Stockpile Review: Stockpile enables you to do just that. Stockpile is the brainchild of Avi Lele. He created the company after a frustrating ordeal when attempting to buy stocks for his nieces and nephews. As a result, he set to work on making it easy and inexpensive to give the gift of shares.
Stockpile is a good investment app that allows you to buy 1,000+ fractional shares of stocks and ETFs. It’s free to sign up, with no monthly fees or minimums—$ 0.99 per trade. So, trades for high-priced stocks can be done in small dollar amounts. Meanwhile, the ability to fund an account with gift cards and the user-friendly platforms make trading so easy that even a child could do it. Check out the other StockPile reviews online.
Table of Contents
Stockpile Investment App Review Introduction
Founded in 2010, SP Inc. is a relatively young company in the investment world. Suppose you are using Stockpile for micro-investing and gifting. In that case, you will be doing business with Stockpile Gifts, Inc. and Stockpile Investments, Inc., wholly-owned subsidiaries of Stockpile, Inc.
You’ll also likely be using the Stockpile App. You can’t be a young company without a hip app.
Trading apps make it easy for beginners, kids, and millennials to learn stock trading, invest in stocks, or “gift” stocks.
The mobile app has all the functionality of the desktop platform. Stockpile offers the app for both Android and iOS devices. You may download it directly from the App Store or Google Play.
Platforms
Stockpile offers two stock trading platforms: desktop and mobile. Both are extremely easy to use and excellent for beginners. Consequently, they don’t have the tools, features, bells, and whistles of professional trading platforms. In short, think of Stockpile as training wheels for newbies, even children, entering the investing world.
Desktop – This browser-based platform is very simple and straightforward to use and not like anything I’ve seen before. It lists your stocks by category, company logo, and symbol. Look for the iconic Nike checkmark logo if you want to trade Nike.
COMPANY |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|
| DESCRIPTION | Trade Ideas provides powerful tools like real-time market scanning, AI-driven trade signals, customizable alerts, advanced charting capabilities, and time-saving data visualization | TrendSpider is the most robust all-in-one trading platform on the market today. Uncover strategies, pinpoint opportunities, analyze assets, and time trades like never before | Benzinga allows traders to profit with actionable stock news, trading signals and alerts, A streaming platform with all the information you need to invest smarter today |
| HIGHLIGHTS | Trade smarter • Faster trades • Ease of use • AI • Real-time scanning • Customizable Trade Ideas > | Real-time data • Consolidate tools • One platform • Analysis tools • Automated charting platform TrendSpider > | Breaking stock news • Options alerts • Stock market quotes • Financial news • Trade ideas Benzinga > |
How Do You Buy Stockpile Gift Cards?
Stockpile offers two versions of gift cards: e-cards and actual, tangible cards. You can purchase Stockpile gift cards online or at popular retailers, like Safeway, with cash, credit card, or PayPal. Select the amount you want: $10, $25, $50, or $100. Or purchase a custom amount, anywhere from $1 to $2,000. Then, gift the card, either through email or in person.
Redeeming a Gift Card
To redeem the card, enter the code. Then, use the funds to purchase any of 1,000+ stocks or ETFs. Since the shares are fractionalized, you don’t have to pay for an entire share. You can invest a small amount without having to trade penny stocks. For example, you could buy $5 worth of Apple or Amazon.
You don’t need to know that the symbol is NKE. Then click the Buy Stock button, choose a logo, and a window opens to place a trade. After that, select the dollar amount you want to invest, and it will show your estimated fraction of the share.
Stockpile offers basic features such as customizable watchlists, news, and stats, like highs, lows, P/E ratio, and Div/Yield. But if you’re in the market for a platform that offers advanced tools and analytics, this is not it.
The platform also has a learning center for beginners, with Quickstart Guide and Stock Market Basics sections. Use the Wish List feature if you want family or friends to gift you. Pick the stocks you wish, write a message, and share it on Facebook and Twitter.
Stockpile Pricing Review
- Buy or sell stocks or ETFs at $0.99 per trade.
- When purchasing a physical gift card, fees range from $4.95 for the $25 card to $7.95 for a $100 one.
- For e-cards, you pay $2.99 for the first stock + 99¢ for each additional share and a 3% credit/debit card fee.
Get updated pricing here.
It’s simple to set up an account with Stockpile. Sign up, link your bank account to move money back and forth, and redeem your gift card.
You can set up automatic recurring deposits from your bank account into your Stockpile brokerage account. Also, custodial accounts can be set up for children. There is no minimum balance requirement and no monthly or annual fees.
Rates are low, the fee structure is simple, and I saw no hidden fees. However, please note that you must be a US citizen to open an account. Moreover, since stock purchases are in fractional shares, you may be unable to transfer them to another broker.
Stockpile Investments, Inc. is a member of the SIPC (Securities Investor Protection Corporation) and FINRA (Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.). Also, to secure your information, Stockpile uses 256-bit encryption.
Final Thoughts: Stockpile Review
While Stockpile isn’t for super active or professional traders, it’s a great way to introduce beginners to investing. I think it’s especially great for kids. For instance, I didn’t even think about investing in stocks until I was an adult. Nowadays, you can start young thanks to fractional shares and micro-investing with companies like Stockpile, Acorns, and Stash Invest, to name a few.
Frequently Asked Questions
Investors cannot purchase shares of Stockpile because the company is privately held.
