Motley Fool Stock Advisor review
- Stock trade fee
- Minimum deposit
- $1
Summary
Get two stock picks monthly with Motley Fool's Stock Advisor, but its investing strategy may not work for all investors.
The Motley Fool’s Stock Advisor delivers two stock picks monthly, a top 10 list of timely stock buys and foundational stock recommendations to build the core of a portfolio. As of February 15, 2024, the company boasts an average return of 629% for its stock recommendations since the service's inception in 2002. But make sure it aligns with your timeline, goals and investing strategy before you sign up.
- Consider Motley Fool's Stock Advisor if you’re a new investor interested in professional stock recommendations.
- Compare other options if Stock Advisor doesn't align with your investing strategy or timeline.
Our verdict
With its two new stock picks monthly, a list of essential stocks and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and unlimited access to Motley Fool’s library of stock recommendations, The Motley Fool’s Stock Advisor may be a worthy option if you’re looking for professional stock recommendations. Investors looking for leads on new stock picks who don’t have the time or interest to do their own analysis should find Motley Fool Stock Advisor to be a useful resource. However, it’s important to be realistic with your expectations because that not every stock pick will pan out.
How does Stock Advisor work?
The Motley Fool’s Stock Advisor program is a stock recommendation service that offers timely investment guidance for investors looking to grow their portfolios. The service launched in 2002 and now has over 500,000 members, according to the website.
The Motley Fool advertises that its service can significantly cut down the amount of time that investors spend researching potential assets to add to their portfolio. A membership gives you unlimited access to the Motley Fool’s library of stock recommendations, plus two fresh stock picks monthly from the platform’s founders, Tom and David Gardner.
What investments does Stock Advisor offer?
None. The Motley Fool’s Stock Advisor program operates as a stock recommendation service, not an investment platform.
Through the service, you get two monthly fresh stock picks and access to the platform’s library of past recommendations. To act on the Stock Advisor’s advice and execute trades, you’ll need to open a brokerage account.
What I think of The Motley Fool’s Stock Advisor
I signed up for The Motley Fool’s Stock Advisor service to get a better idea of what it offers. Here’s my take on different aspects of the service.
The sign-up process is quick but expect some upselling
Upon completing my order, I was immediately hit with Motley Fool’s marketing and upselling tactics to upgrade to its Rule Breakers service. This upselling is a frequent complaint among Redditors. But you can simply reject the offer and continue with setting up your account.
Over the next few screens, the Fool asked me to commit to following its two main principles: hold the shares they recommend for at least 5 years and buy shares of 25 or more companies. I was then asked to agree to follow these fundamentals, and if I disagreed, to be aware that it could put my investing success at risk. This is a simple buy-and-hold strategy that many expert investors swear by. Regardless of your selection, you then move on and set up your investing profile by answering a few questions about your investing strategy and goals.
The Stock Advisor account portal is straightforward
After setting up my investing profile, I arrived at the account home screen. Here, you’ll find a ranking of 10 stocks with any timely advisor notes, a section on Stock Advisor picks performance, top stories, a list of past recommendations and a comments section for the Stock Advisor community.
The navigation menu includes a list of the top ranked stocks in Stock Advisor, a recommendation screener, news and analysis, tools and a discussion board.
Who is Stock Advisor best for?
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor program may be a good fit for:
- New investors. Those new to the market may appreciate the research-driven stock recommendations of the program.
- Buy-and-hold investors. Investors seeking growth-oriented stocks for long-term investments may be interested in the Fool’s recommendations.
New investors still getting to know the market may benefit from the structured guidance of the Stock Advisor program, using the Fool’s recommendation library to track trends and strategies. Buy-and-hold investors looking for long-term growth opportunities may also be interested in the program, as it can reduce the amount of time required to conduct market research.
That said, the Motley Fool’s Stock Advisor isn’t for everyone. Active or day traders may find the program’s recommendations too slow for time-sensitive trading. And passive investors who want their assets managed won’t be satisfied.
Fees and costs
Investors can opt to pay for the Stock Advisor program on an annual or monthly basis:
- $39 per month
- $199 per year (for new members)
The program’s annual subscription is considerably cheaper than its month-to-month service, but it’s for new members only. You’ll be asked to pay for the service upfront when you sign up. If the annual subscription feels like too big a commitment, the Motley Fool offers a 30-day money-back guarantee for annual plan members. The 30-day refund window is not offered to those who sign up for its monthly service.
Month-to-month and annual members gain access to the same stock advisory services. The only thing that separates these membership tiers is the frequency and rate at which they’re billed.
How do I sign up?
Here’s what to expect from the Motley Fool Stock Advisor sign-up process.
- Select Join Stock Advisor from the Motley Fool homepage.
- Enter your full name, billing address, phone number, email address and payment information.
- Review Motley Fool’s Terms and Conditions.
- Select Submit My Order.
Eligibility and required information
- Full name
- Residential address
- Email address
- Payment information
- Valid residential address
- Valid credit or debit card
Pros and cons of The Motley Fool’s Stock Advisor
Pros
- Monthly stock picks. 2 new stock recommendations monthly from Motley Fool founders, Tom and David Gardner.
- Stock recommendation library. Access to the Stock Advisor’s past recommendations.
- 30-day refund period. The Fool offers a 30-day money-back guarantee for annual subscriptions.
- Open to international investors. International investors can sign up for the Fool’s Stock Advisor program, but recommendations are limited to stocks that trade on US exchanges.
Cons
- Risk of loss. Any stock you invest in on the recommendation of the Stock Advisor program – or elsewhere – carries a risk.
- Upselling. Many complain the Motley Fool attempts to upsell products and programs.
Is the Stock Advisor program legit?
The Stock Advisor program is offered by the Motley Fool, a private financial advice company founded in 1993 and headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia. The company was founded by brothers Tom and David Gardner. While the brothers have no formal trading education, they share a keen interest in finance and have been investing since they were teenagers.
The Motley Fool isn’t accredited with the Better Business Bureau and has no complaints against it with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
Motley Fool Stock Advisor reviews and complaints
Motley Fool feedback is mixed. As of March 2022, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) awards it a B rating.
Reviews left on the BBB and Trustpilot complain of the company’s auto-renewal policy and delayed responses from customer service. Numerous reviews also cite ongoing upselling tactics, with complaints of being bombarded by advertisements for other Motley Fool products and programs.
Redditors also show mixed sentiment. Some say they’ve had success using the Stock Advisor service, while others suggest not paying for stock ideas when they’re free in so many other places.
| BBB rating | B |
| BBB accredited | No |
| BBB customer rating | 1.64/5 based on 28 customer reviews |
| Trustpilot score | 3.6/5 based on over 8,375 customer reviews |
| Google Play app | 3.1/5 based on over 235 reviews |
| Apple App Store | 3.2/5 based on over 80 reviews |
| Customer reviews verified as of | February 2024 |
How do I contact Motley Fool support?
- Phone. Call 888-665-3665 weekdays from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET
- Email. Send an email to membersupport@fool.com
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Your reviews
Matt Finder
Editor, Investments
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