BROKER REVIEW

M1 Finance Review: automated pies for long-term investors

M1 is built for rules-based investing: you set a target portfolio (“pie”), fund it on schedule, and let automation keep you close to your weights. It’s strong for consistency. It’s weak for intraday control and active trading workflows.

Educational content only. Not personalized investment advice.

Eligibility, pricing, and product availability can change by country and account type. Always verify current terms on the broker’s official site.

Shortcut: choose M1 if you want automation (auto-invest into target weights) and you’re fine trading on a schedule rather than micromanaging every entry. If you need global access + multi-currency funding, IBKR is usually the better core broker.

Open with M1 Finance → Read IBKR review → Read Webull review → Compare all brokers →

Disclosure: We may earn a commission if you open an account using our links. You do not pay extra.

Overall verdict

One of the cleanest “set-and-forget” investing workflows if you want automation and minimal tinkering.

Best for

Long-term investors who want rules
ETF/core-portfolio buyers
People who overtrade without guardrails

Not ideal for

Active traders / intraday control
Advanced order types + deep tools
Non-US investors needing global onboarding

TL;DR: should you use M1?

Best use-case: automated long-term portfolios (ETFs + core stocks) with recurring contributions.
Core strength: pies + auto-invest behavior (reduces decision fatigue and tinkering).
Core limitation: not designed for precision execution and constant order management.
Non-US reality: M1 is US-focused; eligibility can be the limiting factor.

What M1 is (and what it isn’t)

WHAT IT IS

A portfolio system built around target weights.
Automation that deploys new cash into underweight holdings.
A guardrail against overtrading (you operate the system, not your emotions).

WHAT IT ISN’T

An active trading terminal.
A broker optimized for intraday entries/exits and advanced order types.
A global “everything broker” for cross-border investing.

If you’re still deciding what to optimize, use: How to Pick Your First US Broker and How to Open a Broker Account.

How pies and auto-invest work (the whole point)

M1’s edge is behavioral: it turns investing into a repeatable process. A simple workflow:

Build your pie: choose holdings and set target percentages.
Set recurring contributions: weekly/monthly deposits.
Auto-invest: new cash flows into holdings that are below target weights.
Rebalance (when needed): push your portfolio back toward targets.

If you want a simple ETF foundation first, read: What is an ETF?, Diversification, Rebalancing.

Costs that matter (ignore marketing, measure drag)

Your long-run result is driven by (1) what you hold and (2) how much friction your setup creates. “Commission-free” is not the same as “low-drag.”

Cost bucket	What to check	Why it matters long-term
ETF expense ratios	Expense ratio of the ETFs in your pie	Permanent annual drag (small % compounds into big money)
Account tiers / add-ons	Any paid features you don’t genuinely need	Recurring fixed fees hurt smaller portfolios most
Borrowing / margin	Rate and how you’ll use it (if at all)	Borrowing amplifies losses; interest is real friction
Cash drag	How much cash sits idle	Uninvested cash can be a bigger leak than broker fees
Non-US friction	Eligibility + FX path (if applicable)	Cross-border/FX costs can erase the benefit of automation

Fees really matter (Learn) → Study: cash drag →

Non-US investor reality check

1) Eligibility first

If you can’t open/keep the account, the comparison ends. M1 is US-focused; always verify eligibility by residency.

2) Market access

If you need broad international access, multiple currencies, or a “global default” broker profile, IBKR usually fits better.

3) EU/UK retail ETF wrappers

US-domiciled ETF access can be restricted for EU/UK retail investors regardless of broker. Use UCITS equivalents when required.

Read: UCITS vs US ETFs and Best broker for US ETFs (non-US).

Where M1 is the wrong tool

You want to trade frequently and control entries/exits intraday.
You need advanced order types, deep tools, or broad product coverage.
You are outside supported residency rules and can’t reliably open/keep the account.
You prefer manual control over a rules-based system.

COMPARISON

M1 Finance vs Webull

Automation and long-term behavior (M1) versus a trading-app workflow (Webull).

Read comparison →

COMPARISON

M1 Finance vs IBKR

Simple automation (M1) versus a pro-grade global broker with FX + market breadth (IBKR).

Read comparison →

CLUSTER

Next steps: automation workflow

Best broker for automated portfolios Brokers

If you want “set rules once, execute forever,” compare automation-first options.

Study: annual rebalancing Study

Why drift happens and how simple rebalancing rules keep risk under control.

DCA vs lump sum (guide) Learn

Automation is basically DCA made easy—pick a plan you can execute for years.

Fees really matter Learn

Automation doesn’t erase cost drag. Know where recurring frictions hide.

CLUSTER

Next steps: compare against IBKR

M1 Finance vs Interactive Brokers Brokers

Automation-first vs “full access” broker: pick the workflow you’ll stick with.

Interactive Brokers review Brokers

If you need multi-currency and broad markets, IBKR is the scaling option.

M1 Finance FAQ

What is M1 Finance best for? +

Long-term, rules-based investing. You build a target allocation (pie), contribute on a schedule, and let automation keep you near your weights.

Is M1 good for day trading? +

No. M1 is optimized for automated portfolio management, not intraday execution and constant order management.

How do “free commissions” brokers make money? +

Usually through a mix of revenue sources (interest on cash/borrowing, optional paid features, and other platform economics). What matters for you is all-in drag: ETF expense ratios, any recurring account fees, and cash sitting idle.

Is M1 available to non-US investors? +

M1 is US-focused and eligibility outside the US may be limited. Verify eligibility before you build your plan around it. If you need a global broker profile, compare IBKR.

What’s the simplest decision rule: M1 vs IBKR? +

Choose M1 for automation and a rules-based investing workflow (if eligible). Choose IBKR when cross-border access, multi-currency funding, and broad markets matter more than simplicity.

Bottom line M1 is for investors who want automation and fewer decisions. If you need global access and multi-currency, default to IBKR.

Open with M1 Finance → Read IBKR review → Back to Brokers hub →

Disclosure: We may earn a commission if you open an account using our links. You do not pay extra.

Want a clean research layer? Use TradingView for watchlists and alerts — then execute at your broker.

Try TradingView Pro →

Disclosure: We may earn a commission if you subscribe using our link. You never pay extra.

Educational content only. Not personalized investment advice. Eligibility, fees, and product access can change. Always confirm current terms and your local rules before opening an account or buying securities.