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Investing » Vanguard vs. J.P. Morgan Self-Directed: Which Broker is Best For You?

Vanguard vs. J.P. Morgan Self-Directed: Which Broker is Best For You?

Vanguard offers a better approach for serious investors, while JP Morgan's self-directed is better for beginners and advanced traders
Author: Baruch Mann (Silvermann)
Interest Rates Last Update: April 1, 2025
The banking product interest rates, including savings, CDs, and money market, are accurate as of this date.
Author: Baruch Mann (Silvermann)
Interest Rates Last Update: April 1, 2025

The banking product interest rates, including savings, CDs, and money market, are accurate as of this date.

We earn a commission from our partner links on this page. It doesn't affect the integrity of our unbiased, independent editorial staff. Transparency is a core value for us, read our advertiser disclosure and how we make money.



Vanguard logo

J.P. Morgan Self Directed Investing
Vanguard
Monthly Fee
$0 $0 online commission on U.S. listed stocks and ETFs and $0.65 per-contract
Up to 0.30% $0 online commission on U.S. listed stocks, mutual funds and ETFs, options: $0.65 per-contract, Vanguard Digital Advisor – 0.015%, Vanguard Personal Advisor: 0.03%, Vanguard Personal Advisor Select: up to 0.03%, Vanguard Wealth Management: up to 0.03%
Account Types
Brokerage, Retirement, Wealth Management
Brokerage, Retirement, Wealth Management
Savings APY
0.01% – 3.99%
3.65%
Minimum Deposit
$0
$0 – $5M Vanguard Brokerage: $0, Vanguard Digital Advisor: $100, Vanguard Personal Advisor: $50,000, Vanguard Personal Advisor Select: $500,000, Vanguard Wealth Management: $5M
Best For
Existing Chase Customers, Active Investors Looking To Minimize Fees
Long Term Investors, Retirement, Robo Advisor, Wealth Management
Read Review
Read Review

JP Morgan vs. Vanguard: Compare Features

Vanguard excels in long-term, low-cost investing with a focus on diversified funds, offering a wide range of retirement accounts, automated investing through its Digital Advisor, and cash management options with competitive yields.

However, its platform is basic, with limited trading tools and no fractional shares for non-Vanguard products.

Vanguard
JPM Self-Directed Investing
Investing Options
Full Access To Almost Any Asset
800 stocks and ETFs, 8,000+ mutual funds
Investing Types
Stocks, Options, ETFs, Bonds & CDs, Mutual Funds, Money Market Funds
Stocks, Options, ETFs, Fixed Income, Mutual Funds
Automated Investing
Yes
No
Paper Trading
No
No
IPO Access
No
No
Dedicated Advisor
Yes
No
Tax Loss Harvesting
Yes
No

JPM Self-Directed Investing shines in its seamless integration with Chase banking and commission-free trading for a wide range of assets, including fractional shares with more flexible trading approach.

However, it lacks automated investing options and has a lower sweep account rate.

Vanguard is our winner in self-investing due to its large variety of assets and options for investors. 

Vanguard excels at providing a long-term investment platform, focusing on low-cost funds and a wide variety of ETFs, mutual funds, and retirement products.

research ETF on Vanguard
Research ETF (Screenshot taken by our team from Vanguard)

It is particularly strong in offering tools like Portfolio Watch and Portfolio Tester, which allow investors to monitor their portfolio's performance, make hypothetical changes, and ensure diversification.

Account portfolio analysis, Vanguard
Account portfolio analysis, Vanguard (Screenshot taken by our team from Vanguard app)

On the other hand, JPM Self-Directed Investing provides a diverse selection of stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, and options, and includes fractional shares, making it accessible for investors at various levels. Also, JPM’s platform surpasses Vanguard in terms of third-party research and market alerts.

search for growth stocks on JPM self directed
Search for growth stocks (Screenshot taken by our team from J.P Morgan app)

JPM Self-Directed Investing is our winner when it comes to trading tools. It's not the best in the market, but it's good enough for the average trader. 

