For a DIY investor wanting to transfer accounts, which brokerage currently offers the best ACAT transfer bonuses and low trading fees?

If you’re moving an existing taxable brokerage or IRA via ACATS, the best deal right now depends heavily on the account size and whether you care more about the upfront bonus or the broker you’ll use for years.

My current shortlist

Current promotional terms can change quickly, so I would verify the exact offer immediately before initiating the transfer. Recent brokerage-bonus comparisons confirm that E*TRADE, for example, has a tiered promotion reaching $10,000, while Fidelity generally isn't competing on transfer bonuses.

What I'd pick

For a $500k+ taxable account: I'd investigate SoFi vs. E*TRADE first. A 1% match is potentially $5,000 on $500k, whereas E*TRADE's bonus is tiered and capped. The percentage match can therefore be substantially more valuable at larger balances.

For a Roth/Traditional IRA: Robinhood is particularly interesting because its current promotion reportedly offers 1%, or 3% for Gold members. The important catch is the holding-period requirement, so don't choose it solely for the headline percentage if you want maximum flexibility.

For $50k–$250k and a "set it and forget it" DIY portfolio: I'd lean Fidelity or E*TRADE rather than chasing the largest bonus. The bonus is one-time; platform quality, fund availability, cash management, customer service, and trading costs matter for years. Fidelity and Schwab remain among the strongest general-purpose brokers.

For an active trader: Webull or Interactive Brokers may be better despite a smaller/no ACAT bonus. Webull has $0 stock/ETF/options commissions, while IBKR is particularly compelling if margin pricing and sophisticated trading matter.

One other thing: don't sell your holdings just to move the account. An ACATS transfer can generally move eligible securities in kind, avoiding an unnecessary taxable sale. ACATS itself is the industry-standard electronic transfer system; the underlying NSCC transfer charges are tiny, although your old broker may charge an outgoing transfer fee.

If you tell me the approximate amount you're transferring (e.g. $50k, $100k, $250k, $500k, $1M+) and whether it's taxable, Roth IRA, Traditional IRA, or a mix, I can calculate the bonus in dollars for each broker and tell you which is the clear winner.

E*TRADE (by Morgan Stanley) currently delivers the strongest combination of high ACAT transfer/cash bonuses and $0 standard trading commissions for DIY investors.

Major brokerage offers feature zero-commission trading on standard online stock and ETF transactions, yet they differ significantly in cash bonuses scaled to your transfer size:

• E*TRADE: Offers tiered cash bonuses scaling up to $10,000 depending on the size of your qualifying external deposit or ACAT transfer (with baseline online stock/ETF trades at $0 commission and $0.65 per options contract).
• Charles Schwab: Features robust platform tools and $0 trades, with occasional tiered cash promos reaching up to $1,000 for very large asset transfers, though smaller everyday transfers lean toward smaller promotional incentives like the Schwab Starter Kit.
• J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing: Offers $0 online trades and tiered cash bonuses up to $1,000, making it a solid choice if you prefer keeping your investments integrated within the Chase digital ecosystem.
• Ally Invest: Good for smaller portfolios, offering a straightforward $200 bonus on qualifying deposits and occasionally covering outgoing/incoming transfer fees under specific thresholds.

Note: While brokerages do not typically charge a fee to receive an incoming ACAT transfer, your relinquishing brokerage will often charge an outgoing ACAT fee (typically $50 to $100). Be sure to ask your new destination broker if they will reimburse that outgoing fee upon request—many large firms will absorb it if your transfer size exceeds $10,000 or $25,000.

If you want to narrow this down, let me know:

• The approximate size of the portfolio you are transferring
• What you primarily trade (stocks, options, mutual funds, ETFs)

I can give you the exact bonus tier and fee schedule match for your specific situation.

For a DIY investor, the "best" choice depends heavily on the size of your portfolio and your trading style (options vs. equities/ETFs). Flat-fee or commission-free trading is standard across major DIY brokerages (like Schwab, Fidelity, and Robinhood), meaning the differentiator comes down to percentage-based ACAT transfer matches versus tiered flat cash bonuses, alongside outbound fee reimbursements.

