0.25%; 0.40% if you choose the premium account, Starts at $199 for a one-time call with a financial expert; 0.07% to 0.15% fund fee. If one of your goals is to buy a house, Wealthfront uses third-party sources such as Redfin and Zillow to estimate what that will cost. "What Is SPIC Insurance?" Set-it-and-forget-it is a fair description of what it feels like to invest using Betterment, Wealthfront, or Personal Capital. However, for large account customers with … Betterment vs Wealthfront | The Robo-Advisor Matchup. ), Goldman Sachs Smart Beta portfolio that seeks to outperform the market, Income focused all-bond portfolio made up of BlackRock ETFs, “Flexible Portfolio” constructed from the standard portfolio’s asset classes but weighted according to user preferences. There's no minimum to start, which means if you have a few extra dollars in your pocket, you have more than enough to open an account right now. Betterment has two plans available: a Digital plan, which assesses an annual fee of 0.25% with a $0 minimum balance, and a Premium plan, with a 0.40% annual fee and a $100,000 minimum balance. What is a robo-advisor? A robo-advisor is an automated online investment platform that creates an investment portfolio based on your age, the type of investor you are and when you plan to retire. It is important to remember just how competitive this rate is compared to what you would have paid a decade ago to have your portfolio managed. In contrast, Betterment does not offer direct indexing while Wealthfront offers direct indexing accounts balances that exceed $100,000. Traditional IRA, Roth IRA, SEP IRA, 401(k) Rollover, 529 College Savings, Individual, Joint, Trust, Traditional IRA, Roth IRA, SEP IRA, 401(k) and 403(b) Rollovers, Individual, Joint, Trust. Betterment and Wealthfront both charge an annual fee of 0.25% for digital portfolio management. Betterment vs. Wealthfront Betterment review 2020 — the final word Investing your money is one of the best ways to save for retirement and build future wealth, and a robo-advisor like Betterment makes it easy for investors to put their money in personalized portfolios. Our team of industry experts, led by Theresa W. Carey, conducted our reviews and developed this best-in-industry methodology for ranking robo-advisor platforms for investors at all levels. Both companies emerged in 2008 to provide technology-powered financial management with minimum human involvement at lower fees than those charged by traditional human advisors. We also reference original research from other reputable publishers where appropriate. Two major robo-advisors -- Wealthfront and Betterment -- are leading the pack in the crowded field of online investing. Cost—Winner: Depends. Wealthfront and Betterment both follow Modern Portfolio Theory (MPT) to populate a diversified portfolio of ETFs representing different asset classes. Here's the differences between two of the leading options. Wealthfront and Betterment are well-matched in terms of features, but there are some important differences. If you're looking to save for college, a Wealthfront account might be where you put your money. Once all of your financial accounts are entered, such as IRAs and 401(k)s, and any other investments you might have, like a Coinbase wallet, Wealthfront shows you a picture of your current situation and your progress towards retirement. Betterment gives you a free month for one referral and a free year for three referrals with no limit; Wealthfront gives you an additional $5000 managed for free per referral. Make sure to find an account that grows and changes with you. On the surface, Betterment and Wealthfront look very similar, but a deeper dive turns up some key differences that can help in deciding which one is a better fit for you. What is a Robo-advisor? Wealthfront has comparable management fees of 0.25%. Betterment also offers a cash account for which you'll need a minimum deposit of $10 -- it currently has a competitive APY (annual percentage yield ) of up to 0.30%. If you have $100,000, you can use Wealthfront's PassivePlus program, which includes stock-level tax-loss harvesting. These are the only investment choices traders with the two firms have, and even worse, not all ETFs are available. Aside from not needing a minimum balance to get started, Betterment has experts on-hand for tailored advice. When it comes to fees, both Betterment and Wealthfront start at a very affordable annual fee of 0.25%. Betterment vs. Wealthfront vs. Let's get the easiest comparison out of the way first. Only through customer service for technical support. Wealthfront also offers a cash account (with a 0.26% APY) -- you'll need just $1 to open one. Your asset allocation is displayed in a ring with equities in shades of green and fixed income in shades of blue. