You’re choosing between Motley Fool’s two flagship growth services. Stock Advisor is the original—23 years of track record, the service that built the Fool’s reputation. Rule Breakers sounds more exciting—aggressive bets on disruptive innovators before they become obvious.
Both hunt growth stocks. Both come from the Gardner brothers. Both have outperformed the market. So which one actually deserves your money?
The straight answer: Stock Advisor wins for most investors. It has the longer track record (+982% vs +348%), the lower price ($99/year vs $299/year), and standalone availability. Rule Breakers is a powerful accelerator—but it’s designed to build on top of Stock Advisor, not replace it.
Here’s exactly why, and when Rule Breakers might be the smarter choice.
Quick Comparison: Stock Advisor vs Rule Breakers
| Dimension | Stock Advisor | Rule Breakers | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Track Record | +982% since 2002 | +348% since 2004 | Stock Advisor |
| vs S&P 500 | 5.2x outperformance | 2.1x outperformance | Stock Advisor |
| Price | $99/year (promo) | $299/year (Epic bundle) | Stock Advisor |
| Standalone Option | ✅ Yes | ❌ No (bundle only) | Stock Advisor |
| Volatility | 30-50% drawdowns | 50%+ drawdowns | Stock Advisor |
| Methodology | Balanced growth framework | Aggressive disruption hunting | Tie |
| 10-Bagger Potential | Strong compounders | Asymmetric moonshots | Rule Breakers |
| Picks Per Month | 2 | 2 (5 total in Epic) | Tie |
| Target Portfolio | $25,000+ | $50,000+ | Stock Advisor |
| Overall Winner | — | — | Stock Advisor |
The table tells the story: Stock Advisor leads on nearly every dimension that matters for most investors. But Rule Breakers isn’t trying to compete on the same terms—it’s hunting bigger game with bigger risks.
Stock Advisor: The 23-Year Foundation
Stock Advisor is The Motley Fool’s flagship service—the one that made their reputation. Launched in February 2002, it’s delivered +982% cumulative returns versus the S&P 500’s +188%. That’s 5.2x outperformance over more than two decades.
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But the returns aren’t even the most valuable part.
What You Actually Get:
Stock Advisor isn’t just stock tips—it’s a complete portfolio-building framework. Three strategies calibrated to different risk tolerances (Cautious, Moderate, Aggressive). A Foundational Stocks list of the 10 highest-conviction core holdings. Quantitative projections for every recommendation. And the Moneyball database with 344 companies scored across 12 dimensions.
The philosophy is simple: find companies with durable competitive advantages, buy them, and hold for years while the market catches up to their value.
The Numbers:
$10,000 invested following Stock Advisor picks since 2002 would be worth approximately $108,000 today. The same amount in an S&P 500 index fund would be around $29,000.
Those numbers hide real volatility. Stock Advisor’s aggressive strategy warns of -59% maximum drawdowns. Their 2021-vintage picks faced brutal pullbacks. The strategy works if you can hold through the pain—most can’t.
For the complete analysis of Stock Advisor’s methodology, track record, and full feature set, see our Stock Advisor review.
Best For:
Patient investors with 5+ year horizons, $25K+ portfolios, and the stomach for 30-50% drawdowns. You want a framework for building wealth, not just stock tips. You’re okay with 2 picks per month and doing your own position sizing.
Not For:
Short-term traders, income seekers, or anyone who’ll panic-sell during a 40% drawdown. Also not ideal if you’re frustrated by constant upsell pressure to Epic and higher tiers.
Try Stock Advisor — $99/Year with 30-Day Guarantee
Rule Breakers: The Aggressive Accelerator
Rule Breakers is the growth-hunting arm of the Motley Fool ecosystem. Launched in 2004 by David Gardner, it hunts disruptive innovators before they become household names. The track record: +348% versus the S&P 500’s +166% over the same period.
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Lower absolute returns than Stock Advisor—but the pattern of returns tells you exactly what you’re signing up for.
The Asymmetric Math:
Rule Breakers’ winners average +233%. Losers average -37%. That’s a 6:1 ratio. Even if you pick more losers than winners, the math works in your favor over time.
