Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility

This device is too small

If you're on a Galaxy Fold, consider unfolding your phone or viewing it in full screen to best optimize your experience.

Skip to main content
Advertiser Disclosure Many of the offers that appear on this site are from companies from which The Motley Fool receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear) and may influence which products we write about, but our product ratings are not influenced by compensation. We do not include all companies or offers available in the marketplace.
    |    Accessibility Options

J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing Review: A Trusted Name for Casual and Long-Term Investors

Review Updated
Alice Hoekstra
Author: Alice Hoekstra
Alice Hoekstra
Alice Hoekstra

Alice is a content strategist for Motley Fool Money, where she has worked full-time for almost five years. Throughout her five years at The Motley Fool, Alice has worked on content across a wide range of financial topics, including credit cards, brokerages, banks, mortgages, personal loans, and auto insurance, helping readers make informed decisions with confidence. Her top financial priorities are funding her world travels and giving her cat the luxurious life she deserves. When she’s not working, traveling, or watching Friends reruns, you’ll find her at the nearest concert or Broadway show.

See Full Bio

| 1 other [ + ]
Nathan Alderman
Fact Checked: Nathan Alderman
Nathan Alderman
Nathan Alderman
Fact checker

Nathan Alderman has been a full-time Motley Fool employee since 2005, making errors his arch-enemies in a variety of roles including a six-year stint as the dedicated fact-checker for The Motley Fool's premium newsletter services. As Motley Fool Money's Compliance Lead, he makes sure that all the site's information is accurate and up to date, which ensures we always steer readers right and keeps various financial partners happy. A graduate of Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism, Nathan spends his spare time volunteering for civic causes, writing and podcasting for fun, adoring his wife, and wrangling his two very large young children.

See Full Bio

Many or all of the products here are from our partners that compensate us. It’s how we make money. But our editorial integrity ensures that our product ratings are not influenced by compensation.

J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing is a brokerage platform from J.P. Morgan Chase, one of the biggest and most trusted banks around. It lets investors manage their own portfolios without paying advisory fees. The experience is straightforward and easy to follow, especially for existing Chase customers.

Whether you're a beginner, a casual investor, or someone looking for simple retirement options, J.P. Morgan offers a reliable platform to grow your wealth over time. Keep reading to learn more about J.P. Morgan's pros and cons, and find out whether it might be right for you.

J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing
Learn More for J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing

On J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing's Secure Website.

Ratings Methodology
J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing

J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing

Learn More

Double arrow

Our Rating:

Rating image, 4.0 out of 5 stars.
4.0/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
 = Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Bottom Line

J.P. Morgan Investing is one of those rare brokers that charges zero transaction fees to buy and sell mutual funds. It's easy to use, with self-directed investing for brokerage accounts, traditional IRAs, and Roth IRAs. It's no-frills compared to other brokers, and it's most convenient for Chase customers. Pick this platform for low mutual fund fees and a no-nonsense interface.

Fees:

$0 per trade

Account Minimum:

$0

Special Offer

Earn a bonus up to $700 when you open and fund a J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing account (retirement or general) with qualifying new money by 7/22/2025.

Learn More for J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing

On J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing's Secure Website.

At Motley Fool Money, brokerages are rated on a scale of one to five stars. We primarily focus on fees, available assets, and user experience; however, we also take into account features like research, education, tax-loss harvesting, and customer service. Our highest-rated brokerages generally include low fees, a diverse range of assets and account types, and useful platform features.

Our aim is to maintain a balanced best-of list featuring top-scoring brokerages from reputable brands. Ordering within lists is influenced by advertiser compensation, including featured placements at the top of a given list, but our product recommendations are NEVER influenced by advertisers. Learn more about how Motley Fool Money rates brokerage accounts.

At Motley Fool Money, brokerages are rated on a scale of one to five stars. We primarily focus on fees, available assets, and user experience; however, we also take into account features like research, education, tax-loss harvesting, and customer service. Our highest-rated brokerages generally include low fees, a diverse range of assets and account types, and useful platform features.

Our aim is to maintain a balanced best-of list featuring top-scoring brokerages from reputable brands. Ordering within lists is influenced by advertiser compensation, including featured placements at the top of a given list, but our product recommendations are NEVER influenced by advertisers. Learn more about how Motley Fool Money rates brokerage accounts.

Who should consider J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing?

New investors, casual investors, long-term savers, and people who already bank with Chase will get the most value from J.P. Morgan's trading platform. The clean, no-frills design makes it easy for first-time investors to buy and sell stocks without confusion.

If you're already a Chase customer, you can use your existing login. You can also move money between accounts with no hassle. For me, the cherry on top is seeing both banking and investment information side by side: I personally love when managing my money is convenient.

For long-term investors and those planning for retirement, J.P. Morgan offers a straightforward way to invest in mutual funds, ETFs, and other assets suited for building a diversified portfolio. While advanced tools and strategies aren't a focus here, the platform’s simplicity makes it ideal for anyone looking to "set it and forget it."

What I like about J.P. Morgan

Commission-free trading

Fees can really eat into your investment returns over time. With J.P. Morgan, you don't have to worry about that. The broker doesn't charge commissions when you trade stocks, ETFs, and mutual funds, which means more money stays in your pocket.

Many other brokerages also offer commission-free trading these days, but not all do, so it's worth mentioning.

Beginner-friendly interface

When you're new to investing, you want a platform that won't overwhelm you. J.P. Morgan's platform is clean and simple -- making it a great beginner investing app.

