Financial Education  Stash App Review 2024 - Stock Investing Made Simple
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Stash App Review 2024 - Stock Investing Made Simple
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Video Summary
Key Takeaways
What Is Stash?
How Does Stash Work?
Stash’s Best Features
Smart Portfolio
Portfolio Rebalancing
Fractional Shares
Stock Round-Ups
Auto Invest
Dividend Reinvesting
User Experience
Minimum Investment Required
Stash Investment Portfolios
Stash Investment Themes
Types of Accounts on Stash
Stash Banking
Stock-Back Rewards
Is Stash Legit?
Is Stash Safe?
Stash Pricing and Plans
Pros
Cons
Who Is Stash Ideal For?
Stash Alternatives
Final Thoughts
Frequently Asked Questions

Stash App Review 2024 - Stock Investing Made Simple

Discover how you can start investing with as little as $5 and own pieces of your favorite stocks with Stash. See our in-depth review of this modern app for easy, automated investing and banking features.

Erik Machuca Erik Machuca
Jan 22, 2024
Picture an investing app that turns your everyday purchases into stock rewards. With Stash, you can build a custom portfolio and let automation invest your money into investments tailored just for you.
Stash
Stash
★★★★☆ | 4.3 / 5
Sign-Up Bonus
 
✅
Smart Portfolios
✅
Stock Rewards
✅
Beginner Friendly
⛔
Limited Trading Features
 
Stash is a modern investing app with access to thousands of stocks and ETFs, built-in Stock-BackⓇ Rewards, mobile banking, and the ability to own pieces of your favorite stocks.
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With several investing automation tools and a clean user interface, Stash makes it easy for anyone to get started investing with as little as $5.
By combining fractional share investing and education with automated portfolios and banking features, Stash aims to make growing your money simple and accessible.

Video Summary

Video preview

Key Takeaways

  • Versatile App: It offers a variety of investment options and account types to meet different financial goals.
  • Educational Resources: With transparent pricing and educational tools, Stash is particularly well-suited for new investors.
Try Stash, and get a special sign-up bonus here.
Try Stash, and get a special sign-up bonus here.

What Is Stash?

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Stash is a popular investing app that helps make it easy for new investors to invest in stocks, bonds, ETFs, and even some alternative investments like crypto.
Whether you want to own a piece of your favorite company or simply try to grow your investments through the stock market, Stash offers something for everyone.
With Stash, you're not just getting an investment app; they also merge the straightforwardness of an online banking account with the forward-thinking tools of a robo-advisor.
This makes it a breeze for you to manage your funds and start building your portfolio.
But it's not all algorithms and automation; the platform gives you the steering wheel with DIY investing options. This means you have the freedom to choose stocks and funds that resonate with your financial goals.

How Does Stash Work?

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Available on iOS, Android, and desktop, Stash provides several financial tools and resources built into the app that can not only help you simplify investing but also guide you in building smarter money habits.
When you first get started with the app you will be able to choose from a variety of investment options, including individual stocks, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), and curated portfolios, depending on your investment goals and risk tolerance.
Not only do they have an easy-to-use investment platform, but they also offer a mobile banking account, a Stock-BackⓇ Rewards Card, and even the option to open an additional retirement account with some subscription plans.
But that's only scratching the surface of what the app can do. The true potential of Stash lies in its smart investing features and versatility.
So let's take a closer look at some of the app's top features that simplify the investing process.

Stash’s Best Features

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Smart Portfolio

For those who want a passively managed portfolio and a guided investment experience, Stash offers a fully automated portfolio option called Smart Portfolio.
Smart Portfolio is their robo-advisor that gives you a personalized portfolio based on your risk level and your investment goals.
It’s professionally managed by Stash’s Investment Team and is the easiest way for beginners to get started investing on Stash.
When you deposit cash in a Smart Portfolio, it will automatically add money to your Smart Mix.

Portfolio Rebalancing

When using Stash’s Smart Portfolio their robo-advisor also reviews your Smart Portfolio quarterly and automatically rebalances your investments for you.
Automatic portfolio rebalancing means that you don't have to worry about rebalancing on your own and can rest assured that your investments are staying aligned with your risk tolerance.
This automation can help reduce the risk of over-managing your portfolio.

