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Bottom line: The Motley Fool’s Stock Advisor is best for long-term focused, self-directed investors who want to take advantage of expert stock recommendations. If you’re not into DIY trading, or you would prefer advisor assistance or automated investing, you should look elsewhere.

Motley Fool Stock Advisor

4.13

/5

A five pointed star

A five pointed star

A five pointed star

A five pointed star

A five pointed star

4.13 out of
5 Stars

Account Minimum

$0

Fees

$99/year; $39 for one month

View Full Details

Learn more

Motley Fool Stock Advisor

4.13

/5

A five pointed star

A five pointed star

A five pointed star

A five pointed star

A five pointed star

4.13
out
of
5 Stars

Account Minimum

$0

Fees

$99/year; $39 for one month

View Full Details

Learn more

On Motley Fool’s website

Motley Fool Stock Advisor from Motley Fool

Learn more

On Motley Fool’s website

Investment Details

Account Minimum

$0

Fees

$99/year; $39 for one month

Editor’s Rating

4.13

/5

A five pointed star

A five pointed star

A five pointed star

A five pointed star

A five pointed star

4.13 out of
5 Stars

Pros & Cons

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Pros

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Service offers two new stock picks each month

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Best Buys Now provides several of Stock Advisor’s favorite stocks

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Returns have beaten performance of S&P 500*

Cons

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Can’t receive refund if you cancel a monthly subscription

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Stock Advisor doesn’t link to existing brokerage accounts or offer analysis on existing assets

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Not great for hands-off investors

Highlights

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More Information

• Promotion: 30-day 100% membership fee-back guarantee for annual subscription

Overall rating

FeatureInsider rating (out of 5)Fees3.50Access4.00Ethics4.50Customer service4.50Overall score4.13

Is Motley Fool Stock Advisor right for you?

Launched in 2002 by The Motley Fool, Stock Advisor, one of the several premium services the company offers, is a subscription-based service providing stock recommendations, market research, and more. The platform is a great choice for DIY traders who want regular access to expert-picked stocks.

One downside is that it doesn’t offer portfolio analysis, so it’s not great for those who want insights on existing portfolio assets. Stock Advisor mainly offers recommendations based off its team’s research. 

How Motley Fool Stock Advisor Compares

• 
  

  Motley Fool Stock Advisor

• 
  

  Front

• 
  

  Stock Rover

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Min. investment

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It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options.

$0

Fees

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$99/year; $39 for one month

Min. investment

Chevron icon
It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options.

$0

Fees

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It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options.

0%

Min. investment

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It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options.

$0

Fees

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0% free plan; Monthly fees range from $7.99 – $27.99/month for premium plans

Learn more

On Motley Fool’s website

Learn more

On Front’s website

Learn more

On Stock Rover’s website

Motley Fool Stock Advisor vs. Front

Stock Advisor and Front are similar in that both provide investing insights. However, you’ll get more out of Front. Front’s platform links to your existing brokerage and/or crypto apps to offer personalized portfolio analysis and show you how healthy your investment allocation is. While it doesn’t offer stock recommendations, it offers insights for individual stocks.

Stock Advisor is a better option for those who specifically want stock recommendations. Front offers analysis on the investments you already own.

Motley Fool Stock Advisor vs. Stock Rover

Stock Advisor and Stock Rover both stand out as great options for investors in search of stock research and analysis. But Stock Advisor is, once again, the better platform for beginner, intermediate, or experienced traders who want access to stock picks and research.

Stock Rover is a better choice for advanced traders, as it offers portfolio analysis by letting you connect your brokerage to the platform. It also gives you access to an extensive suite of stock charting tools, stock and ETF screeners, research reports, and more. See its fee schedule here.

Ways to use Motley Fool Stock Advisor

Investment recommendations

Motley Fool has long offered copious articles and resources on investing and financial topics. Its stock recommendation and analysis platform, Stock Advisor, takes things a step further. While it doesn’t let you invest directly through the platform, it gives you the research necessary to make investment trading decisions in your personal brokerage accounts.