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Clients will appreciate this automated reallocation because most investors don’t have the time or dedication to implement these techniques on their own. Portfolios gets more conservative as the target date approaches, with the goal of locking in gains and avoiding major losses. For both firms, there are management fees associated with the underlying ETFs, which add an additional 0.10%-0.25% to your costs. Larger accounts at Wealthfront qualify for additional services. Like you, your investments can grow and change. Betterment’s explanation, and potentially the service, is more basic. For those who want human interaction, Betterment has a … Wealthfront offers a customer support phone line Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. if you need help with a forgotten password. Robo-advisors tend to have lower fees than online brokerages or accounts where you micro-manage your money. These two have a track record in the industry and pioneered many of the features that have become standard for robo-advisories. Our 2019 reviews are the result of six months of evaluating all aspects of 32 robo-advisor platforms, including the user experience, goal setting capabilities, portfolio contents, costs and fees, security, mobile experience, and customer service. Important differences to … Both choices shine in different ways, as well as some similar ones: They both feature tax-loss harvesting and automatic rebalancing. Wealthfront, by contrast, seems like the better choice for investors who don’t feel the need for human hand-holding. Wealthfront charges the same 0.25% annual advisory fee that Betterment charges, but it also charges a fund fee of 0.06 to 0.13%, depending on the funds your money goes into. Not all robo-advisors offer the same services and accounts. If you are looking at investing in securities, but don’t want to pay the fees to hire a professional to manage your investments, consider a robo-advisor. Betterment offers five portfolio types based upon classic Modern Portfolio Theory (MPT) principles and/or specific investment themes: Betterment accounts are rebalanced dynamically when they deviate from their intended goal allocations. Betterment doesn’t directly carry SIPC insurance, but trades are cleared through Apex Clearing, which has risk management tools in place. Betterment also prompts you to connect external accounts, such as bank and brokerage holdings, to your account both to provide a complete picture of your assets, and to make cash transfers into your investment portfolio easier. Wealthfront and Betterment were very close across our rankings. At Wealthfront, to determine the portfolio you’ll invest in you’re asked a few questions about your attitude towards risk and when you might need the money. Discussion threads can be closed at any time at our discretion. Wealthfront offers stock-level tax-loss harvesting. Wealthfront has an account minimum of $500. The key differences are the option of a human advisor for higher account fees through Betterment, the additional account types with Wealthfront, and a $500 difference in what it takes to start an account. Now let's take a more detailed look at how the two compare. For investors who want to take their portfolios up a notch, this might be enticing. Statistics don’t lie and the respective total assets under management literally tell the whole story. Top robo advisors comparison – Betterment vs Wealthfront. So although Betterment may be the go-to if you are cash-strapped when you are starting out, Wealthfront is ultimately the superior service in the long run. These are invisible to you, though, as they are assessed by the ETF providers. Wealthfront’s retirement planning takes Social Security projections into account. Since robo-advisors have computers managing your portfolio -- not humans -- they can charge you lower fees than a traditional adviser. "What SIPC Protects." Betterment's customer service is available from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern time, Monday through Friday. This might sway you another way, but it depends on what you want to invest in. Wealthfront: None Securities and Account Types Wealthfront and Betterment use ETFs to create digitally-managed portfolios for their clients. Wealthfront and Betterment are well known in the robo-advisor space for a good reason. vs Vanguard vs 403b Investing Hello, I have been reading extensively through the guides in the side bar, but I still have a few doubts and I would welcome input from people with more expertise or just more clarity. We publish unbiased product reviews; our opinions are our own and are not influenced by payment we receive from our advertising partners. You can learn more about the standards we follow in producing accurate, unbiased content in our, Financial Technology & Automated Investing, Great for those looking to connect all their financial accounts to see the bigger picture, Designed for people who would like to set and track their goals, Access to a portfolio line of credit for those interested in a loan, If you have an account of $100,000 or more you get access to additional securities, Perfect for people looking for simplicity and ease of use, Great for those who would like maximum transparency into the assets they are invested in, Aimed towards those looking to set and plan for financial goals such as purchasing a home, Premium plan is great for people who would like access to a real financial advisor, Standard portfolio of globally diversified stock and bond ETFs, Socially responsible portfolio comprised of holdings that score well on environmental and social impact. Wealthfront Software LLC (“Wealthfront”) offers a free software-based financial advice engine that delivers automated financial planning tools to help users achieve better outcomes. Wealthfront and Betterment both deal with trades in your taxable accounts through tax-loss harvesting. If you are trying to get started with less than $500, Betterment is the better place to start. Spoiler Alert – We hate to disappoint but if you’re asking yourself which platform is objectively better there really isn’t a one-size-fits all answer. But more money could