Welcome to M1! This guide helps you get started with M1 Invest, covering account types, automation features, building your portfolio with M1 Pies, trading, transfers, and margin. You'll find step-by-step instructions, quick-reference summaries, and links to related Help Center articles. This guide focuses on the web experience, but you can use the M1 app on iOS or Android for the same features.
Getting started checklist
Decide which account type to open (individual, joint, retirement, etc.)
Create and verify your M1 account
Fund your account
Build your first M1 Pie (your investment portfolio)
Set up automated investing and transfers
Understand trading windows and place investment orders
Explore research tools and account resources
Review margin (if eligible)
Access support as needed
About M1 Invest
M1 Invest lets you automate your investing experience using customizable "Pies" that act as your personal portfolios. You can invest in stocks and ETFs, automate deposits, rebalance your portfolio, and manage your account with powerful tools.
Key Points:
Invest in whole or fractional shares.
Choose from several account types.
Use automation to simplify investing.
No commissions for trading.*
M1 account types
M1 offers various account types for different goals:
Individual Brokerage: Standard taxable account for one person.
Joint Brokerage: Shared account for two people.
Retirement Accounts: Includes Traditional IRA, Roth IRA, and SEP IRA.
Trust Accounts: For managing assets in a trust.
Custodial Accounts: For managing assets of a minor.
How to Open an Account:
Log in to your M1 account or create an M1 account.
From the left navigation menu, select Add Account.
Choose an account type and follow the prompts.
Enter requested information and complete identity verification.
Tip: Review which accounts are right for you: Account Types Available at M1
Understanding M1 Pies
M1 uses "Pies" to help you build and manage your investment portfolio. Each "slice" represents an investment (stock or ETF) and its target percentage.
How Pies Work:
Each Pie holds a combination of stocks or ETFs you choose.
You decide what percentage of your portfolio each slice should represent.
Pies can be custom built, or you can choose from Model Portfolios designed for specific goals.
Creating Your First Pie:
Click Build a Pie on your dashboard.
Search and add investments (stocks/ETFs) as slices.
Adjust the target percentage for each slice (the total must equal 100%).
Save your Pie.
Learn more about Investing in Custom Pies
M1 automation features
Automation helps you invest consistently and maintain your target portfolio.
Key Features:
Auto-Invest: Automatically invests available cash above your set minimum.
Automatic Recurring Transfers: Schedule deposits to grow your account automatically.
Dynamic Rebalancing: Every deposit is spread to underweight slices to help maintain targets.
Setting Up Automation:
Go to Transfers > Recurring from the main menu.
Set the amount, frequency, and bank account.
Enable Auto-Invest (find this in your account’s settings).
Read more about using Auto-Invest and Creating Recurring Transfers.
Trading with M1
M1 executes trades during designated window(s) each trading day to keep investing commission-free*.
Key Points:
Orders are placed in the morning or afternoon trade window on business days.
Orders placed after the window or on weekends will execute during the next window.
Fractional shares are supported.
No day trading or instant execution.
How to Place Trades:
Update your Pie or initiate a buy/sell from your dashboard.
Confirm the trade and wait for the next scheduled trade window.
Learn more about how M1 Trades and how trade windows work.
Managing money transfers
Deposit or withdraw funds to and from your M1 account:
Go to Move Money in the navigation.
Choose between different transfer options.
Select the linked bank account and amount.
Follow prompts and confirm.
Learn more about how to create transfers in your M1 account.
Portfolio margin
M1 offers Margin Loans (M1 Borrow) for eligible taxable accounts:
What is Margin?
Margin allows you to borrow against your portfolio at a low interest rate (requires at least $2,000 balance).
No additional paperwork for eligible accounts.
Interest accrues daily; repay on your schedule as long as your maintenance requirements are met.
Learn more about utilizing margin on M1.
Using Invest page resources
Your Invest dashboard houses tools and information:
Pie Overview: Visualize your investments
Performance: View historical returns and current value
Target vs Actual: See how each slice matches your strategy
Research Tab:
Access company profiles, news, charts, and key metrics
* M1 Finance, LLC does not charge commission, trading, or management fees for self-directed brokerage accounts. You may still be charged other fees such as M1’s platform fee, regulatory fees, account closure fees, or ADR fees. For a complete list of fees M1 may charge visit M1’s Fee Schedule.
Brokerage accounts on the M1 platform are either fully disclosed to APEX Clearing or cleared through M1 Finance LLC. Please look at your account statement to determine how your account is cleared.
All investing involves risk, including the risk of losing the money you invest. Past performance does not guarantee future performance. Using margin can add to these risks. Users utilizing APEX cleared margin accounts should review the APEX margin account risk disclosure before borrowing. Users utilizing M1 cleared margin accounts should review the M1 margin account risk disclosure before borrowing. M1 Margin Loans are available on margin accounts with at least $2,000 invested per account. Not available for Retirement or Custodial accounts. Margin rates may vary.
Brokerage products and services are offered by M1 Finance LLC, Member FINRA / SIPC, and a wholly owned subsidiary of M1 Holdings, Inc.
Margin trading entails greater risk, including, but not limited to, risk of loss and incurrence of margin interest debt, and is not suitable for all investors. Please assess your financial circumstances and risk tolerance before trading on margin. If the market value of the securities in your margin account declines, you may be required to deposit more money or securities in order to maintain your line of credit. If you are unable to do so, M1 may be required to sell all or a portion of your pledged assets. Brokerage accounts on the M1 platform are either fully disclosed to APEX Clearing or cleared through M1 Finance LLC. Users utilizing APEX cleared margin accounts should review the APEX margin account risk disclosure before borrowing. Users utilizing M1 cleared margin accounts should review the M1 margin account risk disclosure before borrowing. M1 Margin Loans are available on margin accounts with at least $2,000 invested per account. Not available for Retirement or Custodial accounts. Margin rates may vary. Brokerage products and services are offered by M1 Finance LLC, Member FINRA / SIPC, and a wholly owned subsidiary of M1 Holdings, Inc.
This content was generated using artificial intelligence and is intended for informational and educational purposes only. While reasonable efforts are made to ensure accuracy, AI-generated outputs may omit key context; and should not be construed as financial, investment, legal, or tax advice. Users should independently verify all information and consult a qualified professional before making any financial decisions.
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