Money Freedom Resources

  • Interactive Brokers

    Interactive Brokers is a well-established electronic brokerage firm known for its vast selection of tradable assets and professional-grade tools. They cater to active traders, institutions, and sophisticated investors by offering commission-free stock and ETF trades (under certain conditions) alongside futures, options, bonds, and even some cryptocurrencies. Interactive Brokers boasts a powerful and customizable platform for in-depth market analysis, but its user interface may be less intuitive for beginners. They are known for their competitive fees, low margin rates, and focus on international markets, making them a favorite among high-volume traders seeking a global reach.

  • Betterment

    Betterment is a robo-advisor service that uses automation to manage your investments. You answer questions about your financial goals and risk tolerance, and Betterment builds a diversified investment portfolio for you using low-cost ETFs (exchange-traded funds). They automatically rebalance your portfolio to maintain your risk profile and offer features like cash management and retirement planning. Betterment's management fee is generally lower than traditional financial advisors.

  • Charles Schwab

    Charles Schwab Corporation, is a major financial services provider offering a one-stop shop for investing and wealth management. They cater to both individual and institutional investors, providing services like online brokerage with commission-free stock and ETF trades, retirement planning tools, and access to a wide range of investment products including stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and even some options and futures. Charles Schwab also offers wealth management services for high-net-worth clients and boasts a user-friendly platform with educational resources to suit investors of all experience levels.

  • E-Trade

    E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley is an online brokerage platform that allows you to invest in a variety of financial assets like stocks, bonds, ETFs, mutual funds, and even some options and futures contracts. They cater to both beginner and experienced investors with a user-friendly platform, educational resources, and even automated investing options. E*TRADE prides itself on commission-free stock and ETF trades, making it an attractive option for cost-conscious investors. However, they don't offer cryptocurrency trading or fractional shares unless you use their automated investing program.

  • Upwork

    Upwork is a freelancing marketplace that connects businesses with independent contractors (freelancers) for various remote work projects. Businesses can post jobs and browse freelancer profiles, while freelancers can find work opportunities, showcase their skills, and get paid for their services. Upwork offers a wide range of categories, from writing and graphic design to web development and marketing, making it a popular platform for businesses and freelancers of all backgrounds.

  • NerdWallet

    NerdWallet is a website and app that acts as your personal finance coach. It offers free tools and information to help you make smart financial decisions. You can compare different financial products like credit cards, loans, and mortgages to find the best deal. They also provide educational articles, calculators, and budgeting tools to help you manage your money, build your credit score, and reach your financial goals.

  • Freelancer

    Freelancer is an online platform that connects freelancers with clients for project-based work. Similar to Upwork, businesses can post projects and browse freelancer profiles, while freelancers can showcase their skills and compete for jobs. Freelancer.com is a global marketplace with a vast pool of freelancers in various fields, making it a popular choice for businesses and freelancers to find each other for short-term or long-term projects.

  • Northwestern Mutual

    Northwestern Mutual is a financial services company based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. They focus on helping people achieve financial security through a variety of products and services. They offer life insurance, disability income and long-term care insurance to protect your income and family. Northwestern Mutual also provides investment and retirement planning services, including annuities and investment advisory services, to help you grow your wealth and plan for the future. As a mutual company, they are owned by their policyholders, and a focus on client service is a core part of their philosophy.

  • Avant

    Avant is a financial technology company offering credit solutions for those who might not qualify for traditional loans. They primarily focus on personal loans and credit cards, aiming to be a credit-first neobank. This means they provide a wider range of financial services beyond just loans, but lending remains their core function.

  • SoFi

    SoFi offers a variety of financial products, including student loan refinancing, mortgages, credit cards, and investment accounts. SoFi also offers checking and savings accounts. Members can earn rewards points for using SoFi products and services. SoFi also offers financial planning and career coaching to its members.

  • Credit Karma

    Credit Karma is a free platform that helps you manage your credit and finances. It provides free access to your credit score and reports from two major credit bureaus, allowing you to monitor for changes and potential fraud. They also offer tools to understand your credit report, simulate how actions might impact your score, and even dispute any errors. They also have some basic budgeting and identity theft protection features, but may not be as comprehensive as dedicated services in those areas. Overall, Credit Karma is a useful tool to monitor your credit health and explore financial options.

  • Robinhood

    Robinhood is an online financial services company known for its commission-free stock, ETF, and cryptocurrency trading through their mobile app. It is a popular platform for beginners interested in commission-free stock trading. Robinhood offers some banking features, including a debit card and interest on uninvested cash. However, it's not a full-fledged bank.