The List
Not all robo advisors are the same. There are many firms that have gotten lumped into one category when they may have substantial differences. This creates many questions that can be confusing for consumers.
Below, we have broken down the major robo advisors into different categories based on what they actually offer, making them more comparable and allowing you to direct your attention to what you are most interested in. Looking for a financial plan? Check out Learnvest. Have $100,000 of investible assets and can't decide between Betterment vs. Wealthfront? We are here to help.
We will continue to review and update our rankings as this industry is changing at a very rapid pace.
- Aren't all robo advisors offering the same basic product?
- Will this advisor actually manage my investments or do I need to invest them myself?
- Is my money safe?
- Are they looking at my whole financial situation or can they only invest my one account?
Below, we have broken down the major robo advisors into different categories based on what they actually offer, making them more comparable and allowing you to direct your attention to what you are most interested in. Looking for a financial plan? Check out Learnvest. Have $100,000 of investible assets and can't decide between Betterment vs. Wealthfront? We are here to help.
We will continue to review and update our rankings as this industry is changing at a very rapid pace.
Traditional Robo Advisors
The list below shows top options for what we would deem to be your traditional robo advisor. By this we mean that each of these firms offers automated investment products at a low cost and with little to know human intervention. Many of these firms offer management of taxable and nontaxable accounts as well as additional services such as tax loss harvesting.
| Company | Fees | Minimum Deposit |
|---|---|---|
| Betterment | 0.15%-0.35% of assets/yr | None |
| Wealthfront | 0.25% of assets/yr over $10,000 | $5,000 |
| Sigfig | 0.25% of assets/yr over $10,000 | $2,000 |
| Future Advisor | 0.5% of assets/yr | $10,000 |
| Wise Banyan | Free | None |
| Schwab | Free | $5,000 |
| MarketRiders | $14.95/mo or $149.95/yr | None |
| NestEgg Wealth | 0.25%-0.45% of assets/yr | $5,000 |
| TradeKing Advisors | Core: 0.25% of assets/yr Momentum: 0.50% of assets/yr |
Core - $5,000 Momentum - $25,000 |
Manage My Retirement
The list below shows robo advisors who specifically focus on retirement accounts such as 401(k)s and IRAs. These firms work to integrate with and your investment accounts and create an investment plan based upon your investable options.
| Company | Fees | Minimum Deposit |
|---|---|---|
| Rebalance IRA | 0.5% of assets/yr | $100,000 |
| Blooom | $1 per mo. under $20,000 $15 per mo. over $20,000 |
None |
I Want A Financial Plan
Different from your traditional robo advisors, this list (currently only Learnvest) looks specifically at creating for you a financial plan. A financial plan is a more holistic look at your entire financial picture from creating a budget and saving for your childrens education to discussing the plan to save for retirement.
| Company | Fees | Minimum Deposit |
|---|---|---|
| Learnvest | $299 setup + $19/mo | None |
Quasi Robo Advisors - I still want a human presence!
Lastly, the companies on the list below have situated themselves between traditional investment managers and pure robo advisors. These companies offer web-based investment advisory services utilizing similar financial algorithms, however they also offer the ability to work with a live financial professional.
| Company | Fees | Minimum Deposit |
|---|---|---|
| Vanguard | 0.30% of assets/yr | $100,000 |
| Personal Capital | 0.49%-0.89% of assets/yr | $100,000 |
| Rebalance IRA | 0.5% of assets/yr | $100,000 |