Brokerage accounts
Invest in your future your way
Invest in your future your way
With thousands of investment options and the support you need, you can shape an investment strategy on your terms.
Everything you expect from a modern brokerage
The Empower Brokerage account is intended for knowledgeable investors who acknowledge and understand the risks associated with the investments available through an Empower Brokerage account.
Competitive pricing
Know what you’ll pay before you invest, with $0 online commissions on stocks and ETFs and clear pricing across investment types.1
Broad investment choice
Build your portfolio with thousands of investment options, including individual stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, bonds, CDs, and options.2
Designed for your needs
Invest with confidence on a secure platform backed by one of the nation’s largest retirement and wealth providers.
No complexity
Competitive fees, no matter how you choose to invest.
| Investment type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Stocks & exchange-traded funds (ETFs) | $0 for the first 1,000 trades1 ($19.99 over the phone) |
| Mutual Funds | Some mutual funds available with no transaction fee, others are $25 per buy or sell3 and $5 per exchange |
| Certificates of deposit (CDs) | No fee for new-issue CDs4 |
Professional service and kindness with each interaction.
Marilyn A.
Unpaid client of Empower Financial Services, Inc.5
Support for your decisions at every step
Insights, research, and customizable screens to help you make smart decisions and see how you’re doing.
Flexible account options for every goal
Investing for retirement
Brokerage IRA
- Traditional, Roth, Rollover, SEP, Inherited, and Guardian IRAs available
- Tax-deferred or tax-free growth, depending on IRA
- Ideal for investors looking for control over their retirement planning
Investing outside retirement
Taxable brokerage account
- Individual, Joint, Trust, UGMA/UTMA, Custodial, TOD accounts available
- No contribution limits (taxes apply to income and gains)
- Ideal for investors looking to save toward other goals, from dream homes, vacations, and more
Want a little more help?
Empower offers you guidance and support, however you want it, whenever you need it.
Investment Insights
Go in-depth with market trends and analysis from industry leaders, including Empower’s Chief Investment Strategist, Marta Norton.
Premier IRA
Invest on your own or choose professional management supported by real people who know your retirement goals.
Personal Strategy
Get portfolio management and financial planning for life. Qualify with investments of $100,000 or more.6
FAQ
FAQ
An Empower brokerage account is designed for confident, self-directed investors who want flexibility and control over their investments. It’s a good fit if you’re investing outside of retirement, building toward specific goals, or managing your own retirement investments through a brokerage IRA. It’s also a strong option for existing Empower customers who want to consolidate accounts, see more of their financial picture in one place, and stay in control of your investments.
With an Empower brokerage account, you can invest in a wide range of options, including individual stocks, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), mutual funds, bonds, certificates of deposit (CDs), and options. This broad investment access gives you the flexibility to build and manage a portfolio that aligns with your strategy and goals.
Empower offers competitive, transparent pricing so you know what you’ll pay before you invest. Online trades for stocks and ETFs have $0 commissions, and thousands of mutual funds are available with no transaction fee. Other investments, such as options, bonds, or certain mutual funds, may have standard transaction fees.
There’s no minimum balance required to open an account and you’ll always see applicable fees before placing a trade. For full details on commissions, service fees, and account-specific charges, you can review the fee schedule.
Yes. You can transfer eligible investments from another brokerage into your Empower brokerage account, and you can roll over assets from an old employer retirement plan into a brokerage IRA. This makes it easier to consolidate accounts and manage your investments in one place. Transfer and rollover requests are handled through a secure process, and Empower support is available if you need help along the way.
A taxable brokerage account is designed for investing outside of retirement. It offers flexibility with no contribution limits, and you can access your money at any time, though taxes generally apply to dividends, interest, and realized gains.
A brokerage IRA is intended for retirement investing and offers potential tax advantages, such as tax-deferred or tax-free growth, depending on the type of IRA. Brokerage IRAs follow IRS rules around contributions and withdrawals but give you more control over how your retirement assets are invested.
Taxes depend on the type of account you open. In a taxable brokerage account, you may owe taxes on dividends, interest, and realized capital gains. In a brokerage IRA, taxes are generally deferred or may be avoided altogether, depending on the IRA type. Empower provides the tax forms and reporting you need, but does not provide tax advice. You may want to consult a tax professional based on your situation.
Empower provides research, market insights, and customizable screens to support self-directed investing. You can track performance, explore investment options, and monitor your portfolio over time – all designed to help you make informed decisions on your own terms.
Empower uses industry-standard security practices to help protect your information and accounts. Brokerage accounts are protected by SIPC coverage, which helps safeguard securities in the event of a brokerage firm failure, up to applicable limits. Custody, clearing, and settlement services are provided through established financial institutions.
