MoneyBlock

What MoneyBlock does

MoneyBlock is a Chicago-based online broker-dealer operated by AOS, Inc., a subsidiary of Cambria Holdings, Inc. The company provides brokerage and custody-adjacent services to independent Registered Investment Advisers (RIAs), professional traders, asset managers, and self-directed individual investors through a web-based trading platform. Founded in 2003 (previously operating as TradingBlock), MoneyBlock is registered with FINRA, NFA, and SIPC, and clears all accounts through Apex Clearing Corporation under an introducing broker-dealer model that avoids balance sheet risk. The company does not impose proprietary product requirements or monthly access fees, differentiating on advisor independence.

The technology stack centers on a proprietary web-based platform with customizable drag-and-drop dashboards, block linking across quote/chart/option/order modules, 100+ technical indicators, and group trading across multiple client accounts. The platform supports equities, ETFs, options, futures, mutual funds, and fixed income, with Reg T and risk-based Portfolio Margin capabilities, multiple DMA front-end integrations (Sterling, CBOE Silexx, RealTick, Instinet), and FIX connectivity for professional execution. A deep integration ecosystem connects to 17+ third-party platforms including portfolio management systems (Orion, Addepar, Tamarac, Envestnet, Black Diamond), CRMs (RedTail, WealthBox), financial planning tools (Right Capital, Capitect), and data aggregators (Morningstar/ByAllAccounts) via API and Start-of-Day feeds.

MoneyBlock generates revenue through transaction fees (e.g., $75 outgoing ACATs, $25 domestic outgoing wires, $50 international wires, $2/month paper statements), tiered margin interest (6.25%-9.00% based on balance), account fees ($45/year IRA custodian fee, $60 IRA termination), and execution services for sophisticated traders. The MoneyBlock Mini-Prime offering extends into the asset manager segment with customized technology and balance sheet access. Customer acquisition blends self-serve online account opening with a dedicated relationship management team for RIA transitions, supported by a content marketing and social media presence.

Name

MoneyBlock

Legal name

AOS, Inc.

Website

https://moneyblock.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

MoneyBlock is a Chicago-based online broker-dealer providing trading technology, custody-cleared accounts, and execution services to independent RIAs, professional traders, asset managers, and self-directed investors through a customizable web platform with deep portfolio management system integrations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Brokerage Transaction Fees: MoneyBlock charges fees for brokerage services including account transfers (ACATs outgoing $75), wire transfers, check processing, and other transaction-based services.
2. Margin Interest: Debit interest charged on margin balances ranging from 6.25% to 9.00% depending on balance tier, calculated as Fed Funds rate plus spread.
3. Account Fees: Annual IRA custodian fees ($45/year), IRA termination fees ($60), paper statement fees ($2/month), archived statement fees, and overnight delivery charges.
4. Execution Services: Professional execution and algo services for sophisticated traders requiring advanced trading infrastructure including floor brokerage access.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

MoneyBlock is an online broker-dealer (operated by AOS, Inc.) providing web-based trading technology, brokerage execution, clearing, custody, and back-office support services to independent Registered Investment Advisers (RIAs), Registered Representatives, and self-directed investors. The platform offers customizable dashboards, advanced charting, multi-asset trading (equities, options, futures, fixed income), and API integrations with leading portfolio management systems, with all accounts cleared and custodied through Apex Clearing Corporation.