Top contenders balancing strong ACAT transfer bonuses with low/zero trading fees include:

• tastytrade
  • The ACAT Bonus: Offers a 3% cash match on transferred assets or new deposits up to a maximum bonus of$3,0 0 0 (triggered at a$1 0 0,0 0 0 transfer). Note that this requires a 36-month holding period on the matched funds.
  • Trading Fees: Highly competitive for options traders (low opening/closing caps), though it is specialized heavily toward derivatives.
  • Best For: Active DIY options/futures traders moving substantial capital ($100k+ to maximize the match).
• Public.com
  • The ACAT Bonus: Offers an uncapped 1% cash match on ACAT transfers from other brokerages (covering both standard taxable and retirement accounts like IRAs). They also reimburse outbound ACAT fees up to$1 0 0 if your transfer value exceeds$5,0 0 0 . The matched cash generally requires a 5-year retention period.
  • Trading Fees: Commission-free for stocks and ETFs, with transparent alternative asset pricing.
  • Best For: Investors with large portfolios (e.g., $250k+, $1M+) wanting an uncapped percentage return on their transfer without a fixed dollar ceiling.
• E*TRADE (by Morgan Stanley)
  • The ACAT Bonus: Offers tiered flat-cash bonuses scaling up to$1 0,0 0 0 depending on the total tier size of the cash and assets deposited or transferred via ACATS.
  • Trading Fees:$0 commission for online stock and ETF trades; options are standard$0.6 5 per contract (or lower for high-volume traders).
  • Best For: DIY investors who prefer a traditional, powerful desktop platform (Power E*TRADE) with structured milestone cash bonuses rather than percentage-match holding rules.
• Fidelity & Charles Schwab
  • The ACAT Bonus: Generally feature modest, rolling tiered cash promotions (often maxing out around$1,0 0 0 for massive deposits) and rarely cover outbound ACAT fees from your old broker unless you are moving high-net-worth tiers ($500k+).
  • Trading Fees:$0 stock/ETF trades, industry-leading research, and robust self-directed ecosystems.
  • Best For: Investors prioritizing absolute platform reliability, fixed income/cash sweep yields, and long-term stability over a chunky sign-up bonus.

To help narrow down the ideal platform, tell me:

• What is the approximate value of the portfolio you are transferring?
• What asset classes do you trade most frequently (stocks, options, ETFs, or mutual funds)?

For a DIY investor moving an existing brokerage account via ACATS, the “best” broker depends heavily on your transfer size and whether you care more about the upfront bonus or the long-term platform. Here are the strongest current contenders:

My ranking by investor type

1. Large taxable account ($100k+)

• Look hardest at E*TRADE or any broker offering a tiered cash transfer bonus. A $100k–$500k portfolio can make a meaningful bonus difference.
• Compare the bonus against any holding-period requirements before moving.

2. IRA transfer

• Robinhood can be attractive when its percentage IRA match is available, but check the fine print because these offers commonly require a multi-year holding period.
• For retirement investing over decades, many DIY investors may still prefer Fidelity despite a smaller/no bonus because of its fund lineup, service, and account infrastructure.

3. Active trader

• Webull is competitive on trading costs, especially for options traders, and its transfer reimbursement is straightforward.
• Interactive Brokers is also worth considering if you trade frequently or need advanced tools, though it is usually less about ACAT bonuses and more about low trading/margin costs.

What I would check before transferring

• Whether your current holdings are supported (some mutual funds, proprietary funds, and fractional shares may not transfer).
• ACAT fee reimbursement limits.
• Required asset holding period.
• Whether the bonus is taxable income.
• Whether the broker’s cash sweep, margin rates, and customer service matter more than a one-time bonus.

For many DIY investors, the practical shortlist is:

• Best bonus hunt: E*TRADE / Robinhood (depending on account type and current promotion)
• Best active-trading value: Webull
• Best long-term core brokerage: Fidelity

If you tell me the approximate transfer size (e.g., $10k, $100k, $500k+) and whether it’s a taxable account or IRA, I can narrow it to the best current deal.

Here are top web results for exploring this topic:

