There is too much controversy with this particular platform to recommend it to anyone at this point. But if you are totally new to trading, it is wise to consider your other options – even those that involve paying commission fees. Yes, the Robinhood online exchange is legit, and the trades are real. Plus, considering the developers’ connections with financial institutions can also make you question their overall ethics. In fact, I believe the easy-to-use approach plays into exploiting new investors, which makes them feel confident and capable. However, I would recommend using a lot of caution with this particular platform. It’s not my place to tell you how or where you should invest your money. Just because you are not paying commission fees doesn’t mean you won’t be charged for all the other little things. Unless you plan on sticking to a specific max and number of trades per month, you can expect to see a rise in costs.
CautionĪnd to add even more doubt to the mix, the costs that grow with your increasing investments. This information was revealed late in 2018 through Bloomberg News, and the company admitted it is true. In basic terms, it means the platform exposes newbie investors to market-makers that want to minimize their own risk. Then there is the issue of how the company makes most of its money via payment for order flow. In other words, higher interest means more risk. However, the twist is that the deposits are not secured, as the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation does not ensure the account. And when looking at the controversy associated with the platform, the creators weren’t kidding.įor example, Robinhood is trying to expand and add banking services, like checking accounts with very high-interest rates compared to conventional banks. I’m not saying investors are not making money, but the company dubbed itself a force that disrupts the markets. I can’t speak for anyone else, but this makes me question the platform’s integrity in general. But is this enough to explain the giant leap the company took from a value of $1.3bn in 2017 to over $5bn at the end of 2018? Of course, the pitch of trading without commission fees is definitely alluring, and the app is straightforward to use. In all honesty, it is strange to see this platform grow at such a rapid rate. Robinhood Investing Review Final thoughts
It should also be noted that the higher your trade volume gets, the more it will cost trading through the app. This is when market-makers influence the platform, specifically targeting investors trading on passion and using skill and knowledge like professionals. But once you start sending over funds, that is when costs start to factor in.Īnd it should be mentioned that a great deal of the profit the platform generates comes from payment for order flow. It doesn’t cost anything to use the app for trading. And this is somewhat strange for a broker struggling to launch financial services like those of a conventional bank. Hidden costs that accumulate as investment volume increases.Īt the time of this review, the Robinhood platform still didn’t have any support system for those who use it for trading. The app is straightforward to use, even for individuals who have never invested in stocks before. Robinhood Investing Pros and Cons The Pros: Here is an objective look at what you’ll be getting. The Good And The Bad Of Robinhood Investing ReviewĮven though the Robinhood exchange platform is rapidly growing, it is far from being the perfect investment tool. It should also be noted that the platform runs on a user-friendly app alongside a website, making it easy for newbie investors to gain access to publicly traded companies and exchange-traded funds listed on U.S.
Instead, the platform has other ways of generating money, and there are certain fees involved. More specifically, it doesn’t charge commission fees when investors make trades.
What makes Robinhood different is the way it operates. By the end of 2018, the company was worth $5.6bn. The developers behind the platform worked for financial institutions in New York up to that point and decided to crowdsource their personal projects. Robinhood is an online broker that saw the light in 2013 but officially went public in Feb 2014. The Robinhood Investing Review is a legitimate investment for anyone to begin, and how great is the risk, if any? I will explain in this article and let you make your decision.