Best Brokers for IRA and Retirement Investing 2026

Your choice of retirement account broker is one of the most consequential financial decisions you'll make. Expense ratios, fund selection, planning tools, and account features compound over decades into massive differences in wealth. The best retirement brokers keep your costs at near-zero while giving you the tools to actually plan your retirement.

Quick Comparison

Broker	Rating	Commissions	Min. Deposit	Best For
Fidelity	4.5★	$0.65/contract	$0	Retirement investing, index funds, long-...	Open Fidelity Account →
Charles Schwab	4.4★	$0.65/contract	$0	Full banking + investing integration, th...	Open Schwab Account →
M1 Finance	4.3★	Free	$100	Automated DCA investing, long-term portf...	Start Investing on M1 →

Detailed Reviews

Fidelity Long-Term Investing

The full-service broker for long-term investors

4.5 ★★★★½

Fidelity is the benchmark for long-term investors — combining zero-expense-ratio index funds, institutional-grade research, and the most reliable platform in the industry with exceptional customer service.

CommissionsCommission-free stocks and ETFs. $0.65/options contract

Min Deposit$0

✅ Pros

+ Zero-expense-ratio index funds (FZROX, FZILX)

+ Exceptional research — Morningstar, S&P, CFRA

+ Best-in-class retirement account management

+ Fractional shares on S&P 500 stocks

⚠️ Cons

− Options platform trails Tastytrade and Webull

− Interface is dated compared to newer platforms

− No cryptocurrency trading

− Active Trading Pro requires qualification

Charles Schwab General Trading

The complete broker — now with thinkorswim included

4.4 ★★★★☆

After acquiring TD Ameritrade, Schwab now offers the legendary thinkorswim platform alongside its own comprehensive banking and investing services — making it the most complete financial services provider for investors.

CommissionsCommission-free stocks and ETFs. $0.65/options contract

Min Deposit$0

✅ Pros

+ thinkorswim — one of the best trading platforms ever built

+ Schwab Intelligent Portfolios (robo-advisor) free at $5K

+ Best banking integration of any broker

+ No account minimums, strong branch network

⚠️ Cons

− TD Ameritrade merger created temporary confusion

− Schwab.com interface less intuitive than thinkorswim

− Commission-free ETF list excludes some popular funds

− Website feels corporate and dated

M1 Finance Automated Investing

Automated investing with the precision of a professional portfolio

4.3 ★★★★☆

M1 Finance combines the automation of a robo-advisor with the control of self-directed investing. The Pie system lets you build a custom portfolio that automatically rebalances and reinvests dividends — set it and genuinely forget it.

CommissionsFree. M1 Premium at $3/mo

Min Deposit$100

✅ Pros

+ Pie-based portfolio automation is brilliant for DCA

+ Fractional shares on any stock or ETF

+ Automatic rebalancing keeps allocation on track

+ M1 Borrow: portfolio-backed loan at competitive rates

⚠️ Cons

− No options trading — purely for stock/ETF investing

− Single daily trading window limits tactical moves

− Not designed for active trading

− Customer support is email-only

Frequently Asked Questions

Fidelity vs Vanguard vs Schwab for IRA — which is best?

Fidelity edges out the competition for most investors with its ZERO expense ratio funds, better research tools, and more responsive customer service. Vanguard remains excellent for pure index fund investors loyal to its founder-owned structure. Schwab wins if you want thinkorswim trading capabilities alongside retirement investing.

Should I choose a Traditional IRA or Roth IRA?

If you expect your tax rate in retirement to be higher than now, choose Roth (pay taxes now, withdraw tax-free). If you're in your peak earning years and want a deduction today, Traditional makes sense. For most people under 50, Roth is the better long-term choice because tax-free compounding is extraordinarily powerful.

What's the IRA contribution limit for 2026?

The 2026 IRA contribution limit is $7,000/year (under 50) or $8,000 (50+) — a $500 increase from 2024. You can contribute to both a Traditional and Roth IRA but the combined total can't exceed this limit. Many people also contribute to a 401k alongside their IRA.