While Vanguard is tailored towards long-term investors, focusing on low-cost funds and simple trading options, its trading platform is quite basic, with limited technical analysis tools.

trade on Vanguard app
Trade on Vanguard app (Screenshot taken by our team from Vanguard app)

It doesn’t provide advanced charting, market indicators, or other features needed for in-depth analysis, which can be a drawback for active traders.

While JPM’s technical analysis tools aren’t on par with specialized trading platforms, they still surpass Vanguard’s offerings, offers a broader range of trading options and a slightly more advanced trading platform.

JP Morgan brokerage momentum technical analysis
Momentum technical analysis (Screenshot taken by our team from J.P Morgan app)

Traders can pick up hundreds of parameters to compare – including momentum, trend and vcolume analysis. Also, there are upper and lower indicators traders can use to suppor their decisions.

trade stock on JP Morgan
Trade stock (Screenshot taken by our team from J.P Morgan app)

Vanguard stands out with its Digital Advisor, a robust robo-advisor that provides a comprehensive investment strategy based on an individual’s risk profile.

analyze ETF portfolio composition, Vanguard
Analyze ETF portfolio composition (Screenshot taken by our team from Vanguard)

Vanguard also offers a Personal Advisor service, combining robo-advisor technology with professional financial guidance, ideal for those wanting personalized support while still benefiting from automated portfolio management.

Vanguard offers a more sophisticated array of investment options within its retirement accounts.

Account returns chart, Vanguard
Account returns chart, Vanguard (Screenshot taken by our team from Vanguard app)

Vanguard is known for its extensive range of retirement products, including traditional and Roth IRAs, SEP IRAs, and SIMPLE IRAs. Its focus on low-cost index funds and target-date funds makes it ideal for long-term retirement planning.

IRA contribution snapshot, Vanguard IRA
(Screenshot taken by our team from Vanguard)

Also, Vanguard provides a suite of retirement planning tools and calculators, helping investors set goals, estimate expenses, and track IRA contributions.

JPM Self-Directed Investing, on the other hand, focuses on simplicity by offering only traditional and Roth IRAs.

JP Morgan Roth IRA account summary
Roth IRA on JP Morgan(Screenshot taken by our team from J.P Morgan app)

While the range is not as extensive as Vanguard’s, JPM makes up for it with an easy-to-use platform and the ability to trade a variety of assets, including stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, and options, without commission fees.

When it comes to fees, both platforms offer similar conditions.

Vanguard charges up to 0.30% for account management, with $0 commissions on U.S. stocks, mutual funds, and ETFs.

Its options trading fee is $0.65 per contract, and its advisory services range from 0.015% to 0.03%, depending on the service level.

Vanguard
JPM Self-Directed Investing
Fees
Up to 0.30% $0 online commission on U.S. listed stocks, mutual funds and ETFs, options: $0.65 per-contract, Vanguard Digital Advisor – 0.015%, Vanguard Personal Advisor: 0.03%, Vanguard Personal Advisor Select: up to 0.03%, Vanguard Wealth Management: up to 0.03%
$0 $0 online commission on U.S. listed stocks and ETFs and $0.65 per-contract

JPM Self-Directed Investing also offers $0 commissions for U.S. stocks and ETFs, with the same $0.65 per contract for options.

Vanguard is our winner if you are looking for cash management.

Vanguard
JPM Self-Directed Cash APY
Savings APY
3.65%
0.01% – 3.99%

Vanguard provides its Cash Plus Account, a cash management account with 3.65% APY on investors cash balance. The , investors can choose from a selection of money market funds for potentially higher returns, though these require a $3,000 minimum investment.

JPM Self-Directed Investing, on the other hand, shines when it comes to seamless integration with Chase banking services. 

Chase compare checking accounts on app
Chase compare checking accounts on app (Screenshot from Chase app)

If you’re an existing Chase customer, you can easily link your accounts, making it convenient to move money between your bank accounts and your investment portfolio. However, JPM offers low rate for uninvested cash.

JPM is our winner when it comes to wealth management.

Vanguard’s Wealth Management services are designed for investors with a minimum of $5 million in assets, focusing on long-term financial planning, investment management, and estate planning.

Vanguard uses a combination of robo-advisors and certified financial planners to provide personalized strategies, including tax-efficient investing and estate planning.

