10 Best Investment Companies & Firms in August 2025
Jessie Moore has been writing professionally for nearly two decades; for the past seven years, she’s focused on writing, ghostwriting, and editing in the finance space. She is a Today Show and Publisher’s Weekly-featured author who has written or ghostwritten 10+ books on a wide variety of topics, ranging from day trading to unicorns to plant care.
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Reviewed by Jessie Moore
Jessie Moore
Jessie Moore has been writing professionally for nearly two decades; for the past seven years, she’s focused on writing, ghostwriting, and editing in the finance space. She is a Today Show and Publisher’s Weekly-featured author who has written or ghostwritten 10+ books on a wide variety of topics, ranging from day trading to unicorns to plant care.
Learn about our editorial policies
Our editorial team uses a strict editorial review process to compile all reviews, research, and evaluations of any kind. Our company, WallStreetZen Limited, is supported by our user community and may receive a small commission when purchases are made through partner links. Commissions do not affect the opinions or evaluations of our editorial team.
What are the best investment firms? Depends on what you need.
For example, the best investment companies for beginners may not be suitable for a professional trader. The best investment firms for index funds might not offer access to crypto, precious metals, or other alternatives.
All of the big names have strengths and weaknesses. Different platforms are appropriate for different styles of investing and levels of experience.
That’s why I’ve compiled this one-stop resource revealing all the pros and cons of the top 10 investment companies so you can figure out which one(s) are right for you. Keep reading to get the full scoop, including what each platform is known for and the fine print on their fees.
At-a-Glance: Top Investment Companies in Aug 2025
Company
Biggest strength
Minimum investment
Empower (Formerly Personal Capital)
Many free, robust investing tools
Varies depending on the service
Advanced trading tools and resources
The best for low-fee index funds
Funds typically have a minimum investment requirement of $1,000 to $3,000
The best for robo-advisory investing
Long track record and many accounts to choose from, including IRAs and HSAs
Social trading and easily cloning top-performing traders and portfolios
The best of both worlds – combining robo-advisor investing with self-directed investing
The best user interface, easy to get started for beginners
All-in-one capabilities make it a great fit for self-directed investors or those who want personal wealth management
Best for alternatives like crypto and precious metals
Best Investment Companies: The Bottom Line
What is the best investment company? There’s no one-size-fits-all answer.
Ultimately, the best investment companies for you depend on what you’re looking for.
- For active pro traders, TradeStation may be the best fit.
- If you’re a long-term, low cost index fund investor, Vanguard is your best bet.
- If you’re a long-term investor looking to combine robo-advising and self-directed investing, consider M1 Finance.
Keep in mind that there’s nothing stopping you from using multiple of these top investment companies. For example, you could trade crypto on eToro and have an HSA full of index funds at Fidelity. You may want to use multiple platforms to capitalize on their unique strengths.
eToro is a multi-asset investment platform. The value of your investments may go up or down. Your capital is at risk.
10 Best Investment Companies in August 2025
Let’s take a look at the biggest strengths of the best investment firms…
1. Empower (formerly Personal Capital) – Best Free Tools and Resources
- Minimum investment: No minimum investment limits for tools. Wealth management and financial planning require $100,000.
- Pricing/fees: Many tools are free. For investors, empower’s pricing structure is based on a percentage of assets under management (AUM), which ranges from 0.49% to 0.89%.
Empower (formerly Personal Capital) is a leading investment company that offers a comprehensive suite of financial tools and personalized advice. It’s best if you value a holistic approach to managing your finances, with features like budgeting, retirement planning, and investment tracking.
Pro tip: Many of Empower’s financial tools, including retirement planning calculators and budgeting features, are free and can be enjoyed even if you invest elsewhere.
The company also offers personalized advice from certified financial planners. However, only those with a minimum of $100,000 qualify for Empower wealth management or financial planning services.
Pros
Cons
Offers IRAs
Investment fees may be higher than some competitors
Many free tools
Many no-minimum options
2. TradeStation – Best for Advanced Traders
- Minimum investment: No minimum deposit.
- Pricing/fees: TradeStation offers different pricing plans, including per-trade commissions and a flat-rate plan.
With its powerful trading platform and extensive range of investment options, TradeStation is ideal for individuals who want to take a hands-on approach to their investments using advanced trading tools and technology.
Not only does the platform offer a comprehensive suite of advanced trading tools and research resources, but it supports various asset classes, including stocks, options, futures, and cryptocurrencies.
Pros
Cons
Wide range of trading tools and resources
Best for experienced traders, beginners may find it overwhelming.
