Many folks buy and sell stocks using full-service brokers. Using a brokerage firm typically means you don’t have to do much, but it also means you’ll pay fees.I used to think that buying stocks with a broker was the best way. However, I’ve recently changed my mind and want to invest myself, without paying brokerage fees.I discovered that buying stocks without a broker is easy when I use automated investing platforms like Betterment, M1 Finance, and Robinhood. These brokerage platform apps give me an opportunity to open a brokerage account even if I have only a few dollars to invest. Most of the investments are self-directed, however, the apps allow me to buy stocks in curated portfolios if I choose.