Fractional Shares

Stash also lets you invest in fractional shares of stocks and ETFs. This gives you the ability to invest in a "fraction" of a share of stock without needing to buy the full share.
Many stocks and ETFs can cost hundreds of dollars just to buy a single share. But with Stash, you can buy a fractional share of that same stock at an amount more comfortable to you.
For example, if you’ve got your eye on a stock that costs $100/share you can buy $10 worth of that stock and own a tenth of a share of that stock.
By letting you invest in a "fraction" of a share it allows you to start investing today—even if you don't have a lot of money to start with.
Try Stash, and get a special sign-up bonus here.
Try Stash, and get a special sign-up bonus here.

Stock Round-Ups

Another investing automation feature is called Stock Round-Ups.
Stock Round-Ups allow you to invest spare change from qualifying purchases made with your Stash Stock-Back® Debit Card.
Each time you spend with your Stock-Back® Card, Stock Round-Ups will round up your purchase to the nearest dollar and automatically invest the spare change into your Stash portfolio.
For example, if you spend $4.25 on a coffee, they’ll automatically round up the purchase by $.75. That $.75 will be invested in a matching stock or a custom stock of your choice.
You can always pause or resume this feature at any time.
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Auto Invest

In addition to Round-Ups, Stash also lets you use their Auto-Invest feature to set up recurring investments where you can link your bank account and have Stash automatically invest your money for you.
Whether you prefer weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly, you have full control over the frequency and the amount you want to invest.
For example, you could have $50 transferred each time you get paid. Or you could invest lump sums (as little as $5 at a time) whenever you choose.
Stash's Auto Invest feature helps encourage consistent contributions to your investment portfolio without having to think about it.
Since you’re not investing all your money into the stock market at a single time, you won't have to worry about "timing the market."
Like their Stock Round-Ups, you can pause and resume this feature at any time.

Dividend Reinvesting

Another helpful feature is Stash' dividend reinvestment plan (DRIP). With Stash, if you receive dividends (recurring payouts) from your investments, they are automatically reinvested back into your Stash portfolio for you.
While you can turn this feature off, leaving Stash automatic dividend reinvestments turned on can be a great way to grow your investments over time with compound interest.

User Experience

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The user experience on Stash is designed to be intuitive and straightforward. The app's interface is user-friendly, making it easy to navigate even for beginners.
Its intuitive design ensures you can easily track your investment progress anytime, giving you full visibility into the potential growth of your portfolio.
In addition to their investing automation features Stash also provides you with educational content inside the app that’s personalized to your investment goals and experience level.

Minimum Investment Required

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Another great perk for Stash users is the platform’s accessibility. There is no minimum required to open a Stash account and you can start investing with just $5.
This makes getting started investing affordable for beginners still growing their savings.
Whether you're looking for a way to get started with small contributions or are ready for more significant investments, Stash has you covered.
Try Stash, and get a special sign-up bonus here.
Try Stash, and get a special sign-up bonus here.

Stash Investment Portfolios

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Stash offers a wide range of investment assets including thousands of stocks, Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs), and its own Smart Portfolios.
You can even discover new investment ideas by exploring their investment hub. Here you’ll find groups of related stocks and ETFs organized by different sectors of the market.

Stash Investment Themes

While Stash makes it easy to invest in individual stocks like tech giants and blue-chip companies, their investing themes also make it straightforward to discover popular ETFs.
For those of you craving diversification without the hassle of picking individual stocks, ETFs are your best friend.
These funds pool together an assortment of stocks, bonds, or other assets, which means you can spread your investment across different sectors and industries with just a single purchase.
While there are several sectors and industries you can choose from, Stash simplifies the names of these investment funds into easier-to-understand terminology for the everyday user.
Whether you’re looking to invest in individual stocks or diversify with ETFs, Stash’s Investing Themes offers something for every type of investor.