Product overview

MoneyBlock is a unified brokerage platform for independent financial professionals and RIAs. The core MoneyBlock Platform provides customizable web-based dashboards, trading tools, and account management accessible via desktop and mobile. The platform supports multiple account types (Individual, Joint, Retirement, Custodial, Trust, and Corporate Entity accounts) and offers a comprehensive suite of investment products including equities, options, futures, and fixed income. Key integrated services include Portfolio Margin and Reg T Margin for leverage, Execution Services with multiple smart routing algorithms, Group Trading for multi-account management, and dedicated Trade Desk and Back Office support. The Advisor Platform enables RIAs to manage client portfolios online with API and Start-of-Day integrations to portfolio management systems. MoneyBlock Mini-Prime provides customized solutions for sophisticated asset managers requiring professional trading platforms and portfolio margin.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• MoneyBlock Platform Core web-based brokerage platform offering customizable dashboards, multi-asset trading capabilities, and account management for independent financial professionals and their clients.
• Individual Brokerage Accounts Standard individual brokerage accounts available as cash or margin accounts with options trading entitlement for self-directed investors.
• Retirement Accounts Tax-advantaged retirement accounts including Traditional IRA, Roth IRA, Rollover IRA, SEP IRA, SIMPLE IRA, Beneficiary IRA, and Coverdell IRA.
• Joint Accounts Joint brokerage accounts including Joint Tenants with Rights of Survivorship (JTWROS), Tenants in Common, Community Property, and Tenants by the Entirety.
• Custodial Accounts UGMA custodial accounts created by a custodian for the benefit of a minor, allowing assets to be held without establishing a special trust fund.
• Specialty and Entity Accounts Trust accounts (personal and business), Limited Partnership, Partnership, Limited Liability Company (LLC), Sole Proprietorship, and Corporate accounts for entity-based investing.
• Investment Products Multi-asset class investment offerings including equities (listed, OTC, ETFs, preferred, ADRs), mutual funds (load and no-load), options strategies (covered calls, spreads, straddles, collars, butterflies, condors), futures, and fixed income (US Treasuries, corporate, municipal, CDs, UITs, MBS).
• Trade Desk and Back Office Support Professional support including transition assistance, relationship management, experienced trade desk and back office support, and order execution services.
• Reg T Margin Exchange-minimum margin requirements (Reg-T margin accounts) enabling clients to maximize portfolio buying power with debit interest rates tiered by balance.
• Portfolio Margin Risk-based margin methodology calculating requirements based on the greatest projected net loss across security classes, potentially providing greater leverage than standard Reg T margin.
• Execution Services Multiple smart routing algorithms including TB Smart, TB Swipe, TB Stealth, TB Dark, TB Liquidity, TB Smart Sweep, and TB PIP for equity and option order execution.
• MoneyBlock Mini-Prime Customized technology, execution, reporting, and back-office solutions for asset managers requiring sophisticated offerings, including access to clearing firm balance sheet for stock loans and financing.
• Advisor Platform Web-based platform for Registered Investment Advisers with client and admin applications, online account management, portfolio access, and integrations with leading portfolio management systems.
• Professional DMA Front-End Trading Platforms Direct Market Access trading platforms including Sterling, CBOE Silexx, RealTick, and Instinet for sophisticated professional traders requiring advanced execution capabilities and FIX connectivity.
• MoneyBlock Mobile Application Mobile application providing clients access to accounts, trading, and portfolio monitoring from any location.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration21 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

