types Individual, IRA, Roth IRA
Regulated FINRA / SIPC

Who Is M1 Finance For?

Long-term investors who want automated portfolio management without paying robo-advisor fees. Ideal for DCA investors building index fund or dividend portfolios on autopilot.

Our Take: M1 Finance in 2026

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.

Pros & Cons

What we liked
Pie-based portfolio automation is brilliant for DCA
Fractional shares on any stock or ETF
Automatic rebalancing keeps allocation on track
M1 Borrow: portfolio-backed loan at competitive rates
M1 Checking integrates with investment account
Expert pies from financial professionals available
Watch out for
No options trading — purely for stock/ETF investing
Single daily trading window limits tactical moves
Not designed for active trading
Customer support is email-only
Basic research tools

Commissions & Fees

Free. M1 Premium at $3/mo
No commissions, no management fees. Automated rebalancing and fractional shares included.

Deep Dive: M1 Finance Platform Review

M1 Finance's Pie-based investing model is genuinely innovative. You define target allocations (e.g., 40% VTI, 30% VXUS, 30% BND), and every deposit automatically buys fractional shares to maintain those percentages. Automatic rebalancing sells overweight slices and buys underweight ones with new deposits. The Expert Pies library offers pre-built portfolios by risk tolerance, strategy (dividend growth, factor investing, ESG), and time horizon. M1 Borrow lets you borrow against your portfolio at 5-5.5% — significantly cheaper than margin at most brokers — useful for large purchases without liquidating investments. The single daily trading window is actually a feature for long-term investors who don't want to be tempted into market timing.

Ready to open a M1 Finance account?

Takes about 5 minutes. Most accounts have no minimum deposit requirement.

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Disclosure: We may earn a commission if you open an account through our link. This doesn't affect our rating or review. Fees verified February 2026 — check the official site for current rates.
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