In this video, I go over my M1 Finance IRA review for 2026 and keep it simple: I’m breaking down the real pros and cons so you can tell if it fits your style. The biggest thing with M1 is automation. Once you build your custom pie (usually a mix of ETFs and a few stocks), M1 handles your contributions for you by automatically buying the slices that are underweighted. It basically acts like a built-in, commission-free rebalancer, which is exactly why a lot of people like it for long-term investing. I also like that you can keep your IRA, brokerage account, and high-yield cash account all under one roof. Their Smart Transfers help keep everything funded without you having to lift a finger, and the minimum to get started is manageable at $500. On the downside, this platform is not made for active traders—you only get one trade window per day unless you pay for M1 Plus, so you can’t react quickly to market moves. And M1 doesn’t offer mutual funds, options, or tax-loss harvesting like some competitors. Also, if your total M1 assets are below $10,000, there’s an annoying $3/month platform fee. My takeaway: if you’re a set-it-and-forget-it investor who wants automation and fractional shares, M1’s IRA can be fantastic—otherwise, you may want to look elsewhere.