If you’re a self-directed investor in search of expert insights on stocks, the platform could be a great fit. It offers the following:

• Recommendations: This is perhaps the most competitive feature of Stock Advisor. The platform gives members two new stock picks each month.
• Best Buys Now: Stock Advisor also offers its favorite stock picks with this option, allowing members to select the investments that best align with their goals. 
• Stock Reports: If you’re big on research, its stock analysis could be a good fit for you. Investors can also separately purchase a report for one stock for $100 without signing up for the subscription. See more here.
• Investment articles and community resources: Newcomers to DIY investing might appreciate the platform’s educational articles and digital community of investors. Plus, it offers eBooks and videos on all things investing.

Since the Motley Fool’s investment philosophy is centered on the belief that members should invest in at least 25 great stocks and hold them for five years, Stock Advisor best suits long-term traders who are fine with letting their investments sit for a while.

Its fees aren’t bad, either. For the $99** discounted annual subscription (the normal subscription fee is $199), new members will pay roughly $1.90 per week (or a bit more than $7 per month). But if you want to try it out for just one month, it’ll cost you $39, and you won’t be able to get a refund if you decide to cancel.

As for the sign-up process, you can do so by filling out a quick form on its website. You’ll also need a credit card to complete the subscription.

Performance

Motley Fool prides itself on the historical performance of Stock Advisor’s investment picks. In fact, the team has returned three times that of the S&P 500, according to its website. As of August 9, 2022, Stock Advisor’s returns have averaged 373%* compared to the S&P 500’s 122%.

Motley Fool Stock Advisor: Is it trustworthy?

Stock Advisor doesn’t have a Better Business Bureau profile, but The Motley Fool does. The BBB gives the company a B rating to reflect its opinion of how well it engages with its clients. 

While the bureau’s ratings don’t guarantee a company’s performance or reliability, they do take into account several other factors. These include type of business, time in business, licensing and government actions, advertising issues, and customer complaint history.

As of now, The Motley Fool has closed 37 complaints in the last 12 months, according to its BBB profile. It doesn’t have any unresolved complaints at this time.

Motley Fool Stock Advisor — Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How much does Stock Advisor cost?

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Stock Advisor has a $99 annual fee** (roughly $1.90 per week). Plus, it offers a one-month subscription option. This costs $39.

Is Stock Advisor worth the money?

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Stock Advisor’s fees are hard to beat. Right now, new members can set up an annual membership for $99. This includes a 30-day membership fee-back guarantee. Its one-month subscription fee of $39 isn’t the best deal, and it doesn’t offer a refund if you decide to cancel.

Is Motley Fool Stock Advisor legit?

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Yes. Founded in 1993, the Motley Fool offers personal finance and investing recommendations as a limited liability company (LLC). The platform took its investment guidance a bit further by launching Stock Advisor in 2002.

Related terms

• Stocks: Stocks represent shares, or portions, of ownership within public companies. They’re typically available through online brokerages and investing apps, robo-advisors, and other investment platforms.
• ETFs: Containing a blend of different assets like stocks, bonds, and commodities, ETFs also trade like stocks; that is, you can easily trade them at any point during the stock exchange’s hours. However, they’re less risky than stocks since your risk is spread across multiple assets, as opposed to just one security.
• Brokerage account: These accounts connect you to major stock exchanges and let you trade a range of investments, including stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, bonds, and more.
• Robo-advisor: Also known as automated investing accounts, robo-advisors rely on computer algorithms and/or expert oversight to build personalized portfolios for retail investors.

Rickie Houston, CEPF

Wealth-Building Reporter

Rickie Houston is a wealth-building reporter for Business Insider, tasked with covering brokerage products, investment apps, online advisor services, cryptocurrency exchanges, and other wealth-building financial products. He is also a Certified Educator in Personal Finance (CEPF).

Previously, Rickie worked as a personal finance writer at SmartAsset, focusing on retirement, investing, taxes, and banking topics. He’s contributed to stories published in the Boston Globe, and his work has also been featured in Yahoo News.

He graduated from Boston University, where he contributed as a staff writer and sports editor for Boston University News Service.

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