21 partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Apex Clearing CorporationcoreTechnology or IntegrationPrimary clearing and custody partner for all MoneyBlock accounts. Provides API and start-of-day (SOD) integrations with leading portfolio management systems and data aggregation vendors. Apex also facilitates connections to advisor platforms including Orion, Addepar, Tamarac, and others.
• OrioncoreTechnology or IntegrationPortfolio management system integration with API and Start-of-Day connectivity, enabling advisors to sync client data and reporting with MoneyBlock accounts.
• AddeparcoreTechnology or IntegrationPortfolio management system integration with Start-of-Day connectivity for efficient client data management and reporting.
• TamaraccoreTechnology or IntegrationPortfolio management system integration with Start-of-Day connectivity (via ByAllAccounts) enabling advisors to manage client portfolios and reporting.
• Advisor ArchmajorTechnology or IntegrationRebalancer and trading platform integration with API and Start-of-Day connectivity for MoneyBlock clients.
• AdvyzonmajorTechnology or IntegrationAll-in-one platform integration providing comprehensive advisory tools for MoneyBlock clients.
• AlbridgemajorTechnology or IntegrationPortfolio management system with Start-of-Day integration (in-progress) for MoneyBlock accounts.
• Black DiamondmajorTechnology or IntegrationPortfolio management system integration providing trading and reporting capabilities for MoneyBlock advisors.
• EnvestnetmajorTechnology or IntegrationPortfolio management system integration enabling comprehensive advisory services for MoneyBlock clients.
• Morningstar (ByAllAccounts)majorTechnology or IntegrationData aggregation service integration providing comprehensive account data consolidation for MoneyBlock advisors.
• RedTailmajorTechnology or IntegrationCRM integration providing customer relationship management capabilities for MoneyBlock advisors.
• Right CapitalmajorTechnology or IntegrationFinancial planning platform integration for MoneyBlock advisors providing planning and advice tools.
• WealthBoxmajorTechnology or IntegrationCRM platform integration providing collaborative customer relationship management for MoneyBlock advisors.
• BridgeFTmajorTechnology or IntegrationPortfolio management system integration for wealth management data aggregation and reporting.
• CapitectmajorTechnology or IntegrationPortfolio management system integration providing financial planning and advisory tools.
• PanoramixmajorTechnology or IntegrationPortfolio management system integration for advanced analytics and reporting.
• Sterling TradercoreTechnology or IntegrationDirect Market Access (DMA) front-end trading platform available to MoneyBlock professional traders requiring advanced execution capabilities.
• CBOE SilexxcoreTechnology or IntegrationOptions-focused DMA front-end trading platform providing professional trading capabilities for MoneyBlock clients.
• RealTickcoreTechnology or IntegrationDMA front-end trading platform with multi-asset trading capabilities for MoneyBlock professional traders.
• InstinetcoreTechnology or IntegrationInstitutional DMA front-end and execution services partner providing low-latency trading access for MoneyBlock professional traders.
• BMO Harris BankcoreTechnology or IntegrationBanking partner for wire transfers. Incoming domestic wires via ABA routing 071000288; international wires via SWIFT Code HATRUS44. All wires are processed through Apex Clearing Corporation FBO MoneyBlock accounts.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Interactive Brokers: Global online broker-dealer with API-first architecture serving active traders, RIAs, and professional clients. Directly comparable in multi-asset support (equities, options, futures, fixed income), FIX connectivity, portfolio margin, and integrations with independent advisor tools — competes head-to-head for the same RIA and professional-trader segment.
• TradeStation: Technology-focused online broker-dealer targeting active and professional traders with advanced charting, options, and futures capabilities. Closely comparable to MoneyBlock's professional-trader offering including DMA access, customizable trading workspaces, and multi-asset class execution.
• tastytrade (tastyworks): Options-focused online broker-dealer known for active-trader tools, multi-leg strategies, and content-driven acquisition. Comparable to MoneyBlock's options-spread and complex-order entry capabilities for self-directed and professional traders.
• ChoiceTrade: Independent online broker-dealer serving self-directed active traders and smaller RIAs, offering multi-asset trading and options strategies. Closely comparable to MoneyBlock's independent/small-broker profile, target customer mix, and product suite.
• Wedbush Securities: Privately held broker-dealer providing clearing, execution, and prime-brokerage services for active traders, RIAs, and professional clients. Comparable to MoneyBlock's DMA front-ends, FIX connectivity, and pro-trader execution services, with similar independent/private ownership character.

Broad incumbents

• Charles Schwab (Schwab Institutional): Largest custodian serving independent RIAs through Schwab Institutional, with massive scale, full-service platform, and integrated custody. Competes with MoneyBlock for the same RIA breakaway and transition flow but with vastly greater balance sheet, brand, and PMS/banking ecosystem.
• Fidelity Institutional: Fidelity's institutional/custody arm is a top competitor for RIA custody and clearing, offering deeply integrated platform, PMA-style tools, and brand trust. Competes with MoneyBlock on independence narrative but with materially more capital and product breadth.
• Robinhood: Mass-market retail broker-dealer with custom web/mobile platform, no-commission structure, and broad asset offerings. Adjacent rather than directly competing — same web-platform broker-dealer archetype but skewed to retail investors rather than the RIA/professional segment MoneyBlock serves.

Emerging players

• Tradier: Brokerage-as-a-service platform providing API-first infrastructure for advisors, fintechs, and platforms. Overlaps with MoneyBlock's API/SOD integration model for portfolio management systems and advisor tech stacks, albeit with a developer/embedded orientation rather than full broker-dealer ownership.
• Alpaca: API-first brokerage serving fintech developers, RIAs, and embedded-finance use cases with equities, options, and crypto trading. Overlaps MoneyBlock's advisor-facing API philosophy and modern web-based platform as an emerging alternative in the same advisor-tech integration space.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/moneyblock
• Facebookfacebook.com/MoneyBlockIndependence
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/moneyblock

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about MoneyBlock