Automated Investing With the Stash App and
Plenty Debit Card
If you are interested in automated investing, the Stash app and plex are both excellent options. They both
utilize fractional shares and ETFs to invest in stocks. Stash educates you about investing, and you can
adjust sliders to decide how much to deposit monthly. It even gives you an estimated return on your
investments! The app will also provide you with the latest investment news. You can even get a debit card
linked to your account if you want to make investing even easier.
Stash’s curated list of companies
Investors can use Stash to find and buy fractional shares of thousands of stocks. Listed by industry and
category, the service helps investors find companies that fit their personal interests and give them a way to
support specific causes. There are even themes such as “Do the Right Thing” or “Clean & Green” that
focus on investing in companies that support clean energy. Users can also use Stash to find companies
that make a difference in their communities, like animal welfare or environmental protection.
When first signing up, Stash asks its users basic questions. They share their financial goals, investment
horizons, and budgeting habits. Subscribers can select a $1, $3, or $9 per month subscription plan. You
can add money manually or set up automatic transfers. You can even set up direct deposit with Stash so
that part of your paycheck goes straight into your account. That way, you’ll receive your money two days
earlier.
Investors can start investing in stocks and ETFs through the Stash mobile app. Users can adjust the sliders
to determine their risk tolerance by selecting the theme they want to invest in. The app shows estimated
investment returns, and Stash even educates its users about how to invest for maximum growth. The app
also provides a wealth of educational information about investing and allows users to pick and choose
investments that fit their lifestyle.
Clients can opt for the Stash banking service or make their own decisions based on the recommended
companies. However, they should be aware that the service does not guarantee a certain level of
performance or prevent losses. The fee is only appropriate if the investor has more money to invest. When
it comes to investing, the fee will be covered by the monthly subscription fee. So, if your goal is to make
money, Stash is a good place to start.
If you’re new to investing, Stash’s curated list of companies offers the most diverse selection. The
platform offers traditional IRAs, Roth IRAs, SEP IRAs, and 401(k) rollovers. Beginner investors should
opt for Stash’s Retire program, which steers beginners towards traditional and Roth IRAs. In addition, a
dashboard provides snapshots of current progress and a yearly contribution tracker, and the StashLearn
section contains educational articles.
Its account-linked debit card
The Stash app and account-linked debit card combine a digital checking account that doesn’t charge
overdraft fees and allows you to get your paychecks deposited two days early. It also features a Stock-
Back debit card where you can earn shares for making purchases at retailers like Amazon, Apple, and
Costco Wholesale. With these features, you can build a financial portfolio, track your spending, and set
personalized savings goals. The app even lets you automate savings goals through the Auto Stash feature.
Both Stash and PLEX account-linked debit cards are linked to a bank account with Green Dot Bank. The
Green Dot bank account is free of monthly services fees and does not require a minimum balance. Other
advantages of the Stash account include free ATM access at more than 19,000 locations throughout the
U.S., as well as the ability to make cash deposits at participating Wal-Mart and CVS Rite Aid.
Both Stash and PLEX offer account-linked debit cards, but the latter has the edge when it comes to
convenience. Stash offers a wide range of features, but most of them pertain to investing. Although Stash
does not include a budgeting feature, you can use it to save for specific goals and automate savings to
fund those goals. The account-linked debit card and bank account also require a monthly fee, so you may
pay more to invest with Stash than elsewhere.
The Stash Visa debit card is synonymous with Stash Investments LLC, which manages the stock rewards.
Both companies charge fees for ancillary services, which includes Stash Stock-Back. The Stash app is
available on both Android and iOS devices. It has received four and a half stars on the App Store and 4.1
on Google Play. They also have separate apps for iPhones and iPads.
Its automated portfolios
Stash lets you invest your money without a lot of thought. The platform uses fractional shares, which are
tiny pieces of stocks and ETFs. They can help you invest in expensive stocks with just a little money.
Each investment account on Stash offers fractional shares. Other ways to micro-invest with Stash include
round-ups, which round your purchases to the nearest dollar and invest the difference. This is a great way
to start investing without the hassle of thinking about it.
To begin investing, download the Stash app on the App Store. After signing up, enter some basic
information and answer a few questions about your risk tolerance. You can choose from several themes to
invest in. Then, you can invest in stocks and ETFs that reflect your values and goals. Investing in a theme
gives you an idea of the potential investment returns. The Stash app also teaches you about investing,
which is helpful if you’re new to it.
For advanced users, Stash’s Smart Portfolios feature allows you to choose from three preset managed
portfolios. These are based on your risk tolerance and will distribute your funds among stocks, bonds, and
cryptocurrencies. These portfolios will be rebalanced periodically, and Stash users can buy their own
stocks. Another option is to search for ETFs by theme. You can choose the ones that are popular among
other investors.
While both Stash and plex offer automated investment management, their subscription pricing is more
expensive than Betterment’s for smaller accounts. Beginner subscribers of Stash pay $12 a year, while the
top-tier Advanced plan costs $38 a year, whereas the Beginner subscription on Betterment costs 0.25%.
For those who have more money to invest, Stash’s flat fee model will be more attractive as their accounts
grow.
While both services are based on algorithms, the Stash app offers the most advanced security features. It
offers 256-bit encryption, as well as facial recognition for added security. The user has the ability to create
a four-digit security code and have access to their account by either thumbprint or facial recognition. A
user can also customize their account access to make sure they don’t accidentally delete their account
without giving it the proper access.
Its relationship with Green Dot Bank
While checking accounts are no longer the centerpiece of banking relationships, they have not
disappeared altogether. The move towards digital banking is changing the way we do everything from
paying bills to accessing financial services. The days of branch offices are over, and the neobanks like
Green Dot are looking to expand their partnerships to the banking as a service industry. In the meantime,
they have partnered with tech companies like Apple Cash and Amazon Flex to develop new financial
products and services.
While Green Dot has no physical branches, customers have 24/7 online and mobile app access to their
accounts. Both iOS and Android mobile applications are available. In order to open an account with
Green Dot, customers must provide basic personal information such as their mailing address, phone
number, and Social Security number. In the future, they can also use mobile payment services like PayPal.
Currently, Uber is a major client of Green Dot Bank and will continue to work with them.
As a pioneer of prepaid debit cards, Green Dot has since acquired a small FDIC-backed bank. Now, the
company has emerged as a de facto partner of tech giants like Apple, providing deposit accounts for its
products. It is making a push to become the main bank account for 100 million US consumers. While
start-ups like Chime have made significant headway in this space, Green Dot has a $3 billion market cap,
dwarfing the rivals.
Another notable partnership between Green Dot and Wal-Mart has been expanding to BaaS offerings. The
company has converted prepaid accounts to demand deposit accounts and created a MoneyCard that
offers features such as overdraft protection and early payday. Another large brand that GDOT has
partnered with is QuickBooks, which now offers a business checking account with Green Dot Bank. In
addition, the company has partnered with many other large brands to offer their products to consumers
and small businesses.
