Motley Fool Stock Advisor Review
- Stock trade fee
- N/A
- Minimum deposit
- $1
Our verdict
Motley Fool’s Stock Advisor is worth it if you're a long-term investor who wants expert stock recommendations with a solid track record.
The Motley Fool’s Stock Advisor delivers two stock picks monthly, a top 10 list of timely stock buys and foundational stock recommendations to build the core of a portfolio. As of February 1, 2025, the company boasts an average return of over 861% for its stock recommendations since the service's inception in 2002. But make sure it aligns with your timeline, goals and investing strategy before you sign up.
Best for: Long-term investors who actively manage their portfolios.
Pros
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2 new stock recommendations monthly from The Motley Fool’s expert or experienced team of analysts
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Access to the Stock Advisor’s past recommendations
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30-day refund period
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Open to international investors
Cons
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Risk of loss
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Many complain the Motley Fool attempts to upsell products and programs.
Is Motley Fool Stock Advisor worth it?
With its two new stock picks monthly, a list of essential stocks and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and unlimited access to Motley Fool’s library of stock recommendations, The Motley Fool’s Stock Advisor may be a worthy option if you’re looking for professional stock recommendations.
Investors looking for leads on new stock picks who don’t have the time or interest to do their own analysis should find Motley Fool Stock Advisor to be a useful resource. However, it’s important to be realistic with your expectations because not every stock pick will pan out.
How does the Motley Fool Stock Advisor work?
The Motley Fool’s Stock Advisor program is a stock recommendation service that offers timely investment guidance for investors looking to grow their portfolios. The service launched in 2002 and now has over 500,000 members, according to the website.
The Motley Fool advertises that its service can significantly cut down the amount of time that investors spend researching potential assets to add to their portfolio. A membership gives you unlimited access to the Motley Fool’s library of stock recommendations, plus two fresh stock picks monthly from The Motley Fool’s expert or experienced team of analysts.
What investments does the Motley Fool Stock Advisor offer?
None. The Motley Fool’s Stock Advisor program operates as a stock recommendation service, not an investment platform.
Through the service, you get two monthly fresh stock picks and access to the platform’s library of past recommendations. You’ll need to open an account with a broker to invest.
What I think of The Motley Fool’s Stock Advisor
I signed up for The Motley Fool’s Stock Advisor service to get a better idea of what it offers. Here’s my take on different aspects of the service.
The sign-up process is quick but expect some upselling
Upon completing my order, I was immediately hit with Motley Fool’s marketing and upselling tactics to upgrade to its Rule Breakers service. This upselling is a frequent complaint among Redditors. But you can simply reject the offer and continue with setting up your account.
Over the next few screens, The Motley Fool asked me to commit to following its two main principles: hold the shares they recommend for at least 5 years and buy shares of 25 or more companies. I was then asked to agree to follow these fundamentals, and if I disagreed, to be aware that it could put my investing success at risk. This is a simple buy-and-hold strategy that many expert investors swear by. Regardless of your selection, you then move on and set up your investing profile by answering a few questions about your investing strategy and goals.
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor account portal is straightforward
After setting up my investing profile, I arrived at the account home screen. Here, you’ll find a ranking of 10 stocks with any timely advisor notes, a section on Stock Advisor picks performance, top stories, a list of past recommendations and a comments section for the Stock Advisor community.
The navigation menu includes a list of the top ranked stocks in Stock Advisor, a recommendation screener, news and analysis, tools and a discussion board.
Who is the Motley Fool Stock Advisor best for?
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor program may be a good fit for:
- New investors. Those new to the market may appreciate the research-driven stock recommendations of the program.
- Buy-and-hold investors. Investors seeking growth-oriented stocks for long-term investments may be interested in the Fool’s recommendations.
New investors still getting to know the market may benefit from the structured guidance of the Stock Advisor program, using the Fool’s recommendation library to track trends and strategies. Buy-and-hold investors looking for long-term growth opportunities may also be interested in the program, as it can reduce the amount of time required to conduct market research.
That said, the Motley Fool’s Stock Advisor isn’t for everyone. Active or day traders may find the program’s recommendations too slow for time-sensitive trading. And passive investors who want their assets managed won’t be satisfied.
Fees and costs
Investors can opt to pay for the Stock Advisor program on an annual or monthly basis:
- $39 per month
- $99/first year (for new members only); $199/each year thereafter
The program’s annual subscription is considerably cheaper than its month-to-month service, but it’s for new members only. You’ll be asked to pay for the service upfront when you sign up. If the annual subscription feels like too big a commitment, the Motley Fool offers a 30-day membership fee back guarantee for annual plan members. The 30-day refund window is not offered to those who sign up for its monthly service.
Month-to-month and annual members gain access to the same stock advisory services. The only thing that separates these membership tiers is the frequency and rate at which they’re billed.
How do I sign up?
Here’s what to expect from the Motley Fool Stock Advisor sign-up process.
- Select Join Stock Advisor from the Motley Fool homepage.
- Enter your full name, billing address, phone number, email address and payment information.
- Review Motley Fool’s Terms and Conditions.
- Select Submit My Order.
Eligibility and required information
- Full name
- Residential address
- Email address
- Payment information
- Valid residential address
- Valid credit or debit card
Is the Motley Fool Stock Advisor program legit?
The Stock Advisor program is offered by the Motley Fool, a private financial publisher founded in 1993 and headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia. The company was founded by brothers Tom and David Gardner. While the brothers have no formal trading education, they share a keen interest in finance and have been investing since they were teenagers.
The Motley Fool isn’t accredited with the Better Business Bureau and has no complaints against it with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
Motley Fool Stock Advisor reviews and complaints
| BBB accredited | No |
|---|---|
| BBB rating | B |
| BBB customer reviews | 1.22 out of 5 stars, based on 79 customer reviews |
| Trustpilot score | 3.4 out of 5 stars, based on 9,096 customer reviews |
| Apple App Store Score | 2.8 out of 5 stars, based on 155 customer reviews |
| Google Play Score | 2.7 out of 5 stars, based on 319 customer reviews |
| Customer reviews verified as of | 20 March 2025 |
Motley Fool feedback is mixed. Reviews left on the BBB and Trustpilot complain of the company’s auto-renewal policy and delayed responses from customer service. Numerous reviews also cite ongoing upselling tactics, with complaints of being bombarded by advertisements for other Motley Fool products and programs.
What do people on Reddit say?
How do I contact Motley Fool Stock Advisor support?
- Phone. Call 888-665-3665 weekdays from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET
- Email. Send an email to membersupport@fool.com
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Your reviews
Matt Finder
Investments editor
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