*This post may contain affiliate links, please see my disclosure
When you think of investing in securities, there’s no doubt that images of the New York Stock Exchange come to mind. But what does trading in a trade window actually mean? It’s a good question. If you’re an M1 Finance customer, you might find yourself asking the question twice because there are actually two trade windows on the M1 platform.
Let’s break down the two different trade window options available on M1 Finance and see which investors can use them.
What is the M1 Finance Trade Window?
Before we get into the specifics of M1 Finance trade windows, it helps to understand what a trade window is. A trade window is basically the period of time that a brokerage or platform will execute trades on your behalf.
By using trade windows, platforms like M1 Finance can keep their trades free. It also encourages users to consider a long-term investing strategy, as opposed to day trading.
M1 Finance actually has two different trade windows: there is a morning trade window and an afternoon trade window.
Trade Windows for Regular M1 Finance Users
All M1 Finance users can access the morning trade window. Morning trading happens any day that the New York Stock Exchange is open. Trading begins at 9:30 am ET. The trade window closes after all trades have been completed.
It is also important to note that your portfolio will update after M1’s trade window closes for the day.
Trade Windows for M1 Finance Plus Members
The trade windows for M1 Plus members are a bit different. There is an afternoon trade window that is only available to you if you are an M1 Plus member. This window opens at 3 pm ET.
Using Morning and Afternoon Trade Windows
Some investors want to take advantage of both the M1 Finance morning trade window and the afternoon window. In order to trade two times per day with M1 Finance, you need to meet their eligibility requirements.
To trade using both windows, you must meet this criteria:
- Be an M1 Plus member
- Have at least $25,000 in a single account
M1 Plus members who have $25,000 spread across multiple accounts (ex: $10,000 in a Roth IRA and $15,000 in a taxable account) are not eligible to trade two times per day.
The afternoon trade window is an exciting option because it gives users the chance to make a last-minute deposit before the market closes and is one way you can take a more active approach to controlling your portfolio. Of course, M1 emphasizes that it’s important to use the afternoon trade window in a way that mirrors your investing strategy no matter how the market moves.
To learn more about M1 Finance, including other M1 Plus features, check out our full M1 Finance review.
Other Investing Apps To Consider
Do you ever find yourself wondering if you’re using the best investing app available? With more and more investing options popping up, it’s a question worth considering. Of course, there are a lot of choices to sort through. We can help!
Explore our favorite investing apps for 2022. Then, check out three of our favorite apps below!
WeBull
Webull is a strong contender for one of the most well rounded investing platforms. That’s because they cater to new investors and active traders alike. Whether you are looking for in-depth charting, customization options, or anything in between, Webull has it. All of this is delivered in a really sleek interface. That means that the user experience is simple and can be tailored to meet you wherever you are on your investing journey.
You can use Webull to invest in stocks, ETFs, options, and cryptocurrency. While some platforms have been slow to give users access to crypto, there are currently 11 coins available to trade on Webull. With no account minimums, no trade costs, and the option to buy fractional shares, Webull meets the needs of a variety of investors.
See our full WeBull review here.
Public
Are you a social media user who is also eager to talk money? Public could be a really exciting investing option for you. The social feature on Public allows investors to share their portfolios. It’s a great way to learn about different strategies. Plus, there have even been some celebrity sightings.
Public also features virtual town halls, giving users access to discussions about timely money topics and other content.
In addition to all of these features, Public is simply a solid investing choice. You can invest in stocks, ETFs, and crypto without worrying about trade fees.
Learn more about Public here.
Robinhood
Just like you can’t judge a book by its cover, you don’t want to judge this investing platform by a news headline you may have seen. It’s true that Robinhood received its fair share of bad press after several outages and some transparency snafus. But that hasn’t stopped the millions and millions of users from loving this platform.
Robinhood is a strong choice for investors who are looking to take a more active approach with a portfolio that includes stocks, options, ETFs, and cryptocurrency. Upgrade to their Gold version to take advantage of margin investing. No matter which level you use, you’ll want to note that Robinhood seems to prioritize the mobile experience. That’s why many users choose to invest with the phone app.
See our full Robinhood review here.