Types of Accounts on Stash

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Stash is more than just an investing app. The platform offers five different account types:
Personal Portfolio: their standard individual investment account that gives you the most control over picking your investments and customizing your portfolio.
Smart Portfolio: their automated, robo-advisor investing feature that builds and manages a diversified portfolio tailored to your risk tolerance and financial goals.
Retirement Account: - their tax-advantaged Roth and Traditional IRAs (Individual Retirement Accounts), allow you to start saving for retirement with as little as $5.
Unlike Stash Personal and Smart Portfolios, Stash retirement accounts offer tax benefits. With these plans, you can save pre-tax or post-tax money towards your retirement goals.
Custodial Account: - an account for kids under 18. Adults can open custodial accounts with Stash. You manage the account and make contributions on the child’s behalf. Once they turn 18 (in most states) the account transfers to them.
Banking - their integrated mobile banking account with no hidden fees. The Stash banking account also includes a Stash Stock-Back® Card. When you spend with it, you can earn Stock-Back® rewards.

Stash Banking

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Stash also brings mobile banking to the same Stash app with their mobile banking account.
Stash Banking is an integrated checking account that has no hidden fees, no overdraft fees, and no minimum balance fees.
It also includes the Stash Stock-Back Rewards Debit Card.

Stock-Back Rewards

With Stash, you can earn rewards from your everyday purchases with the Stock-Back® Card in the form of earning pieces of stocks and funds.
With the Stash Stock-BackⓇ Rewards program, you can earn fractional shares of stocks in retailers that you shop at such as Starbucks, Walmart, Amazon, Chevron, Netflix, and any other offered on Stash.
For example, when you make a purchase at Starbucks with your Stash Stock-Back® Card, you will earn a piece of stock at Starbucks.
If you shop locally, the stock reward will be in an ETF of your choice.
Unlike traditional cashback, Stash’s Stock-BackⓇ rewards are invested back in your portfolio and have a chance to grow in value over time.
Together, having mobile banking, investment portfolios, and retirement accounts in a single app makes Stash a pretty versatile platform.

Is Stash Legit?

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When it comes to investing your hard-earned funds, one of the key questions you need to ask is if an investment platform is safe to use.

Is Stash Safe?

Yes, as a member of SIPC (Securities Investor Protection Corporation), Stash is SIPC insured against brokerage failure. Securities in member's accounts are protected up to $500,000, including up to $250,000 for cash.
SIPC insurance is investor protection for investment brokerages.
Additionally, as a platform regulated by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), Stash must follow strict regulations designed to protect investors, adding another level of security to your transactions.
Stash Banking accounts are FDIC-insured up to $250,000.

Stash Pricing and Plans

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Stash offers two pricing plans.
First up, is their Stash Growth plan. For just $3 per month, it includes an investment account, a mobile banking account, and a retirement account.
Their next plan is the Stash+ plan, where you get everything in the Stash Growth plan plus access to 2 Custodial Accounts for your kids, Stash+ Market Insights, and enhanced Stock-BackⓇ Rewards.
  • Stash Growth: $3/month
    • Personal Portfolio
    • Smart Portfolio
    • Retirement Portfolio
    • Banking Account
    • Stock-BackⓇ Card
  • Stash+: $9/month
    • Personal Portfolio
    • Smart Portfolio
    • Retirement Portfolio
    • Banking Account
    • Stock-BackⓇ Card + Higher Rewards
    • 2 Custodial Accounts
Stash operates on a flat-fee model. Whether you’re investing $5 or $5,000, the monthly fee stays the same.
As a result, their subscription plans can feel steep on smaller balances, but as your investments grow, the fixed-fee amount becomes a diminishing fraction of your portfolio.
Try Stash, and get a special sign-up bonus here.
Try Stash, and get a special sign-up bonus here.

Pros

  • User-Friendly App
  • Fractional Share Investing
  • Automated investment portfolios
  • Stock-BackⓇ Debit Card Rewards
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Stash is an ideal option for new investors who want an easy-to-use mobile experience. Their app simplifies investing concepts through education and automation.
You can open a Stash account and start investing with just $5 making it accessible to all income levels.
Automated portfolio guidance takes the guesswork out of maintaining a diversified portfolio.
Plus the built-in integration with Stash Banking helps you save, spend, and invest all in one app.