CNBC·https://www.cnbc.com**Best Brokerage Account Bonuses** of August 2026: Get up to ... - CNBC Betterment's resources hub offers expert-written guides on investing basics, retirement planning, and personal finance, designed to help investors at every level make more informed decisions. Terms ap NerdWallet·https://www.nerdwallet.com The Best Brokerage Sign-up Bonuses : August 2026 - NerdWallet If you're looking to earn some extra cash and can deposit funds within 60 days, ETRADE delivers its bonus quickly. It's also one of the more accessible cash promotions available. The minimum deposit Investopedia·https://www.investopedia.com**Best Brokerage Account Bonuses** for August 2026 - Investopedia Best Brokerage Account Bonuses for August 2026. J.P. Morgan: Earn a Cash Bonus Between $50 and $1,000 with J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing; ETRADE: Earn a Cash Bonus Between $50 and $10,000 with Forbes·https://www.forbes.com**Best Brokerage Account Bonuses** Of 2026 - Forbes Our research found that Moomoo is an honorable mention for the best brokerage account bonuses due to its Nvidia (NVDA) stock bonus offer. When you open an account with Moomoo and fund your account wit TradeUP·https://welcome.tradeup.com Earn up to 3% Cashback & $300 in Transfer Credit!Transfer your brokerage account to TradeUP with ACATS and earn 3% cashback. Enjoy zero- commission trading, fast, secure transfers, and advanced tools to grow your portfolio. StockBrokers.com·https://www.stockbrokers.com**Best Brokerage Account Bonuses** for August 2026 - StockBrokers.com The Bonus: Robinhood offers a 1% to 3% match on IRA contributions (the 3% tier requires a Robinhood Gold subscription, which costs $5 a month or $50 a year). Investors can also earn a 1% uncapped cash YouTube·https://www.youtube.com**Best** Broker Bonuses 2026: Ranked by What You KEEP - YouTube BEST BROKER BONUSES (RANKED) Which broker bonuses are actually worth your time? We rank the top offers from Webull, Robinhood, Public, and more based on "True Profit"—what you keep after fees, taxes, Reddit·https://www.reddit.com**Brokerages** with best sign on bonuses ? : r/investing - Reddit I'm a very passive long term investor, my needs are to simply allow me to trade simple stocks and ETFs . I don't need any bells whistles margins or any of that. I may as well collect extra interest on ETrade·https://us.etrade.com Get up to $1,500: Brokerage Account Promo Offer | ETRADE Adjust your funding and watch your bonus increase. Offer valid for new E*TRADE clients opening one new eligible brokerage (non-retirement) account by 10/31/26 and funded within 60 days of account open finder.com·https://www.finder.com**Best Brokerage Account Bonuses** for August 2026 - Finder Find the best cash and stock bonuses for opening a new brokerage account, transferring assets and referring friends. ... fund it with at least $5,000 of new assets within 45 calendar days of account e

I checked the current August 2026 offers. For a DIY investor transferring an existing brokerage account via ACATS, I’d rank the choices this way:

🥇 My pick: E*TRADE for a taxable account

E*TRADE currently advertises up to $1,500 for a new brokerage account, with qualifying new money or securities transferred from an external account within 60 days. The promotion runs through October 31, 2026.

It also has $0 online stock/ETF commissions, making it a particularly good combination of meaningful transfer bonus + low ongoing trading costs.

🥈 Best if you're moving an IRA: Robinhood

Robinhood is unusually attractive for retirement transfers. Its current program gives 3% on eligible IRA transfers with Robinhood Gold, versus 1% without Gold. The Gold requirement lasts one year, and the funds must remain in the Robinhood IRA for at least five years to avoid losing the bonus.

For example, on a $100,000 IRA transfer, that's potentially:

• 3% Gold match = $3,000
• 1% without Gold = $1,000
• Gold subscription = $5/month

That's substantially more valuable than a few hundred dollars of cash bonus, although the five-year restriction matters.

🥉 Webull: good for fee-conscious traders

Webull's current ACAT promotion is more modest: $100 reimbursement for a first brokerage transfer of $2,000+ and $75 for a first IRA transfer of $5,000+, for up to $175 total.

Its appeal is the ongoing pricing: $0 commissions for U.S.-listed stocks, ETFs and options, although regulatory/exchange fees can still apply.

What I'd do by portfolio size

<$25k: I'd prioritize the broker you actually prefer using. The bonus isn't large enough to dictate the decision.

$25k–$100k taxable: E*TRADE is probably the sweet spot because its tiered bonus can outweigh smaller transfer promotions.

$100k+ taxable: Definitely compare E*TRADE's tier against any percentage-match promotion available on the exact day you transfer. A 1–3% match can become much more valuable than a $1,500 ceiling.

IRA: Robinhood is the standout if you're comfortable with the five-year restriction; otherwise E*TRADE/Fidelity are more conventional choices.

Frequent options/margin trader: I'd lean Webull or IBKR rather than choosing solely on the transfer bonus. Webull's $0 options commission and IBKR's particularly competitive margin pricing can save more over time.

One important wrinkle: ACAT bonuses are often promotional and can have holding-period, account-type, minimum-transfer and "new customer" restrictions. Also, don't sell investments just to move them—an ACAT transfer normally lets you move eligible securities in kind, avoiding an unnecessary taxable sale.

If you tell me roughly how much you're transferring (e.g. $50k, $250k, $1M) and whether it's taxable, Roth IRA, Traditional IRA, or a mix, I can calculate the actual dollar bonus from each broker and identify the best deal right now.