But the time horizon isn’t a suggestion—it’s the entire strategy:
| Holding Period | Win Rate | Avg Return |
|---|---|---|
| < 1 Year | 60% | 7.5% |
| 1-3 Years | 68% | 30% |
| 5-10 Years | 74% | 166% |
| 10+ Years | 96% | 425% |
First-year picks are essentially a coin flip. Hold for a decade, and you’re looking at 96% win rate with 425% average returns. The service is designed for patient capital that can survive the early volatility.
For a deeper dive into Rule Breakers’ philosophy and the Epic bundle, see our Motley Fool review.
What’s Changed:
David Gardner—the founder and original stock picker—stepped back from making recommendations in May 2021. The analyst team now makes all picks. The philosophy remains, but the personality is gone.
The Bundle Reality:
Rule Breakers is not available standalone. You must purchase the Epic bundle at $299/year (promo) or $499/year (regular), which includes Stock Advisor, Hidden Gems, and Dividend Investor. If you want Rule Breakers, you’re getting Stock Advisor anyway.
Best For:
Aggressive investors with 5-10+ year horizons, $50K+ portfolios, who can stomach 50%+ drawdowns on individual positions. You want exposure to disruptive innovators and understand that some positions will be down 80% while still marked “BUY.”
Not For:
Income investors, short-term traders, or anyone who subscribed in 2020-2021 and is frustrated by the brutal drawdowns on that vintage. Not for investors who can’t psychologically handle positions down 80-90%.
Try Rule Breakers via Epic Bundle — 30-Day Guarantee
Head-to-Head: The Key Differences
Philosophy: Framework vs. Moonshots
Stock Advisor builds a complete portfolio. Three risk-calibrated strategies, a core holdings list, quantitative scoring for every pick. It’s designed to be your primary investment framework—a system, not just tips.
Rule Breakers hunts asymmetric returns. The philosophy accepts that many picks will fail, but the winners will be so large they more than compensate. It’s designed to be an accelerator on top of a solid foundation—not the foundation itself.
The Practical Difference: Stock Advisor tells you how to build a portfolio. Rule Breakers tells you what to add for aggressive growth exposure.
Track Record: Length vs. Transparency
Stock Advisor has 23 years of data and higher absolute returns (+982% vs +348%). But it doesn’t publish win rate data as transparently as Rule Breakers.
Rule Breakers has 21 years of data with lower absolute returns—but publishes detailed holding period analysis showing exactly how returns compound over time. The 60% → 96% win rate progression over 10 years is remarkably transparent.
The Practical Difference: Stock Advisor’s longer track record provides more confidence. Rule Breakers’ transparency helps you understand exactly what to expect.
Volatility: Uncomfortable vs. Brutal
Stock Advisor expects 30-50% drawdowns. Their aggressive strategy warns of -59% maximum drawdown. It’s uncomfortable, but survivable for most disciplined investors.
Rule Breakers expects 50%+ drawdowns on individual positions. Some stocks are down 80-90% and still rated “BUY.” The service explicitly tells you this is part of the strategy.
The Practical Difference: If a 40% drawdown would keep you up at night, stick with Stock Advisor. If you can watch a position lose 80% and add more, Rule Breakers might fit.
Pricing: Standalone vs. Bundle
Stock Advisor is available standalone at $99/year (new member promo) or $199/year (regular). You can try it without committing to the full Motley Fool ecosystem.
Rule Breakers requires the Epic bundle at $299/year (promo) or $499/year (regular). But Epic includes Stock Advisor, Hidden Gems, and Dividend Investor—so you’re getting four services for three times the price of one.
The Practical Difference: If you only want one service, Stock Advisor is your only option. If you want Rule Breakers, you’re getting Stock Advisor included anyway.