Cons

  • No advanced trading features
  • Account Interest
  • Custodial accounts are only available on the higher-tier Stash+ plan
  • The monthly subscription can be somewhat expensive for small account balances
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While Stash is ideal for those who want a more hands-off approach to investing, it may not be as ideal for active traders.
Since Stash is more geared towards passive investing, the platform lacks advanced data and features designed for active stock trading.
The Stash Banking account also offers lower interest rates compared to high-yield savings accounts from online banks.

Who Is Stash Ideal For?

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Beginner Investors
Stash is an ideal investing platform for beginner investors, as you'll definitely appreciate an investment app that doesn't talk over your head.
The app breaks things down with easy-to-understand language and provides educational resources that grow your investing skills one step at a time.
Passive Investors
Stash is also ideal for Passive Investors. For those seeking hands-off investing, their Smart Portfolio acts as a robo-advisor to manages your investments.
Whether you're saving for a rainy day, saving for a house, or building for retirement, Stash adapts to your goals.

Stash Alternatives

Stash is a handy app, especially for beginners, but let's talk about a few other players in the market.
Acorns: Acorns is a beginner-friendly investing app that invests your spare change, automates your investments, and offers pre-built and diversified expert portfolios.
Acorns: Acorns is a beginner-friendly investing app that invests your spare change, automates your investments, and offers pre-built and diversified expert portfolios.
Acorns Review
M1 Finance: M1 is a comprehensive investment platform that offers a unique blend of automated investing and individual customization, allowing you to invest in fractional shares of stocks and ETFs.
M1 Finance: M1 is a comprehensive investment platform that offers a unique blend of automated investing and individual customization, allowing you to invest in fractional shares of stocks and ETFs.
M1 Review
SoFi Invest: SoFi Invest is an versatile investing app offering a variety of investment options, including stocks, ETFs, and even cryptocurrencies, allowing you to diversify your portfolio to suit your goals and risk tolerance.
SoFi Invest: SoFi Invest is an versatile investing app offering a variety of investment options, including stocks, ETFs, and even cryptocurrencies, allowing you to diversify your portfolio to suit your goals and risk tolerance.
SoFi Review
Here’s a quick recap to keep things simple:
Platform
Features
Who it's for
Stash
Automated tools, investing themes
Passive investors
Acorns
Automated portfolios, beginner-friendly
Beginner investors
M1 Finance
Smart portfolios, fractional shares
All investors
SoFi Invest
Diversified portfolios, automated investing
Passive investors

Final Thoughts

Stash is a modern investing app that empowers users to invest in the stock market while providing automation tools along the way.
With Stash, you can buy fractional shares of your favorite companies, making investing accessible with as little as $5.
The platform emphasizes education, allowing you to learn and discover new investment ideas as you grow.
Try Stash, and get a special sign-up bonus here.
Try Stash, and get a special sign-up bonus here.

Frequently Asked Questions

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What are the advantages and disadvantages of using Stash for investing?
If you're curious about the perks of Stash, you'll appreciate its user-friendly platform that caters to beginners. Think easy start, educational resources, and tools like a robo-advisor. The flip side? Stash charges a monthly fee, which might be a drawback if you're planning to invest a small amount.
How user-friendly is Stash for someone just starting out with investing?
For newbies, Stash can feel like a breath of fresh air. You'll find the interface simple to navigate, making that leap into investing less of a jump and more of a confident step forward. Its aim is to make the process as smooth as possible for you.
Are funds secure and protected when using Stash to manage investments?
Security's a big deal, right? With Stash, your investments are protected by SIPC, which is just like insurance for your stocks. In the unlikely case things go sideways, you have a safety net.
Can you really receive a bonus for signing up with Stash, and what are the conditions?
You heard it right, signing up with Stash often comes with a bonus to kick-start your investment adventure. Usually, it'll ask you to fulfill certain conditions like making a minimum deposit, but it's essentially free money for getting going.
What financial institution is partnered with Stash?
Stash teams up with Green Dot Bank, a reputable name that backs the banking services offered on the app. You get the blend of investment and banking in one place, plus the assurance that your cash is in reliable hands.
Erik Machuca
Erik Machuca
Erik Machuca is the founder of EverydayInvesting.com. He is passionate about helping everyday investors simplify investing with technology.

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