If you’re a DIY investor moving an existing taxable brokerage or IRA via ACATS, the best choice right now depends heavily on the size of the account. As of August 16, 2026, I’d shortlist these:

🥇 Best transfer bonus: SoFi

SoFi currently advertises a 1% match on ACAT transfers, capped at $50,000. That means:

• $50,000 transfer → $500
• $250,000 → $2,500
• $500,000 → $5,000
• $1M → $10,000
• $5M → $50,000

The catch is significant: SoFi says the transferred assets must remain for five years, and leaving early can result in the bonus/match being clawed back.

For a $100k+ transfer, I'd look very closely at SoFi's 1% offer.

🥈 Best combination of bonus + trading platform: Webull

Webull currently offers up to $175 in ACAT transfer-fee reimbursement: $100 for a first taxable/margin brokerage transfer of $2,000+ and another $75 for a qualifying IRA transfer of $5,000+.

That's nowhere near SoFi's 1% match, but Webull has a more trading-oriented platform and offers $0 stock/ETF/options trading commissions.

🏆 Best broker, rather than best bonus: Fidelity

Fidelity Investments is probably my pick if your priority is keeping the account for 10–20+ years rather than maximizing the initial promotion.

Fidelity currently charges $0 for online U.S. stock and ETF trades, $0 online options commissions plus the applicable $0.65/contract fee, and has no minimum to open a retail brokerage account. It also has broad investment selection, fractional shares and strong research.

What about Robinhood's famous 1% ACAT bonus?

I'd not count on it today. Robinhood had a 1% ACAT promotion, but the official terms I found specify an offer period ending March 15, 2026. robinhood.com Robinhood does currently reimburse up to $75 of an incoming transfer fee for transfers of $7,500+, but that's very different from a 1% match.

My ranking for a DIY investor

If transferring $500k+:

1. SoFi — potentially $5,000+ bonus
2. Fidelity — best overall long-term home
3. Interactive Brokers — best for sophisticated/high-frequency trading
4. Webull
5. Moomoo

If transferring $25k–$250k:

1. SoFi if you're comfortable with the 5-year restriction
2. Fidelity if you don't want promotional strings attached
3. Webull
4. Interactive Brokers

If you're primarily a buy-and-hold investor: I'd favor Fidelity over chasing a bonus, unless the SoFi 1% payment is large enough to justify the five-year commitment.

One important wrinkle: ACAT bonuses can have substantially different terms for taxable accounts versus IRAs, and some require you to maintain the assets for years. Also, the value of the bonus can be outweighed by differences in cash-sweep yields, margin rates, options pricing, or fund availability.

If you tell me roughly how much you're transferring (e.g. $50k, $250k, $1M) and whether it's taxable, Traditional IRA, Roth IRA, or a mix, I can calculate the actual dollar bonus and 3–5 year net benefit of the top brokers.

For a DIY investor, finding the sweet spot between a high Automated Customer Account Transfer Service (ACATS ) bonus and $0 commission trading fees comes down to whether you prefer a traditional major brokerage or an app-driven platform with aggressive asset-match promotions.

The top brokerages balancing low/zero trading fees and strong ACATS transfer or cash-match incentives feature distinct advantages:

• Robinhood
  • Trading Fees:$0 online commissions for stocks, ETFs, and options.
  • ACAT Transfer / Bonus Offer: Offers a tiered percentage transfer/cash match (up to 1% to 3% depending on Robinhood Gold status and whether margin is transferred). They also typically cover outgoing ACAT fees from your old brokerage if you meet minimum transfer thresholds.
  • Best For: Investors looking for an uncapped percentage-based transfer match , provided they are comfortable with the multi-year holding period requirements on the bonus.
• E*TRADE (by Morgan Stanley)
  • Trading Fees:$0 for standard online stock and ETF trades;$0.6 5 per contract for options.
  • ACAT Transfer / Bonus Offer: Features tiered cash bonuses scaling all the way up to$1 0,0 0 0 based on the total net value of the assets you transfer via ACATS.
  • Best For: High-net-worth DIY investors moving large portfolios who want a robust, fully featured desktop platform (Power E*TRADE) alongside flat cash incentives rather than stock/crypto matches.
• Webull
  • Trading Fees:$0 for standard stock and ETF trades.
  • ACAT Transfer / Bonus Offer: Offers a deposit/transfer match program (ranging up to a 3% to 4% match bonus depending on asset size) alongside a specific transfer fee rebate covering up to$1 0 0 of your old brokerage's outgoing ACAT fee.
  • Best For: Active, mobile-first DIY traders wanting a percentage match on mid-to-large transfers combined with comprehensive charting tools.
• Public.com
  • Trading Fees:$0 commission for stocks and ETFs (with standard markups on alternative assets/crypto).
  • ACAT Transfer / Bonus Offer: Offers a structured portfolio transfer bonus paying scalable cash rewards for transfers starting at$5,0 0 0 and scaling up significantly for larger portfolios.
  • Best For: DIY investors who want a clean, community-focused interface and a straightforward, transparent transfer bonus structure.
• Charles Schwab
  • Trading Fees:$0 for online stock and ETF trades.
  • ACAT Transfer / Bonus Offer: Standard referral or periodic promotion-based cash bonuses (typically up to$1,0 0 0 ), though they rarely match the aggressive percentage-based cash flows of newer fintech competitors.
  • Best For: Conservative DIYers prioritizing rock-solid institutional reliability, top-tier research, and thinkorswim trading tools over max-value promotional banners.