Suggested target asset mix example, Vanguard
Suggested target asset mix example, Vanguard (Screenshot taken by our team from Vanguard app)

JPMorgan Wealth Management, on the other hand, offers a more tailored and comprehensive service. While it also targets high-net-worth individuals, JPM excels in providing highly personalized, face-to-face advisory services.

Clients have access to a broad range of investment options, including private banking services, and sophisticated strategies like hedge funds and private equity.

All investments Summary
A potential candidate for wealth management (Screenshot taken by our team from J.P Morgan app)

Bottom Line

Overall, Vanguard offers a better approach for serious investors who would like to be opened to a variety of assets and options, including retirement, or take a hands-off approach with its robo advisor.

JP Morgan's self-directed investing, on the other hand, is better for beginners and advanced traders who want to leverage its technical indicators tools.

Vanguard vs. Competitors: How Does It Stack Up?

While Vanguard appeals to buy-and-hold investors, Schwab’s platform is designed for those who want to engage actively with the market

Schwab vs. Vanguard: Which Brokerage is Right for You?

Vanguard is our pick for long-term investors, wealth management, or retirement, while E-Trade may be better for traders active investors

E-Trade vs. Vanguard: Which Brokerage is Right for You?

Vanguard may be a better option for value, long-term investors, while Merrill offers better trading options. Here's a side-by-side comparison

Vanguard vs. Merrill Edge: Which Brokerage is Right for You?

Vanguard provides more options for investors, while Interactive Brokers offers superior technical tools for active traders

Vanguard vs. Interactive Brokers: Which Brokerage is Right for You?

Vanguard offers more options for investors, including retirement, robo advisors, and wealth management, while Robinhood is best for traders.

Vanguard vs. Robinhood: Which Broker is Best For You?

Fidelity is our choice due to its better retirement options and more extensive trading app. But, the differences are insignificant.

Vanguard vs. Fidelity: Which Broker is Best For You?

How J.P. Morgan Self Directed Compares to Other Online Brokers

Both offer similar tools for the average investor or trader, but Merrill is better at automated investing. Here's our full comparison:

J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing vs. Merrill Edge: Compare Brokerage Accounts

If you're an experienced investor or trader, IBKR may be a better option. If you're a Chase customer or prefer simplicity, consider JP Morgan.

Interactive Brokers vs. J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing: Which Broker Wins?

Schwab surpasses JPM self-directed in most categories, including self-directed investing, robo advisory, and technical analysis.

Schwab vs. J.P. Morgan Self-Directed: Which Brokerage Is Best?

JP Morgan is best for the average investor seeking a simple platform or wealth management, but E-Trade is our overall winner. Here's why.

J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing vs. E-Trade: Which Broker Wins?

Fidelity is our winner due to its investment options, research tools, advanced trading features, and excellent retirement planning services.

J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing vs. Fidelity : A Side-by-Side Comparison

JP Morgan wins when it comes to fundamental investing tools, but Robinhood is better for technical analysis and trading. Here's why:

J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing vs. Robinhood: Compare Brokerage Accounts

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Baruch Mann (Silvermann)

Baruch Silvermann is a financial expert, experienced analyst, and founder of The Smart Investor.  Silvermann has contributed to Yahoo Finance and cited as an authoritative source in financial outlets like Forbes, Business Insider, CNBC Select, CNET, Bankrate, Fox Business, The Street, and more.
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This website does not include all card companies or all card offers available in the marketplace. This website may use other proprietary factors to impact card offer listings on the website such as consumer selection or the likelihood of the applicant’s credit approval.

This allows us to maintain a full-time, editorial staff and work with finance experts you know and trust. The compensation we receive from advertisers does not influence the recommendations or advice our editorial team provides in our articles or otherwise impacts any of the editorial content on The Smart Investor.

While we work hard to provide accurate and up to date information that we think you will find relevant, The Smart Investor does not and cannot guarantee that any information provided is complete and makes no representations or warranties in connection thereto, nor to the accuracy or applicability thereof.

Learn more about how we review products and read our advertiser disclosure for how we make money. All products are presented without warranty.