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Axos Self-Directed Trading offers a brokerage account with an easy-to-use platform and commission-free stocks and ETFs. There’s no minimum investment and you can simplify your finances using their all-in-one banking and investment platform.
Summary: Axos Self-Directed Trading is a strong contender for investors seeking commission-free trades and an all-in-one solution for banking and investments.
Account Opening
Fees
Deposits & Withdrawals
Trading Platform
Markets & Products
Research Tools
Education
Customer Service
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| HQ | San Diego, California, United States |
| Fees | $0 commission |
| Minimum Deposit | $0 |
| Leverage | Not disclosed |
| Accounts | Taxable brokerage account, joint account, IRA |
| Instruments | Equities, ETFs, Mutual funds, Options |
| Regulation | Member of SIPC & FINRA |
| Demo Account | Not available |
| Trading Platforms | Mobile App, Web Trading Platform (Self-Directed Trading, Axos Elite Investing) |
| State Restrictions | Available in all States |
Axos offers two self-directed trading accounts. These are:
Both accounts offer commission-free trading on stocks and ETFs. However, the Axos Elite account offers additional features, as summarized in the table below:
| Axos Self-Directed Trading | Basic | Elite Account |
| Monthly fee | $0 | $10 |
| Options trading | $1.00 per contract | $0.80 per contract |
| Margin trading | N/A | Yes at 5.5% |
| Trading hours | Standard NYSE | Extended market hours (7:00 pm ET) |
| Research | N/A | Yes |
| Real-time market data | N/A | Yes |
| Trade Settlement Credit (Instant) | N/A | Yes |
You can apply for Axos Elite when you sign up during the account opening process. Members can stop their subscription at any time by logging into their account or sending a secure message.
You can open a Self-Directed Trading account with Axos in a few simple steps. To be eligible, you’ll need to be over 18 years old and have a valid government-issued ID. Head over to the website to begin the sign-up process.
You’ll need to provide the following information:
As soon as you fund your account with your first deposit, you can begin trading. There’s no minimum deposit to open an account although you will need a $50 deposit to open an IRA.
With Axos Self-Directed Trading, you get unlimited commission-free trades on stocks and ETFs. However, other fees may be imposed including:
| ACAT and Non-ACAT Transfer Out | $75 |
| Domestic wire transfer | $30 |
| International wire transfer | $75 |
| Subscription fee for Axos Elite Trading | $10 per month |
| Cash Dividend outgoing check | $10 per check |
| Mutual funds | $9.95 per trade (no-load) |
You can find a full list of the fees imposed by Axos here.
Fees are added to the cost of a trade or debited from your account according to the corresponding schedule.
In addition, Axos Elite Account members benefit from lower fees including 80 cents per options contract instead of the standard $1 per options contract. Currently, margin rates are 5.5% for members looking to invest in the market with money borrowed from the broker.
To fund or withdraw from the Axos Self-Directed Trading account, you can connect an external bank account or transfer to and from an existing Axos account.
In addition, Axos accept transfers in from other brokerages, if you’re looking to move your portfolio across. You can also mail a check to Axos to add funds to your account, although this is likely to take much longer to process.
The Self-Directed Trading platform can be easily accessed via the web where you can manage your investment account and personal banking account all from one place.
Axos customers can keep track of investment gains and losses, pay bills, and transfer funds between accounts, all by logging in to one account.
Axos Self-Directed Trading offers a wide selection of investment choices including stocks, ETFs, margin lending, and options trading.
Accommodating experienced investors, real-time market data can be accessed in just a few clicks to help you make better-informed investment decisions. Plus, with Axos Elite, members can use margin trading to amplify their gains even further.
Investors can access market research on the trading platform dashboard.
To gain access to more extensive research tools, investors will need to subscribe to an Axos Elite Account for $10 a month. This can be costly for beginner investors and many investors are likely to find competitors who offer similar tools for free.
The Axos Elite Account provides access to extended market hours, real-time market quotes, market research, lower trading fees, and trending stock data.
Extended market hours include the following:
Market research is provided by TipRanks, a platform that uses data to analyze stock recommendations from thousands of analysts. Investors can view trending stocks, use portfolio trackers, and follow their favorite financial analysts online.
Educational resources are limited with Axos and with the company’s blog available to learn more about investing.
Their articles on stocks, ETFs, options trading, and margin lending can help beginner investors get started with the basics.
To get in touch with customer service, you can sign in to your account and send a secure message through the portal.
If you’re not yet a customer, you can send an email to support@axosinvest.com with any questions you have about opening an account.
At this time, there is no in-person or phone support available for Axos Invest customers. Although, there is an extensive FAQ page on their website which can help answer any questions you have.
Axos implements several security measures to ensure the safety and integrity of your account. Some of these include:
In addition, client accounts for Axos Invest are protected by the SIPC for up to $500,000, with a $250,000 limit for cash.
Axos Self-Directed Trading is best for customers that have an existing Axos account and would like an all-in-one platform to manage their banking, lending, and investments. Beginner investors can benefit from commission-free trades on stocks and ETFs, as well as the basic educational resources available.
Elite members take advantage of a range of extra tools. However, even the low $10 per month subscription could prove costly given that many platforms offer the extra benefits at no extra cost.
Furthermore, seasoned investors looking for more advanced products such as futures or forex should consider alternatives before signing up for Axos Self-Directed Trading.
