Podcast & Research Series
Research

Top Investment Services for Teens in 2025: Let the Experts Invest for You

Complete & Continue Next Lesson Learn More

Investing can seem daunting, especially for teenagers just starting out. Fortunately, several services now allow young investors to participate in the market without needing extensive financial knowledge. These platforms either guide users through investing or automate the process entirely. Here's a breakdown of some of the best investment services for teens in 2025, along with their pros and cons.

1. Fidelity Youth® Account

📌 Best for teens who want control over their investments with parental oversight.

Fidelity Youth® is a brokerage account specifically designed for teens aged 13-17. It allows them to invest in stocks, ETFs, and mutual funds with zero account fees.

✅ Pros:

  • No account fees or minimum balance requirements.

  • Teens have full control over their investments, while parents retain oversight.

  • Comes with a no-fee debit card for spending.

❌ Cons:

  • Requires parental approval to open.

  • Limited to Fidelity’s investment options.

🔗 Learn more: Fidelity Youth®

2. Stash

📌 Best for beginner investors who want a guided approach.

Stash is a micro-investing app that allows users to start investing with as little as $5. It provides educational content and automatic investing features.

✅ Pros:

  • Low investment minimums.

  • Offers fractional shares, allowing investment in high-priced stocks with small amounts.

  • Educational resources tailored for beginners.

❌ Cons:

  • Monthly subscription fees ($3–$9 per month).

  • Limited customization for more advanced investors.

🔗 Learn more: Stash

3. Explorer Hop

📌 Best for teens who want to learn financial literacy while investing.

Explorer Hop is an educational platform that teaches kids and teens about investing through interactive challenges, such as simulated stock market experiences.

✅ Pros:

  • Focuses on financial literacy and real-world investing scenarios.

  • Provides a hands-on learning experience through challenges.

  • Good for younger teens looking to understand the stock market before investing real money.

❌ Cons:

  • Doesn’t offer real investment accounts.

  • Requires a separate brokerage to apply learned skills in real-world trading.

🔗 Learn more: Explorer Hop

4. TeenVestor

📌 Best for self-paced learning about stock investments.

TeenVestor offers courses that teach teenagers how to invest in stocks, ETFs, and cryptocurrencies through online lessons.

✅ Pros:

  • Self-paced and designed specifically for teens.

  • Covers a broad range of investment topics, including crypto.

  • Helps teens build lifelong investing habits.

❌ Cons:

  • Not a brokerage service—users will need to apply what they learn elsewhere.

  • Courses may not be engaging for all learning styles.

🔗 Learn more: TeenVestor

5. DreamAhead College Investment Plan

📌 Best for long-term saving for education.

DreamAhead is a 529 college savings plan that invests funds in portfolios based on a child's expected college enrollment date.

✅ Pros:

  • Designed for long-term investment growth.

  • Tax benefits on withdrawals for education expenses.

  • Investments automatically shift to more conservative options as the beneficiary nears college age.

❌ Cons:

  • Limited to education-related expenses.

  • Not a flexible investment option for non-college goals.

🔗 Learn more: DreamAhead Plan

Conclusion: Choosing the Best Investment Service for You

The best service for you depends on your goals:

  • Want full control? Fidelity Youth® is a great option.

  • Need a guided, hands-off approach? Stash makes investing easy.

  • Prefer to learn before investing? Explorer Hop and TeenVestor offer solid education.

  • Looking to save for college? DreamAhead is ideal.

No matter which platform you choose, the key to investing is starting early and staying consistent. The earlier you begin, the more you can take advantage of compound growth over time.

Works Cited

-Giada Verprauskus