Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
Empower Personal Dashboard vs Saxo
What sets them apart
| Compare |  Empower Personal Dashboard |  Saxo |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0 | CHF 0 |
| Stock trade fee | $0Lower | $1 |
| Account fee | $0 | €0 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Funds | Stocks, ETFs, Forex, CFDs, Options, Futures, Bonds, FundsCovers more |
| Account types | IRA | Joint, Corporate |
| Inactivity fee | Not confirmed | €0 |
| Regulators | Not confirmed | Danish Financial Supervisory Authority (FSA), Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) |
| Investor protection | Not confirmed | EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 |
| Retail accounts that lose money | Not confirmed | 64% |
| Currency conversion fee | Not confirmed | 0.25% |
| Options contract fee | Not confirmed | $2 |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | Not confirmed | Free deposits and withdrawals |
| Platforms | Not confirmed | SaxoInvestor, SaxoTrader |
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Key differences
- Empower Personal Dashboard scores higher overall: 9.4 vs 9.3.
- Stock trade fee is lower at Empower Personal Dashboard: $0 vs $1.
- Markets: only Saxo offers Forex, CFDs, Options.
- Account types: only Empower Personal Dashboard offers IRA.
- Account types: only Saxo offers Joint, Corporate.
- Features: only Saxo offers Demo account, Fractional shares.
- Pricing model: only Empower Personal Dashboard offers Commission free.
Our verdict on each
Empower Personal Dashboard
Empower Personal Dashboard suits US savers who want a managed retirement account without a fee attached. The management fee is 0% and the minimum investment is $0, so the cost side is as light as it gets. It fits people who would rather set it and leave it than trade.
Saxo
Saxo suits investors who want a Danish bank with no account or inactivity charge and a wide market list, but the stock trade fee is $1 and the FX fee is 0.25%. Costs stay predictable for long holders, less so for frequent traders.
Score breakdown
| Area | Empower Personal Dashboard | Saxo |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.9HigherManagement fee 0%, account fee $0 and minimum investment $0 sit at the free end of costs. | 9.1Account fee and inactivity fee are both €0 and €0, and the minimum deposit is CHF 0. Stock trades cost $1. |
| Offer | 8.8 | 9.3Higher |
| Trust | Not confirmed | 9.5 |
Choosing between them
Pick Empower Personal Dashboard if cost and stock trade fee matter most.
Pick Saxo if offer and markets matter most.
Availability and regulation
| Country | Empower Personal Dashboard | Saxo |
|---|---|---|
| Denmark | Not confirmed | |
| United Kingdom | Not confirmed |
What each covers
| Markets | Empower Personal Dashboard | Saxo |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Forex | No | Yes |
| CFDs | No | Yes |
| Options | No | Yes |
| Futures | No | Yes |
| Bonds | No | Yes |
| Funds | Yes | Yes |
| Account types | Empower Personal Dashboard | Saxo |
|---|---|---|
| IRA | Yes | No |
| Joint | No | Yes |
| Corporate | No | Yes |
How they place
| Ranking | Empower Personal Dashboard | Saxo |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 12 of 471 | 78 of 471 |
Where these facts come from
Empower Personal Dashboard
- empower.com: 10 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Saxo
- home.saxo: 6 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- brokerchooser.com: 5 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- bestbrokers.com: 3 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- landofforex.com: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- moneyland.ch: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Empower Personal Dashboard | Saxo |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Mobile app | Demo account, Fractional shares, Mobile appCovers more |
| Pricing model | Commission free, Low feesCovers more | Low fees |
| Legal entity | Empower Advisory Group, LLC | Saxo Bank A/S |
| Headquarters | United States | Denmark |
| Founded | Not confirmed | 1992 |
| Support channels | Email, Phone, Help centre | Not confirmed |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Empower Personal Dashboard | Saxo | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stock trade fee | $0at the median | $1highest quarter | $0 |
| Inactivity fee | Not confirmed | €0below the median | €2.45 |
| Retail accounts that lose money | Not confirmed | 64%lowest quarter | 72.05% |
| Currency conversion fee | Not confirmed | 0.25%below the median | 0.45% |
| Options contract fee | Not confirmed | $2highest quarter | $0.625 |
Median across 91 listed brokers.
Pros and cons
Empower Personal Dashboard
Pros
- Management fee of 0% and an account fee of $0, so nothing leaves the balance each year.
- Minimum investment of $0 and a minimum deposit of $0, so a small first contribution is enough.
- Stock trades cost $0 across stocks, etfs and funds, with managed portfolios in ETF and cash styles.
Cons
- The account type is an IRA, so it is a retirement account rather than a general dealing account.
- Markets stop at stocks, etfs and funds, with no crypto, options or forex added on.
- Support runs on email, phone and help centre, so there is no live chat for quick questions.
Saxo
Pros
- Account fee and inactivity fee are both €0 and €0
- Minimum deposit is CHF 0 and deposits and withdrawals carry no charge
- Regulated in Denmark by the Danish Financial Supervisory Authority and in the UK by the Financial Conduct Authority
Cons
- Stock trade fee of $1 sits well above the site median of €0
- FX fee of 0.25% applies on top of trading costs
- Investor protection is limited to the EU scheme at EU ICS up to EUR 20,000
Who each suits
Empower Personal Dashboard
Who it suits
- US savers building a retirement account who want it run for them at no annual charge.
- People who prefer ETF and cash portfolios over picking their own shares.
- Long-term investors content with a conventional asset range.
Who should look elsewhere
- eToro, where the managed portfolios start at $500.
- Vivid Standard, which charges a management fee of 0.5% to 1.5%.
- Axos Invest, where managed portfolios start at $100.
Saxo
Who it suits
- Investors holding stocks and ETFs long term who want no account or inactivity charge
- Traders who need forex, options, futures and CFDs on one account
- Joint and corporate account holders
Who should look elsewhere
- Beginners wanting commission-free share dealing, where eToro charges $0 per trade
- Small-balance traders unwilling to meet the Vantage minimum deposit of $5
- Frequent currency converters put off by the 0.25% FX fee
Questions about each
Empower Personal Dashboard
What does Empower Personal Dashboard charge?+
The management fee is 0% and the account fee is $0, so nothing is taken out of the balance for holding or running the account. Trading is separate, and the stock trade fee is $0, which keeps running costs thin overall.
Is there a minimum to get started?+
The minimum investment is $0 and the minimum deposit is $0, so you can begin with a small amount rather than waiting for a large balance. That makes it a practical first step for anyone building a retirement pot gradually.
Saxo
What does Saxo charge to hold an account?+
The account fee is €0 and the inactivity fee is €0, so there is no annual or dormancy charge. Saxo ranks 1 of 138 on account fee and 1 of 56 on inactivity fee. That makes it a straightforward choice for long-term holdings.
How much does it cost to buy a stock?+
Stock trades cost $1 through Saxo. That places it at 107 of 161 on this measure, and above the site median of €0. Active share traders should weigh that before opening.
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