Axos Invest Review for 2026

Before starting your investment career, it pays to have a clear idea about what you will invest in. There are many options on the market, but you obviously won’t be able to put a stake in them all. This brings us to another equally challenging aspect of the investment process; who to invest with. 

There are many investment platforms out there, and finding the right one for your investments can be just as important as picking good investment opportunities in the first place. In our review, we’ll break down this investment platform and how it works.

Axos Invest offers two investment services; Axos Self-Directed Trading and Axos Managed Portfolios. Let’s take a look at them both.

Axos Invest Overview

Axos Financial, Inc. added digital wealth management to its portfolio when it acquired certain assets of WiseBanyan Holding, Inc. and its subsidiaries in 2018.

Today, Axos Invest combines managed portfolios with a self-directed brokerage account, giving investors a choice between automated portfolio management and hands-on trading.

Axos Managed Portfolios are designed as actively managed investment accounts. Investors answer a series of questions, select a portfolio that fits their goals, and let Axos handle allocation, monitoring, and ongoing management.

Axos also lets clients manage their investments through its mobile experience and broader online platform, which ties investing into the rest of the Axos ecosystem.

Performance

First off, let’s talk about customizable investments. As with other automated investment advisors, managed portfolios operate on modern portfolio theory. Each investor answers a series of questions, and the answers to those questions help create their portfolio and risk score.

 Axos says its managed portfolios can use ETFs, mutual funds, and stocks, depending on the model you choose.

Portfolio management is relatively inexpensive. Most robo-advisors offer financial advice and other financial services at a much cheaper rate than their human counterparts, at a value of about 0.25% to 0.30% of the assets managed.

Axos pricing starts at 0.20% and goes up to 0.59%, depending on the portfolio and balance. Accounts are also subject to a $40 minimum annual fee, charged quarterly when the regular model fee does not meet that minimum.

Axos also gives investors more than one way to build a managed account. Depending on the model, minimums can start at $100, while higher-minimum portfolios can require $500 or $1,000.

Additionally, the Axos Invest Managed Portfolios service enables goal-oriented investing by allowing clients to create milestones for their financial goals.

Investors list their income, net worth, and goals, along with the time frame in which they want to accomplish them. Axos then calculates what steps they need to take to make it all happen.

Automated investing is another thing that Axos does well. The service also includes automatic portfolio rebalancing, helping investments stay aligned with the selected strategy over time.

Tax-loss harvesting is available as an optional feature for eligible taxable managed accounts over $25,000 and carries an additional 0.20% annual fee.

Despite all the praise we’ve given in our review so far, there are two downsides to be aware of. First, the old flat-fee structure is gone, so investors need to pay closer attention to the pricing tied to each model. Second, low-balance accounts can feel the impact of the minimum annual fee more than larger ones.

Axos Self-Directed Trading

The investing options also include Self-Directed Trading, which allows independent trading in options, stocks, ETFs, and mutual funds without paying any commission.

Stocks, ETFs, and mutual funds trade commission-free, while options currently cost $0.80 per contract.

Self-Directed Trading works well for investors who prefer to pick their own holdings, while still keeping costs relatively low.

The Axos self-directed investing service is not limited to the basic self-trading plan. There is also a premium plan called Axos Elite that costs $10 a month. Axos Elite also comes with these features:

• Real-time market data
• TipRanks research reports
• Extended trading hours to 7 p.m. ET
• Margin trading at 5.5%
• Lower options fees than the standard account

Axos Self-Directed Trading provides users with access to individual, joint, and retirement accounts, and it also fits naturally with checking and savings products from Axos Bank.

With Self-Directed Trading, Axos caters to both active and passive investors. Just be aware that some of the better features sit behind the Elite subscription.

How Can Axos Be Improved?

Axos Invest undoubtedly operates a well-oiled machine for its clients, whether they opt for Managed Portfolios or Self-Directed Trading accounts, and regardless of the portfolios that the Axos Invest robo-advisor manages.

Still, it could do a better job of simplifying its pricing. Managed portfolio fees, minimums, and optional features now vary more than they used to, which means investors need to read the fee schedule more carefully than with some competing robo-advisors.

Another aspect that could benefit from improvements is customer service, which we’ll discuss more later. Axos Invest does not have any physical branches, so although there are plenty of options for virtual customer support, you cannot speak with agents face-to-face.

Account Types

Here’s a quick overview of the types of accounts that users can operate with Axos Invest:

• Roth IRA
• Traditional IRA
• Rollover
• Taxable (Individual and Joint)

The tradable assets include:

• Stocks
• ETFs
• Mutual Funds
• Options

Customer Support 

Axos Invest offers customer support through secure messaging when you log in to your account and via email.

Axos also provides a general personal banking support number, (888) 502-2967, with 24/7 availability except on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.

There are FAQ sections for both Managed Portfolios and Self-Directed Trading accounts. That gives users several ways to get help, even though the service still does not include branch support.

Mobile App

Axos Invest’s accounts can be accessed through the mobile app. The app is available for iOS and Android devices.

Axos also presents its mobile experience as a way to bank, borrow, invest, and plan from one dashboard, which makes the app more useful than a basic trading companion.

Better Business Bureau Rating

The investment service is not accredited by the Better Business Bureau but has a D- rating there. The staff reviews all customer activity on the company's profile and has responded to all the published complaints, which shows a dedication to customer satisfaction.

Our Verdict

If low-cost management combined with guidance for goal-oriented investing is what you’re looking for, then Axos Invest Managed Portfolios might just be your best bet.

For investors who prefer a more hands-on approach, Axos Invest Self-Directed Trading does just the trick.

There are some downsides to Axos investing, such as a lack of in-person customer support and human advisors.

Still, Axos Invest is more capable than it first appears. Managed Portfolios offer actively managed investing with several model choices, while Self-Directed Trading gives investors a commission-free way to trade on their own and upgrade into Axos Elite if they want more powerful tools.

That makes Axos a particularly good fit for investors who like the idea of keeping banking and investing under the same roof, rather than using separate platforms for every part of their finances.