How to Decide: Stock Advisor vs Rule Breakers
Choose Stock Advisor if:
- You’re new to Motley Fool and want to start with the flagship
- You prefer a complete portfolio-building framework, not just stock tips
- You want standalone pricing without committing to a bundle
- 30-50% drawdowns are your volatility limit
- Your portfolio is $25K+ and you have a 5+ year horizon
Choose Rule Breakers (via Epic) if:
- You already have Stock Advisor and want to add aggressive growth exposure
- You can stomach 50%+ drawdowns on individual positions
- You want access to all four Motley Fool scorecards (SA, RB, Hidden Gems, Dividend Investor)
- Your portfolio is $50K+ and you have a 10+ year horizon
- You understand that some positions will be down 80% while still rated “BUY”
Either Works if:
- You’re committed to the 5+ year holding period (the biggest variable is you, not the service)
- You understand that 30-40% of picks from any service will lose money
- You’re adding this as one input to your process, not your entire strategy
The Tiebreaker:
If you’re still stuck, ask yourself: “Do I want a foundation or an accelerator?”
Stock Advisor is the foundation—the service designed to be your primary investment framework. Rule Breakers is the accelerator—designed to add aggressive growth on top of a solid base.
Most investors should start with the foundation.
The Verdict: Stock Advisor Wins for Most Investors
Stock Advisor is the better choice for most investors. The 23-year track record, the complete portfolio framework, the lower price, and the standalone availability make it the obvious starting point.
But here’s the nuance: if you want Rule Breakers, you’re getting Stock Advisor anyway. The Epic bundle includes both. So the real question becomes: “Do I want just Stock Advisor at $99/year, or the full Epic bundle at $299/year?”
For new investors, start with Stock Advisor. Build the foundation. See if the Motley Fool approach fits your investing style. If it does, and you want more aggressive exposure, upgrade to Epic later.
For experienced investors who already know they want the full Motley Fool ecosystem, the Epic bundle is actually strong value—four services for roughly the price of two.
The worst choice? Subscribing to Rule Breakers for the excitement factor without understanding that 50%+ drawdowns are a feature, not a bug. That’s how you end up panic-selling at the bottom.
If neither service feels like the right fit, explore all available options in our guide to the best stock advisors.
Try Stock Advisor — $99/Year with 30-Day Guarantee
Frequently Asked Questions
Stock Advisor vs Rule Breakers: which is better?
Stock Advisor is better for most investors. It has a longer track record (+982% vs +348%), lower price ($99/year vs $299/year), standalone availability, and lower volatility. Rule Breakers is better for aggressive investors who already have a solid foundation and want to add disruptive growth exposure—but it requires the Epic bundle, which includes Stock Advisor anyway.
Is Motley Fool Stock Advisor worth it?
Yes, for patient growth investors with 5+ year horizons. The +982% return since 2002 (versus S&P 500’s +188%) is real and verifiable. The $99/year new member price is reasonable for the portfolio framework, Foundational Stocks list, and Moneyball database. The 30-day money-back guarantee means you can try it risk-free.
Is Motley Fool Rule Breakers worth it?
Yes, for aggressive investors who understand the volatility. The +348% return since 2004 and 6:1 winner-to-loser ratio demonstrate the asymmetric strategy works—but only if you hold for 5-10+ years. The catch: Rule Breakers isn’t available standalone. You must purchase the Epic bundle at $299/year, which includes Stock Advisor, Hidden Gems, and Dividend Investor.
Can I use both Stock Advisor and Rule Breakers?
Yes—and if you want Rule Breakers, you must use both. Rule Breakers is only available through the Epic bundle, which includes Stock Advisor. Many investors use Stock Advisor for core portfolio positions and Rule Breakers for aggressive growth exposure. The services are designed to complement each other: Stock Advisor provides the foundation, Rule Breakers adds the accelerator.
Why is Rule Breakers not available standalone?
Motley Fool restructured their offerings to bundle Rule Breakers into Epic membership alongside Stock Advisor, Hidden Gems, and Dividend Investor. The bundle approach provides access to multiple scorecards for different market conditions. At $299/year (promo), you’re effectively paying $75/year per service—less than Stock Advisor’s standalone price.
Did David Gardner leave Rule Breakers?
David Gardner stepped back from making stock picks in May 2021, though he remains involved with The Motley Fool. The Rule Breakers analyst team now makes all recommendations. The investment philosophy remains the same—hunting disruptive innovators before they become obvious—but the personality of David’s individual picks is gone.