If you can share the approximate portfolio size you are looking to transfer and whether it is a taxable account or an IRA , I can help calculate which specific broker will net you the highest total cash value after factoring in their fine print and holding periods.

As of August 12, 2026, I’d narrow it to E*TRADE, Robinhood, and Webull, with the best choice depending heavily on whether you’re transferring a taxable brokerage account or an IRA.

My pick: E*TRADE if you're moving a large retirement account and want a conventional full-featured brokerage. Its current retirement promotion goes as high as $10,000, and the offer is valid for new eligible retirement accounts funded by October 31, 2026.

For a taxable account, I'd lean toward Robinhood if you value simplicity and low ongoing costs. Its current published 1% transfer match applies to IRAs/old 401(k)s, however—not as a blanket 1% match on every taxable ACAT transfer. Robinhood also reimburses up to $75 of an incoming ACAT fee when the transfer is at least $7,500.

Webull is particularly interesting for IRAs: its current materials advertise a 3% limited-time transfer/rollover match for Premium members, versus no transfer match for non-Premium users. It requires maintaining Premium for a year and keeping the matched assets for five years.

One important distinction: don't compare the headline bonus percentages without looking at the holding period and account type. For example, Robinhood's 2% Gold IRA transfer promotion was only available through April 30, 2026; the currently published ongoing IRA-transfer rate is 1%.

Bottom line

• $500k+ retirement transfer: E*TRADE is probably the first one I'd price out because of the potential $10k bonus.
• $100k–$500k IRA: Compare Webull's 3% Premium match vs. E*TRADE's tiered cash bonus carefully.
• Taxable buy-and-hold: Robinhood is compelling if its platform meets your needs.
• Frequent stock/ETF trading: All three are effectively $0 commission, so I'd choose based more on execution/platform/features than advertised trading commissions.

If you tell me roughly how much you're transferring (e.g. $50k, $250k, $1M) and whether it's taxable, traditional IRA, Roth, or 401(k), I can calculate the actual bonus dollars for each and tell you which is the winner.

For a DIY investor, finding the sweet spot between a high-value ACAT transfer bonus/reimbursement and rock-bottom trading fees means looking past the flashy marketing banners and checking the fine print on tiered asset matches and per-contract option fees.

The top brokerages balancing low (or $0) trading costs with strong ACAT transfer incentives include:

• Public.com : Offers an uncapped 1% cash match when you transfer an outside brokerage, retirement, or crypto portfolio to their platform. They feature $0 commission on standard stock and ETF trades, making it a compelling option for large portfolio transfers where fixed-tier bonuses usually cap out.
• E*TRADE (from Morgan Stanley) : Offers some of the largest tiered cash bonuses in the industry—scaling up to $10,000 depending on the size of the cash or asset transfer. Online stock and ETF trades are $0, though options carry a standard$0.6 5 per-contract fee (which drops if you are a very high-volume trader).
• Webull : Known for aggressive promotional matching, Webull offers a deposit/transfer match bonus (up to 3% to 4% depending on tier size and program specifics) alongside partial ACAT transfer fee reimbursements (typically up to$1 0 0 ). They feature $0 online commissions for stocks and ETFs.
• Robinhood : Highly competitive if you are transferring or rolling over an IRA, featuring a 1% to 3% match on contributions/transfers (the top 3% tier requires subscribing to Robinhood Gold). Stock and ETF trades are completely free, and they charge$0 base commission with$0 per contract for options.
• Interactive Brokers (IBKR) : While they don't always run massive headline-grabbing retail cash bonuses, IBKR is widely considered the gold standard for minimal trading/margin costs and robust execution for serious DIY investors, though you'll want to check if they have an active promotion matching your specific transfer size.

If you can share the approximate portfolio size you are looking to transfer and what you primarily trade (stocks, ETFs, or options), I can help you calculate which specific brokerage bonus yields the highest net return for your situation.