Stash is a user-friendly, subscription-based trading and banking platform designed to make investing and financial management accessible to a wide range of users, particularly beginners and intermediate investors.
What Stash Does
Stash allows users to invest in the stock market and manage their finances through a simplified and integrated platform. It combines automated and self-directed investing strategies with banking features, making it a one-stop solution for financial planning and execution.
Key Features
Investing
- Automated Investing: Stash offers a robo-advisor service called Smart Portfolio, which creates customized stock and ETF portfolios based on the user’s risk tolerance, investment goals, and time horizon. This feature is included in all Stash subscriptions without additional fees or minimum requirements.
- Self-Directed Portfolios: Users can also choose their own stocks and ETFs, allowing for a DIY approach to investing. The platform organizes stocks and ETFs by themes and market sectors, making it easier to build a diversified portfolio.
Banking and Financial Tools
- Stock-Back Card: Stash provides a unique debit card that rewards users with stock instead of cash back on their purchases. This feature helps users accumulate more funds for investing without additional out-of-pocket expenses.
- Auto-Stash and Round-Ups: Users can set up recurring investments and save spare change from their purchases through features like Auto-Stash and Round-Ups. These tools help users save and invest regularly according to a set schedule or automatically from their daily transactions.
- Online Banking: Stash offers mobile deposits, budgeting tools, and other banking services to help users manage their cash flow effectively.
Retirement and Custodial Accounts
- Retirement Accounts: Stash supports traditional and Roth IRAs, although the selection is limited compared to other platforms. These accounts come with auto-invest features and advice from registered investment advisors.
- Custodial Accounts: Users can also set up custodial accounts to build savings for a child’s future.
Additional Features
- Financial Education: Stash provides exclusive live webinars and educational content to guide users on investing, saving, and money management.
- Life Insurance: Certain subscription plans include life insurance coverage.
- Smart Transactions: The platform helps users maintain their preferred investment mix by reallocating assets when cash is added or removed from the portfolio.
Subscription Plans
Stash offers two main subscription plans:
- Stash Growth: The basic plan, which includes thousands of stock and ETF options, personalized advice, banking features, and a Stock-Back card for $3 per month.
- Stash : The premium plan, which adds features like advice on family finances, market insights, and custodial accounts for $9 per month.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Low account minimum of $1 to get started
- Automated and self-directed investing options
- Round-Ups and dividend reinvesting features
- Stock-Back card and online banking options
- Comprehensive financial education and personalized advice
Cons
- Limited IRA options and no small-business retirement plans
- Few advanced trading features and no options for mutual funds, individual bonds, or options trading
- Monthly fees can be high for custodial investment accounts.
Overall, Stash is a powerful and cost-effective platform that simplifies investing and financial management, making it an excellent choice for beginners and intermediate investors looking for a user-friendly and integrated financial solution.