You can begin with the "Quick Start" tutorial that shows new users the basics of investing. There's also a helpful investment glossary that explains financial terms when you hover over them, so you won't get stuck on confusing words.

J.P. Morgan also offers simple investment options with clear explanations about risks and potential returns. The broker has easy-to-understand charts and graphs that show performance without too much detail, plus pre-built investment portfolios for beginners who aren't ready to pick individual stocks yet. For all these reasons and more, J.P. Morgan is a fantastic trading platform for beginners and casual investors alike.

Seamless integration for existing Chase customers

If you already have a Chase bank account or credit card, switching to J.P. Morgan is super easy. J.P. Morgan and Chase are actually the same bank. As a result, you can use the same username and password for both.

You can view all your bank accounts and investments in one place with the Chase app. Moving money between accounts is hassle-free, too. You can transfer funds, add to your investments, or save for later all in the app. Everything works together smoothly, which saves time and makes banking and investing both much easier.

Retirement-friendly investment options

For those focused on retirement planning, J.P. Morgan offers a range of mutual funds and ETFs suitable for long-term growth. While the platform doesn't include advanced tools like tax optimization for retirement accounts, its simplicity and low fees make it a solid choice for investors who prioritize ease of use and a hands-off approach to managing their retirement savings.

Fractional shares

Fractional shares allow people to purchase parts of a share at a lower price. If you're just starting out, or you're on a tight budget, fractional shares can allow you to invest in big-name companies. J.P. Morgan's beginner-friendly platform offers fractional shares starting at $5. Investments available for fractional share investing include:

  • S&P 500 stocks
  • NASDAQ 100 stocks
  • ETFs

Alternatives to Consider

We recommend comparing brokerage options to ensure the account you're selecting is the best fit for you. To make your search easier, here's a short list of our best trading platforms of 2025.

Broker Best For Commissions Learn More
Logo for SoFi Active Investing
Rating image, 4.5 out of 5 stars.
4.5/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
 = Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Managing your finances under one roof $0 for stocks,¹ $0 for options contracts⁴
Learn More for SoFi Active Investing

On SoFi Active Investing's Secure Website.

Logo for J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing
Rating image, 4.0 out of 5 stars.
4.0/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
 = Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Low mutual fund fees. $0 per trade
Learn More for J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing

On J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing's Secure Website.

Logo for Robinhood
Rating image, 4.5 out of 5 stars.
4.5/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
 = Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Low fees on stocks, ETFs, crypto, and options $0 for stocks, ETFs, and options
Learn More for Robinhood

On Robinhood's Secure Website.

Downsides you should consider

Limited tools for active traders

J.P. Morgan's app is user-friendly for beginners, but it doesn't offer much depth. Some other brokerages give you both an approachable app and advanced features, but J.P. Morgan users only get basic charting and technical analysis tools.

Fees and pricing

J.P. Morgan offers low-fee investing, so you can keep more of your investment gains.

The biggest advantage to investing with J.P. Morgan is that there aren't any account minimums, which is great news for budget-conscious investors and beginners. No matter how much or how little you have to invest, you can open an account with J.P. Morgan.

J.P. Morgan offers $0 commissions on stocks, ETFs, and mutual funds. Many of the best brokers offer this rate now, but it's still worth pointing out.

The brokerage doesn't charge a subscription fee either. This is similar to other traditional brokerages, but different from some newer investing platforms and apps. If you're interested in comparing J.P. Morgan to other free investing apps, check out our list of the best free investing apps.

Very few brokerages charge inactivity fees, but those fees can be hefty. Thankfully, J.P. Morgan doesn't charge any inactivity fees, so you can truly "set it and forget it."

Some mutual funds may have transaction fees, but this is pretty standard across brokers -- often these fees come from the fund itself, rather than the brokerage.

Futures and options

Futures and options are advanced trading strategies. If you're an experienced investor, you're probably looking for a platform that allows these techniques. Even if you're a beginner, you might appreciate joining a platform that grows with you as you expand your investing skills.

The J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing account doesn't allow futures trading. If you're planning on a simple buy-and-hold strategy, this shouldn't be an issue. However, if you're interested in more complex trades, you may want a brokerage with more features. Check out our guide to futures brokers here: Best Brokers for Trading Futures.

J.P. Morgan offers no-commission options trading for both traditional brokerage accounts and IRAs. For many people, the end goal of investing is to save for retirement -- so I appreciate that J.P. Morgan allows options trading from within IRAs. Note there is a contract fee of $0.65 for options contracts.

How to open a J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing account

Opening a J.P. Morgan account is quick and simple. Here's how:

  1. Visit J.P. Morgan online: Go to the J.P. Morgan website to open an account.
  2. Create or log into a Chase account: If you're already a Chase customer, this step is a breeze.
  3. Complete the application: You'll need to provide personal, financial, and tax information.
  4. Fund your account: Transfer money from a Chase account or another bank.
  5. Start investing: You're ready to go! Use the Chase mobile app or website to place trades.

Final thoughts

J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing is a solid option for casual investors, long-term savers, and Chase customers. It falls short for active traders or those looking for advanced tools, but for beginners and those interested in simple retirement investing, it offers commission-free easy investing.

To get started, click here to open an account on J.P. Morgan's website.

FAQs

  • Yes, it offers a straightforward platform and educational resources for new investors.

  • Yes, J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing offers options trading.

  • Yes, J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing allows fractional share trading starting at $5. Investments available for fractional shares include S&P 500 stocks, NASDAQ 100 stocks, and ETFs.

  • No, there are no account maintenance fees or minimums.