Data as of Oct 8, 2026A topic in Online Stock & Options Brokers.
Reviewed by Dimitry Apollonsky
Mentioned in · Jul 7 – Oct 8, 2026
ChatGPT SearchOct 8, 2026
As of October 8, 2026, the standout for a DIY investor moving a taxable brokerage account is Robinhood, particularly if your personalized ACAT offer is the full 3%.
| Brokerage | Current transfer incentive | Trading costs | Main catch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Robinhood | 1%, 2% or 3% personalized ACAT match; uncapped | $0 stocks/ETFs; $0 stock/ETF options commissions | 5-year chargeback/holding requirement; offer currently ends |
Google AI ModeSep 25, 2026
I'm a self-directed investor looking to move my portfolio. Which brokerages provide the best incentives for ACAT transfers while keeping trading costs minimal?
I want to switch brokers as a DIY investor. Where can I find the best ACAT transfer promotions alongside cheap trading commissions?
| Public | 1% match, uncapped | $0 stocks/ETFs; options can earn rebates | Match paid over 60 months |
| Moomoo | 3% on first $20,000 = max $600 | $0 stocks/ETFs and equity options | New/qualifying customers; reward unlocks over 90–360 days |
| E*TRADE | Up to $1,500 on qualifying new account | $0 stocks/ETFs; $0.65 options | Requires new account and 12-month asset retention |
| Schwab/Fidelity | Generally no comparable headline ACAT match | $0 stocks/ETFs; typically $0.65 options | Excellent long-term brokers, but weaker promo |
Robinhood's current promotion is unusually aggressive: eligible taxable ACAT transfers initiated by October 16, 2026 receive a personalized 1%, 2%, or 3% match, with no maximum reward. A $250,000 transfer at 3% would therefore generate $7,500; $1 million would generate $30,000.
Trading is also extremely inexpensive: Robinhood charges $0 commissions for stocks, ETFs and stock/ETF options, although regulatory/exchange fees still apply.
The big catch: the current ACAT promotion has a five-year earn-out. Withdrawals during that period can trigger a proportional bonus chargeback. That's a meaningful restriction if you want flexibility to move the account again.
Public currently offers a 1% uncapped match on brokerage, IRA and 401(k) transfers. Unlike Robinhood's five-year clawback structure, Public pays the match in approximately 60 monthly installments, and once a payment is received it isn't clawed back; however, withdrawals can reduce future payments. Public will also reimburse up to $100 of an outgoing brokerage's transfer fee for transfers of $5,000+.
Public is particularly attractive for options traders, because its current program can provide rebates of up to $0.18 per stock/ETF options contract.
Moomoo's current promotion is 3% of the first $20,000 transferred, so the maximum is only $600. The reward is paid as a cash coupon in four installments over roughly a year.
Its underlying trading costs are excellent: $0 commission on U.S. stocks, ETFs and equity options, with a $0.50 contract fee for index options.
They're arguably better choices if your priority is long-term brokerage quality rather than maximizing the transfer bonus.
E*TRADE currently has a legitimate cash promotion of up to $1,500 for a new taxable brokerage account funded with $1 million+, but the maximum is reached at $500,000+, so its effective percentage gets very small on larger portfolios. Assets generally need to remain for 12 months.
Schwab offers $0 online stock/ETF commissions, $0.65 options contracts and no account maintenance/inactivity fees, but its full outbound ACAT fee is $50.
For a $100k+ DIY taxable account:
Robinhood at 3% is the clear financial winner unless you strongly dislike the five-year restriction.
For a $10k–$20k transfer:
Moomoo's 3% promotion is competitive, although the maximum is just $600.
For options-heavy DIY investing:
I'd seriously consider Public or Robinhood because of their unusually low options costs/rebates.
For a "set it and forget it" long-term portfolio:
I'd favor Fidelity or Schwab over chasing a bonus if you value mature research, customer service, fund selection and a traditional brokerage experience.
One important point: check your actual Robinhood offer before initiating the ACAT. The 3% isn't universal—the current promotion explicitly says Robinhood assigns each eligible customer a personalized 1%, 2%, or 3% rate.
If you tell me roughly how much you're transferring (e.g. $50k, $250k, $1M+) and whether it's taxable, IRA, or both, I can calculate the after-tax/holding-period-adjusted value of the top offers and tell you which one I'd choose.
For a DIY investor prioritizing low trading fees ($0 commission on standard stocks/ETFs) alongside lucrative ACAT transfer bonuses or fee reimbursements , a few major brokerages stand out in 2026.
Here is how the top options compare for transferring and trading self-directed assets:
If you can share the approximate portfolio size you are planning to transfer and whether it's a taxable account or an IRA , I can help you calculate which specific brokerage bonus yields the highest net reward for your situation.