Multiple pricing plans to choose from
Offers crypto
3. Vanguard – Best for Low-cost Index Investing
- Minimum investment: Varies depending on the investment product. Vanguard’s funds typically have a minimum investment requirement of $1,000 to $3,000.
- Pricing/fees: Vanguard is known for its low expense ratios (as low as 0.03%)
Vanguard is renowned for its low-cost investment options and long-term investment strategies. As a leading provider of index funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs), Vanguard is an excellent choice if you prioritize low fees and a diversified portfolio:
Vanguard offers a wide range of low-cost index funds and ETFs, allowing investors to build a diversified portfolio. The company also provides excellent customer service and educational resources.
Pros
Cons
Great customer service
Lacks advanced trading features offered by other investment companies
Long track record
Large minimum investment
4. Betterment – Best Robo-advisor
- Minimum investment: 10$ minimum deposit
- Pricing/fees: Betterment charges an annual fee based on a percentage of AUM, ranging from 0.25% to 0.40%.
Betterment is a leading robo-advisor that combines sophisticated algorithms with personalized advice to help you achieve your financial goals. It’s one of the best investment firms if you prefer a hands-off approach to investing.
Betterment provides automated portfolio management, tax-loss harvesting, and personalized financial advice. The user-friendly platform offers a seamless user experience and a wide selection of investment options.
Pros
Cons
A fully automated solution
Little control over your investments
Beginner-friendly
Fees can be high-ish compared to self-directed index fund investing
Cheaper than financial advisors, and will likely achieve similar results
5. Fidelity – Best for HSAs and a Wide Range of Account Types
- Minimum investment: No minimum investment
- Pricing/fees: No fees or commissions on trades. ETF expense ratios, mutual fund fees, and advisory fees can vary.
Fidelity is a well-established investment company that caters to a wide range of investors. With its comprehensive suite of investment options, including mutual funds, ETFs, and brokerage services, Fidelity is suitable whether you’re a beginner or an experienced investor.
Fidelity provides a vast selection of investment options, including low-cost index funds and commission-free ETFs. The company also offers excellent research tools, educational resources, and a user-friendly platform. It’s also one of the only investment companies where you can invest within an HSA. This makes Fidelity one of the best retirement investment companies.
Pros
Cons
Suitable for beginners or pros
Advanced trading features may be limited
Wide range of accounts – including IRAs and HSAs
Long track record
6. eToro – Best for Social Trading
- Minimum investment: $200 minimum deposit.
- Pricing/fees: eToro charges spreads and fees on trades, as well as withdrawal and inactivity fees.
eToro is a social trading platform that allows users to trade a wide range of financial instruments, including stocks, cryptocurrencies, and commodities. It’s best if you’re interested in social trading and want to interact with other traders.
eToro’s claim to fame is its unique social trading experience, including a CopyTrader feature that allows you to follow the trades of successful traders. The platform also provides a wide range of financial instruments and a user-friendly interface.
Pros
Cons
Unique social trading experience
Fees can be high and may not be worth it unless you’re an active trader
Easily clone other investors and portfolios
Availability of certain assets may vary by location
Offers crypto
eToro is a multi-asset platform which offers both investing in stocks and cryptoassets, as well as trading CFDs.
Please note that CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 61% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work, and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
This communication is intended for information and educational purposes only and should not be considered investment advice or investment recommendation. Past performance is not an indication of future results.
Copy Trading does not amount to investment advice. The value of your investments may go up or down. Your capital is at risk.
Crypto investments are risky and may not suit retail investors; you could lose your entire investment. Understand the risks here https://etoro.tw/3PI44nZ
Don’t invest unless you’re prepared to lose all the money you invest. This is a high-risk investment and you should not expect to be protected if something goes wrong. Take 2 mins to learn more
eToro USA LLC does not offer CFDs and makes no representation and assumes no liability as to the accuracy or completeness of the content of this publication, which has been prepared by our partner utilizing publicly available non-entity specific information about eToro.
7. M1 Finance – Best for a Combo of Automated and Self-Directed Investing
- Minimum investment: No minimum investment.
- Pricing/fees: M1 Finance offers a free basic platform with optional subscription plans for additional features.
M1 Finance is a self-directed platform that offers a combination of automated investing and individual stock picking. It’s an excellent choice for investors who want the flexibility to create and manage their portfolios while benefiting from automated features.
M1 Finance provides a unique “pie” investment approach, allowing investors to create customized portfolios. The platform offers automated rebalancing, fractional share investing, and a wide range of investment options.
With its long-term orientation and so much versatility, M1 is easily among the top investment companies.
