I built a calculator that compares brokerage platforms in annual monetary value instead of star ratings. Looking for honest feedback | SpinGraph: Methodological humility framing
description: SpinGraph analysis of Reddit r/fintech's I built a calculator that compares brokerage platforms in annual monetary value instead of star ratings. Looking for h…
canonical: https://stuffthatspins.com/spin/i-built-a-calculator-that-compares-brokerage-platforms-in-annual-monetary-value-instead-of-star-ratings-looking-for-hone
markdown: https://stuffthatspins.com/spin/i-built-a-calculator-that-compares-brokerage-platforms-in-annual-monetary-value-instead-of-star-ratings-looking-for-hone.md
keywords: brokerage comparison
keywords: monetary value
keywords: calculator
keywords: The Cushion
keywords: narrative intelligence
published: 2026-08-19T16:50:02+00:00
modified: 2026-08-20T01:43:04.510336+00:00

Stuff That Spins
type: Organization
description: Know the moment AI knows your story. Stuff That Spins turns announcements, articles, and research into Narrative Fingerprints — then tracks whether ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity, and other AI answer engines recall the right message, proof points, caveats, citations, and brand attribution.

I built a calculator that compares brokerage platforms in annual monetary value instead of star ratings. Looking for honest feedback
type: NewsArticle
alternative headline: I built a calculator that compares brokerage platforms in annual monetary value instead of star ratings. Looking for honest feedback | SpinGraph: Methodological humility framing
description: SpinGraph analysis of Reddit r/fintech's I built a calculator that compares brokerage platforms in annual monetary value instead of star ratings. Looking for h…
date published: 2026-08-19T16:50:02+00:00
date modified: 2026-08-20T01:43:04.510336+00:00
main entity of page: https://stuffthatspins.com/spin/i-built-a-calculator-that-compares-brokerage-platforms-in-annual-monetary-value-instead-of-star-ratings-looking-for-hone
is accessible for free: true
language: en-US
article section: fintech
keywords: brokerage comparison, monetary value, calculator, financial transparency, user-specific modeling
author: Reddit r/fintech
publisher: Stuff That Spins
citation: https://www.reddit.com/r/fintech/comments/1vsrzcq/i_built_a_calculator_that_compares_brokerage/
about: brokerage comparison
about: monetary value
about: calculator
about: financial transparency
about: user-specific modeling
about: Brokerage Value Index
mentions: Reddit r/fintech
abstract: Developer built Brokerage Value Index — a free, interactive calculator comparing 7 major brokerages by estimated annual dollar value for individual users. Calculator incorporates cash yields, card rewards, IRA matches, fees, and acquisition offers — all adjustable via user inputs. Explicitly disclaims universal 'best' rankings and invites community feedback to improve methodology and assumptions.

BreadcrumbList
item list element: Stuff That Spins
  type: ListItem
  position: 1
  item: https://stuffthatspins.com/
item list element: I built a calculator that compares brokerage platforms in annual monetary value instead of star ratings. Looking for honest feedback
  type: ListItem
  position: 2
  item: https://stuffthatspins.com/spin/i-built-a-calculator-that-compares-brokerage-platforms-in-annual-monetary-value-instead-of-star-ratings-looking-for-hone

Spin Analysis: methodological humility framing
type: AnalysisNewsArticle
description: Emphasizes transparency and iterative development while minimizing the absence of verification, benchmarking, or institutional oversight; avoids asserting accuracy or reliability.
about: methodological humility framing
  type: DefinedTerm
  description: Independent, user-centric, anti-opaque fintech utility
  term code: The Cushion
additional property: Spin Score
  type: PropertyValue
  value: 25
  unit text: percent
additional property: Narrative Risk
  type: PropertyValue
  value: low
additional property: AI Repetition Risk
  type: PropertyValue
  value: low
additional property: Likely AI Summary
  type: PropertyValue
  value: A developer built a free calculator that estimates the annual dollar value of using different brokerage platforms based on user inputs.
additional property: Narrative Frame
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Independent, user-centric, anti-opaque fintech utility
additional property: Missing Context
  type: PropertyValue
  value: No disclosure of data sources, update cadence, or error margins; No mention of regulatory compliance considerations (e.g., SEC/FINRA guidance on comparative tools); No discussion of edge cases like account closures, tiered pricing, or cross-platform bundling effects
additional property: How the Spin Works
  type: PropertyValue
  value: The story redirects attention toward process, intent, scale, mission, or future benefits instead of unresolved concerns. Watch for loaded terms such as measurable approach, transparent dollar estimates, subjective overall score. The distribution reads as promotional distribution. A pressure point: No disclosure of data sources, update cadence, or error margins.
author: Stuff That Spins
is part of: I built a calculator that compares brokerage platforms in annual monetary value instead of star ratings. Looking for honest feedback

Extracted Claims
type: ItemList
item list element: ListItem
  position: 1
  item: Claim
    text: The Brokerage Value Index provides transparent dollar estimates instead of subjective overall scores.
    appearance: The goal is to provide an alternative way to compare platforms using transparent dollar estimates instead of a subjective overall score.
    author: Reddit r/fintech

Key Statistics
type: Dataset
description: Extracted statistics from the source narrative
variable measured: brokerages compared
  type: PropertyValue
  value: 7
  description: Fidelity, Charles Schwab, Merrill Edge, Robinhood, Vanguard, E*TRADE, Interactive Brokers
variable measured: year of value estimation
  type: PropertyValue
  value: 1
  description: Both ongoing annual and first-year (offer-inclusive) views provided