Review Takeaways
• Members of Navy Federal Credit Union can open securities accounts through Navy Federal Investment Services.
• Self-directed brokerage, automated investing, and advisor-led investment services are available.
• Navy Federal’s Digital Investor platform offers stocks and ETFs, while advisor-serviced accounts provide access to a broader range of investments.
Overview of NFCU Investment Services
Besides its credit union, Navy Federal has an investment division that offers online investing, advisor-led brokerage accounts, investment management, financial planning, insurance, and estate-planning services. However, Navy Federal has restrictive membership requirements, so not everyone is eligible. For people who qualify, here’s the rundown:
Investing
Navy Federal Credit Union is more than a credit union. Non-deposit brokerage and advisory products are offered through Navy Federal Investment Services, LLC, a FINRA and SIPC member and an SEC-registered investment advisory firm. Navy Federal Investment Services is a wholly owned subsidiary of Navy Federal Financial Group, LLC, which is under the common control of Navy Federal Credit Union.
In Navy Federal’s Digital Investor self-directed accounts, clients can trade stocks and exchange-traded funds. The platform provides access to more than 5,000 stocks and ETFs, including fractional shares that can be purchased with as little as $1. There are tutorials and other educational resources on the company’s website to help absolute beginners. Navy Federal has also created themed groups of securities that customers can review if they need a little guidance.
For customers who need more help, Navy Federal offers an automated investing program through Digital Investor. The program uses customers’ goals, financial circumstances, and risk preferences to select a managed ETF portfolio. The investment manager can adjust the portfolio’s holdings and allocation without obtaining advance approval for each trade.
Full-service brokerage and managed accounts with human financial advisors are also available through
Navy Federal Investment Services. These accounts provide access to a broader range of products, including stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, bonds, options, unit investment trusts, structured products, and annuities.
Digital Investor currently offers individual, joint, custodial, Roth IRA, and Traditional IRA accounts. Transfer-on-death beneficiary designations are also available for eligible individual and joint accounts.
Financial Planning
Navy Federal’s advisor-led investing program includes access to financial planning. This service is provided by an investment advisor representative who can help clients with a variety of financial needs. Here are a few examples:
- Financial planning
- Insurance products
- Education planning
- Customized investment solutions
- Estate planning
- Wills and trusts
- Inheritance planning
- Business and retirement-plan guidance
- Planning for major life events
- And more...
One possible downside is that an investment advisor may not be available at every Navy Federal branch. Navy Federal says its financial advisors work on-site at more than 150 branches and are also available virtually and by phone to serve members nationwide.
Cash Management
Because Navy Federal is a credit union, members have access to many cash-management services. There are checking and savings accounts, and eligible checking accounts can be used with a Navy Federal debit card. Other useful products include certificates, credit cards, savings-based IRAs, auto loans, mortgages, and more. Eligible deposit accounts are federally insured by the National Credit Union Administration, rather than the FDIC. Brokerage, advisory, and insurance products are not protected by NCUA insurance and may lose value.
NFCU Investments Fees
A Digital Investor automated or self-directed account costs $3.50 per month, per account. The price is reduced to $2.50 for members with an Active Duty Checking® account. The first 30 days are free. The automated program has no additional asset-based advisory fee, although the ETFs in a managed portfolio have their own operating expenses. Self-directed accounts include trades of up to 2,000 shares per month. Shares traded above that monthly total cost $0.01 each. Digital Investor has no account minimum, and stock or ETF purchases can start at $1.
Advisor-serviced accounts have a different pricing schedule. Navy Federal Investment Services does not maintain one fixed retail commission rate for every advisor-assisted brokerage transaction. Its published standard schedule lists equity commissions of up to 5% of the principal amount, with a $35 minimum. No-load mutual fund purchases and redemptions can cost up to $13, while options commissions are negotiated. Advisory fees vary by program, services, investments, and investment manager, but the published maximum is 2% per year. Account minimums also vary by product and investment manager.
Navy Federal offers no-cost consultations with its financial advisors. The costs of ongoing investment management, financial planning, and investment products depend on the services and products selected.
Margin
Margin borrowing may be available in certain eligible advisor-serviced brokerage accounts. Navy Federal’s published Pershing margin schedule uses the Pershing Base Lending Rate plus 2.75% for debit balances below $10,000, plus 2.00% for balances from $10,000 to $29,999, plus 1.50% for balances from $30,000 to $49,999, and plus 0.75% for balances of $50,000 or more. Digital Investor is intended primarily for cash-based online investing and does not advertise conventional margin borrowing.
Software
Navy Federal clients can manage their financial accounts through the company’s website or mobile app. Each program is designed to be user-friendly. Due to the company’s emphasis on credit-union services, there are many cash-management tools. Zelle transfers, card freezes, and mobile check deposits are among them. Digital Investor is integrated with Navy Federal’s digital banking experience, but it does not offer a separate advanced desktop trading platform.
Bonus Services
Automatic Mutual Fund Purchases: Clients with eligible advisor-serviced brokerage accounts can establish systematic mutual fund purchases.
Initial Public Offerings: Missing in action.
Fully-Paid Securities Lending Program: Same story.
Individual Retirement Accounts: Digital Investor offers Roth and Traditional IRAs under its regular monthly subscription. Advisor-serviced Pershing IRAs may have a $43.50 annual custodial fee and a $95 termination fee.
Extended-Hours Trading: Not available.
Dividend Reinvestment Plan: Dividends from eligible securities can be reinvested automatically as additional shares. Digital Investor customers must elect dividend reinvestment for either all eligible securities in the account or none of them.
Fractional Shares: Digital Investor accounts can place stock and ETF trades in dollar amounts starting at $1.
Recommendations
Retirement Saving & Long-Term Investing: An IRA with a financial advisor at Navy Federal could be
a reasonable choice. Charles Schwab,
however, offers a broader selection of retirement accounts, investments, and trading tools.
Small Accounts: Digital Investor has no account minimum and permits investments starting at $1, but its flat monthly subscription can be expensive as a percentage of a very small balance.
Webull may be a less expensive option for some small investors.
Beginners: A Digital Investor automated account or an advisor-managed account may be a good option for beginners.
Frequent Stock Trading: Not surprisingly, Navy Federal Investment Services does not specialize in short-term trading. More advanced trading tools are available at Interactive Brokers and Webull.
Mutual Funds: Although advisor-serviced customers have access to mutual funds through Navy Federal Investment
Services, some funds have transaction charges or sales loads. The standard schedule lists a fee of up to $13 for purchases or redemptions of no-load funds, while load funds may impose charges described in their prospectuses. Charles Schwab offers many no-transaction-fee mutual funds.
NFCU Digital Investor Review Verdict
Navy Federal has a decent investment program that may work well for existing members. Its automated investing, advisor access, fractional shares, and integration with Navy Federal banking are useful, although its trading technology and self-directed investment selection remain limited compared with those of large brokerage firms.
Updated on 6/18/2026.
Chad Morris has been analyzing investment firms for Brokerage-Review.com since 2015. Backed by FINRA Series 65, 66, and SIE credentials, his work reflects a deep knowledge of the retail brokerage industry and digital trading tools.
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