Advantages and disadvantages of Stash investing. What are the good and bad features of the brokerage company? Stash review, cons, and pros.

Stash Rating: 

Overview of Stash

At Stash, investing is only one part of what the company offers. Stash provides trading and many other financial services, making it worth a closer look.

Investment Products and Services

Stash provides both robo and self-directed accounts. Robo accounts use ETFs with low expense ratios, managed by Stash’s Smart Advisor. Self-directed accounts allow investors to choose their own ETFs, stocks, and cryptocurrencies. Some crypto ETFs are also available in robo accounts.

Self-directed accounts let you choose investments but not trading times. Stash places trades during four daily windows—two in the morning and two in the afternoon. Cryptocurrency can be traded almost 24/7.

Stash supports individual taxable, IRA, and custodial accounts. Joint accounts, trusts, 529 plans, and other specialized accounts are not available.

Stash offers both personalized and general investment education. Stash accounts also come with life insurance through Avibra, with more insurance available at extra cost through partners.





Securities in Stash accounts (but not insurance or cryptocurrencies) are protected by SIPC up to $500,000. Clearing firm Apex provides additional coverage through London Underwriters.

To open an account, you must be a legal U.S. resident. Some visa types are not accepted, but Green Card holders are eligible. Stash only accepts Social Security Numbers as tax IDs.

Banking Tools

Stash also offers banking services through FDIC-insured partners. Features include:

- Mastercard debit card
- Stock-back program that earns fractional shares with debit card use
- Instant transfers between bank and investing accounts
- Early payday
- Goal-setting tools on web and app
- Round-up program to buy more shares
- 1% cash back on debit purchases
- Ability to lock/unlock debit card in the app

Stash banking deposits are FDIC insured up to $250,000. Investment account cash is also protected with FDIC insurance through a sweep program.

Stash Pricing

Stash charges a flat monthly fee of $3 or $9 for its services. This fee cannot be waived, which makes it less appealing for small accounts.





The $3 plan, Stash Growth, includes robo, self-directed, and retirement accounts. The $9 plan, Stash+, adds custodial accounts, more life insurance ($10,000 vs. $1,000), more education, and 1% debit card cash back. Growth plan users do not get cash back.

There are no account minimums. Accounts can stay open at $0 balance without closing, though the monthly fee will still apply. To invest, you must link a bank account, which also pays the subscription.

Stash uses the Allpoint ATM network. Using other ATMs brings fees: $2.50 per withdrawal, $0.50 per balance check, plus operator fees. Stash also charges a 3% foreign transaction fee.

Margin Trading

Stash does not provide margin accounts. All trades are made with cash.

Customer Support

Stash has many self-help tools on its website and app, such as dividend settings, plan selection, and account detail updates.

A robo-chat tool is available on both platforms, but it cannot switch to human support. When it fails, options are email or phone. Stash has no physical branches.

Email: support@stash.com | Phone: 800-205-5164. Support is open 7 days a week but not late at night.

FAQs are available at ask.stash.com.

Website

Stash uses a buy-and-hold approach. Active trading and advanced tools are not supported. The website is basic but easy to use.





The Investing tab leads to trading tools. Under Explore Investments, securities are grouped by themes instead of a true screener. Examples include:

- Global Exposure
- Technology Innovation
- Commodities
- Retail
- Energy

Clicking on a security opens its profile, but data is limited and delayed. Stash avoids real-time data to discourage short-term trading.

Charts are basic, with no tools and a maximum 10-year view. Some profiles include news from CNBC, Business Insider, or 24/7 Wall Street.

The trade ticket is simple. Since Stash places trades for you, the ticket is more like a request form than a direct order.

Mobile App

The mobile app is similar to the website. It works on Android and Apple, is easy to use, but lacks advanced trading or analysis.





Asset profiles on the app show much of the same data as the website, but without news. Information includes:

- Dividend yield
- Day’s price change
- Market cap
- P/E ratio

The app suggests diversified portfolios, often recommending ETFs to balance accounts. This feature appears at the bottom of each profile.

Additional Services

IRA Lineup: Traditional and Roth IRAs are available with the Growth plan.

Extended-hours Trading: Stash does not allow pre-market or after-hours trading. Crypto trades 24/7/365.

IPOs: Not available.

Securities Lending: Stash has a lending program, but customers don’t earn income. Taxable accounts over $50 are enrolled automatically.

DRIP: Stash has a free Dividend Reinvestment Plan, easy to turn on or off in settings.

Mutual Funds: Not available.

Fractional Shares: Stash places trades in dollar amounts for both securities and crypto.

Our Recommendations

Beginners: A robo account with Stash is a decent way to start investing.

Mutual Funds: Stash doesn’t offer mutual funds. Firstrade has over 11,000 with no loads or transaction fees.

Retirement Investors: Stash’s IRAs are limited. Charles Schwab offers more, including planners, annuities, mutual funds, branches, and calculators.

Stock and ETF Trading: Stash’s weak software makes it a poor choice. Webull has a strong desktop platform.

Small Accounts: Stash’s monthly fee hurts small accounts. Robinhood has no monthly fee and no balance minimum.

Stash Pros and Cons Judgment

Stash has an unusual approach to investing, but it isn’t especially strong. Ironically, its banking services are the company’s best feature.

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