Best IRA Match Programs: Free Money for Your Retirement

Why Traditional Brokers Don't Match IRAs

Fidelity, Schwab, Vanguard, E*TRADE, Merrill Edge—none of them offer IRA matches. Why? Because they don't have to. They already have massive market share and manage trillions in retirement assets.

Newer brokers like Robinhood and Webull are using IRA matches to acquire customers. It's a smart trade: they're essentially paying for customer acquisition through matches rather than advertising. And unlike a one-time sign-up bonus, matches create ongoing engagement.

Every IRA Match Program Compared

Deep Dive: Each Program Explained

Webull Premium: 3.5% Match (Best Overall)

Webull offers the highest IRA match at 3.5% on contributions when you subscribe to Premium ($40/year or $3.99/month). They also offer 3% on IRA transfers.

The math works out well. If you max out your IRA with $7,000, you get $245 in matching—a 6x return on the $40 Premium subscription. Even after the $40 cost, you're netting $205 in free money.

Robinhood Gold: 3% Match (Most Popular)

Robinhood's 3% IRA match is the most well-known program. It requires Gold membership ($5/month or $50/year). For a $7,000 contribution, you'd get $210 in matching.

The catch: your match only fully vests if you maintain Gold for the entire 5-year vesting period. If you cancel Gold, you forfeit unvested portions. At $60/year over 5 years, that's $300 in subscription costs to keep a $210 match—so the effective return is lower than the headline suggests.

That said, Gold includes other valuable benefits: 3.25% APY on uninvested cash, lower margin rates, and larger instant deposits. If you'd use those anyway, the IRA match is gravy.

SoFi: 2% Match (No Subscription Required)

SoFi's 2% match is lower than Robinhood or Webull, but it requires no paid subscription. You get it just for having a SoFi Invest account. On $7,000, that's $140 free.

SoFi also matches rollovers, not just contributions. If you're moving an old 401(k) or IRA, this can add up quickly. Transfer $100,000 and receive $2,000 in matching.

The vesting period is shorter too—just 2 years versus 5 at competitors. This makes SoFi the lowest-risk option.

Firstrade: 3% Match (Limited Time)

Firstrade is running a promotional 3% IRA contribution match from January 21 through April 15, 2025 (tax season). They're also offering 2% on transfers/rollovers up to $20K on $1M.

If you're opening a new IRA anyway, this timing is excellent. Contribute via ACH, wire, or check (not transfer from another IRA) to qualify.

Public.com: 1% Match (Transfers Only, Uncapped)

Public's match only applies to transfers, not contributions. But it's uncapped—transfer $1 million and get $10,000 in matching.

For large IRA rollovers from 401(k)s or consolidating multiple IRAs, Public's uncapped match can beat higher-percentage programs with caps.

The Vesting Trap: Read the Fine Print

Every IRA match program has a vesting schedule. This is how much of the match you actually keep if you leave or transfer:

Which Program Should You Choose?

Choose Webull if:

• You want the highest match percentage
• You'll use Premium features (extended hours, Level 2 data)
• You're comfortable with Chinese company ownership

Choose Robinhood if:

• You want a simple, polished mobile experience
• You'll use other Gold benefits (APY, margin, instant deposits)
• You value crypto trading in the same account

Choose SoFi if:

• You don't want to pay any subscription fees
• You prefer the shortest vesting period (2 years)
• You're rolling over an existing account (they match rollovers)

Choose Public if:

• You're doing a large transfer ($100K+) and want uncapped matching
• You want the lowest margin rates (4.9%) alongside your IRA
• No PFOF execution matters to you

Can You Stack Multiple Matches?

Technically, yes. You can contribute to an IRA at one broker and transfer at another. For example:

1. Open IRA at Robinhood, contribute $7,000, get 3% match ($210)
2. Wait for vesting period (5 years)
3. Transfer to Public, get 1% match on transfer (~$72)

But this is complex and requires patience. For most people, picking one broker and sticking with it through vesting is simpler.

The Traditional Broker Alternative

What if you'd rather use Fidelity or Schwab despite no match? That's reasonable. Consider:

• Superior research and tools
• Better customer service (24/7 at Fidelity)
• More investment options (mutual funds, bonds)
• No vesting concerns—your money is yours
• Established, well-capitalized companies

A 3% match on $7,000 is $210/year. Over 30 years with 7% growth, that's worth around $20,000. Significant, but not life-changing. If Fidelity's superior platform helps you make better investment decisions, you could easily make up that difference.