You do not need to be an expert to start investing with M1 Finance. What makes M1 so exciting is its hands-off automated approach, which makes it an appealing investment system for beginners. M1 offers users a free basic account and portfolios (called “pies”) geared toward themes including General Investing and Retirement. As you hone your investment skills, you can build custom portfolios and select individual stocks and ETFs for a customized investment plan all your own.