How to Buy and Sell Stocks and ETFs on The SoFi Web Platform

Investing in stocks and ETFs has become more accessible than ever, thanks to online platforms like SoFi. While SoFi is often praised for its mobile app experience, the web platform also offers a simple and beginner-friendly way to trade. In this guide, we’ll walk you step-by-step through how to buy and sell stocks and ETFs on the SoFi web platform.

Whether you’re a seasoned trader or someone just starting your investment journey, this guide will help you get comfortable with SoFi’s web interface.

Getting Started: Accessing the SoFi Investment Dashboard

First things first — log into your SoFi account using your browser. Once you’re in, you’ll be able to see all the products and services SoFi has to offer. This includes everything from student loans and personal finance tools to investment options. However, for now, we’ll focus strictly on how to invest.

To access the investing section, click on the “Invest” tab. This will take you directly to the SoFi Investment Dashboard.

💡 Tip: SoFi emphasizes using their mobile app for investing, which is why you might see ads or banners promoting the app version. However, everything you need is available on the web too.

Step 1: Choosing a Stock or ETF

Once you’re inside the investment dashboard, it’s time to select a stock or ETF to invest in.

You’ll notice a search bar — here’s where you can enter the ticker symbol of the stock or ETF you’re interested in. For example, if you want to buy SoFi’s own stock, simply type SOFI. Once entered, you’ll be redirected to the stock’s dedicated page, where you can find options to buy or sell.

This page acts as a simplified trading dashboard, giving you basic but essential information such as the stock’s price and movement, along with your purchase options.

Step 2: Buying Stocks or ETFs

Choosing Between Shares or Dollar Amount

When you’re ready to buy, click the “Buy” button.

SoFi gives you the flexibility to choose how you want to invest:

• By Dollar Amount: Perfect for fractional investing.
• By Number of Shares: Traditional method of buying full shares.

This feature is particularly helpful for beginners or those who want to start small. You can begin investing with as little as $5, even in high-priced stocks or ETFs. For instance, popular ETFs or stocks like Amazon or Google may cost hundreds of dollars per share, but SoFi’s fractional investing option removes this barrier.

👍 Fractional Shares Are Your Friend
Even investing $10 is better than waiting to save hundreds. Thanks to fractional investing, anyone can start building a portfolio — regardless of budget.

Setting the Order Type

Next, choose your order type. For simplicity and immediate execution, most beginners opt for a Market Order — this buys the stock at the current market price.

Other order types (like limit orders) might be available, but for this tutorial, we’ll stick with the most straightforward approach.

Once you’ve entered your desired dollar amount or number of shares, click “Preview” to double-check your order.

Step 3: Confirming Your Purchase

After reviewing the order, click “Buy” to execute the trade.

You’ll get a confirmation screen — in this example, we purchased 1 share of SOFI.

⚠️ Note: The confirmation message may seem a bit informal, but rest assured, your order has gone through.

Now that the purchase is complete, let’s see where to find your new investment.

Step 4: Viewing Your Portfolio

Back in your Investment Dashboard, you’ll notice some changes:

• A new box labeled Self-Directed Active Investing appears.
• You can click “View Account” to get more detailed insights.

Inside, you’ll see:

• Total account value
• Market gains/losses
• Total dividends (if any)
• A chart that will populate over time as your portfolio evolves

Scrolling down further, you can find a list of your holdings. In our case, you’d see:

• 1 share of SOFI
• 0.5 shares of SHD (another ETF)

This part of the dashboard gives you a snapshot of what you own, how much it’s worth, and how it’s performing.

Step 5: Selling Stocks or ETFs

Just as buying is easy, selling is also straightforward.

Here’s how:

1. In the Investments section, click on the stock or ETF you want to sell.
2. You’ll be redirected to the same type of trading dashboard used when buying.
3. Click the “Sell” button.
4. Enter the number of shares or dollar amount you wish to sell.
5. Review your order and click “Sell” to complete the transaction.

After confirming, your order will be executed based on the current market price (if you selected a market order). You’ll receive a confirmation just like you did with the purchase.

✅ And that’s it! You’ve now completed both a purchase and a sale on the SoFi web platform.

The Benefits of Using SoFi for Web Investing

Although the platform promotes its mobile app, the web version of SoFi still comes with several advantages:

• Simple and Clean Interface: Ideal for beginners who want to avoid overly complex charts and jargon.
• Fractional Investing: Invest in expensive stocks with just $5.
• No Commission Fees: SoFi offers commission-free trading, keeping more money in your pocket.
• Integrated Portfolio View: Track gains, dividends, and portfolio value in one place.

Limitations to Keep in Mind

While the SoFi web platform is great for simplicity, it may lack some features that experienced traders prefer, such as:

• Advanced order types (e.g., trailing stops, conditional orders)
• Comprehensive technical analysis tools
• Extended trading hours

However, for most retail investors, especially those just starting out, these limitations are unlikely to be deal-breakers.

Final Thoughts: Should You Use SoFi’s Web Platform to Invest?

The SoFi web platform is a solid option for anyone looking to buy and sell stocks or ETFs with ease. It offers an intuitive layout, fractional investing, and commission-free trades — all of which are great for beginners and casual investors.

If you want advanced trading tools and detailed analytics, you might outgrow the platform eventually. But for long-term investors or those who like to “set and forget,” SoFi provides a friendly and accessible gateway into the world of investing.

🧠 Pro Tip: Consider combining the web platform for portfolio monitoring with the mobile app for push notifications, easier deposits, and real-time updates.

Recap: How to Buy and Sell on SoFi’s Web Platform

1. Login and click “Invest” to access your dashboard.
2. Search for a stock/ETF using its ticker symbol.
3. Click “Buy”, select your investment amount or number of shares.
4. Choose order type (market or limit) and confirm.
5. Track your investments in the dashboard.
6. To sell, click your stock and go through the same steps — but select “Sell” instead.

With that, you’re now ready to start investing on the SoFi web platform with confidence!