bring you more options with Wealthfront. But you don't need loads of money or a background in finance to get started. You can also put some companies on a restricted list if you’d rather not invest in them. Wealthfront’s methodologies are laid out extensively, so a relatively experienced investor can have a high degree of comfort giving up the human option. Wealthfront has an account minimum of $500. Only digital consultations are included with this plan. Betterment joined fellow robo-adviser Wealthfront in the high-yield savings space, which debuted its … Premium account offers unlimited access to certified financial planners. Personal Capital: Investment performance conclusion The three wealth managers all came within 1% of each other over the five year period for average annualized returns. Betterment, Wealthfront, etc. How Wealthfront, Betterment and others manage your money. Betterment vs Wealthfront: Fees Compared Betterment’s Pricing and Fees. Wealthfront. © 2021 CNET, A RED VENTURES COMPANY. Accounts over $100,000 are eligible for a stock-level tax-loss harvesting service, and those over $500,000 can opt into the Smart Beta program, which re-weights the holdings in your portfolio using Wealthfront’s proprietary system. Betterment, Wealthfront and Wealthsimple are among the best choices in the hands-off investing world of robo-advisors. Every robo-advisor we reviewed was asked to fill out a 50-point survey about their platform that we used in our evaluation. Betterment doesn't have an account minimum. If you have more than $100,000 in your Wealthfront investing account, you can choose a stock portfolio rather than portfolios of ETFs. If you’re falling behind on meeting a goal you’ve set, you’re encouraged to put more aside. betterment vs wealthfront: portfolio Whether you sign up for Betterment or Wealthfront, the Robo-advisor will surely ask you a series of questions to look into your investment need. Wealthfront has a single plan, which assesses an annual advisory fee of 0.25% with a minimum of $500. Both firms have tight security on their web platforms, and offer two-factor authentication as well as biometric logins on their mobile apps. benefit users who want a clear indication of whether they are on-track to meet their financial goals While these two online companies provide similar services, there are a few key differences worth … These nudges can be particularly valuable for younger investors for whom retirement or buying a house is still far off and seemingly less of a financial priority. How Wealthfront, Betterment and others manage your money, Diversity isn't a priority for investors, report finds, How much you think you can contribute to your account every month, How risky or conservative you are with your investments. In general, Betterment is the best option for investors just starting out in that you don’t need much to get started and you can get human support at a still-low fee of 0.40%. All investing involves risk, including the possible loss of money you invest, and past performance does not guarantee future performance. We collected over 300 data points that weighed into our scoring system. A Summary of Betterment vs. Wealthfront. Moreover, the service improves as your assets under management grow, with additional layers of diversification and portfolio management kicking in automatically at $100,000 and $500,000, with no increase in fees. While Betterment’s premium account has a $100,000 minimum, the standard option has no account minimums at all. Securities Investor Protection Corporation. Wealthfront has a 529 college savings plan, while Betterment doesn't. Betterment has two plans available: a Digital plan, which assesses an annual fee of 0.25% with a $0 minimum balance, and a Premium plan, with a 0.40% … Features & Tools. Wealthfront’s Advantage Still, one of the most intriguing features of Wealthfront is its invitation program, which is more generous than Betterment’s. Betterment, the online investing adviser, debuted a high-yield savings account in July. Accessed Sept. 5, 2020. Wealthfront has a 529 college savings plan… Betterment offers socially responsible investing, where your money gets put into accounts that meet certain social and environmental standards. Robo advising is a relatively new service that many people thought would fail in the initial stages. Accessed Sept. 5, 2020. Be respectful, keep it civil and stay on topic. Betterment vs Wealthfront – Comparing Features. As previously mentioned, Wealthfront has some additional account types that Betterment currently doesn’t support. Betterment clients are not placing risky trades, and there is no margin lending offered, so it’s unlikely that there would be a need for additional SIPC coverage. This might sway you another way, but it depends on what you want to invest in. We are reviewing Betterment vs Wealthfront so that you can make an informed decision when choosing the best robo advisor. (Note: investments may not meet standard requirements for this theme. Before diving into the Betterment vs. Wealthfront debate, it’s important to learn about robo advising and … In my opinion, Wealthfront's $500 minimum isn't much different for the average reader who's serious about investing. We thought it would be helpful to include a comparison of investment performance between the two robo-advisor giants. Betterment vs Schwab Intelligent Portfolios — Overview Both Schwab Intelligent Portfolios and Betterment are goals-based robo-advisors, which makes them seem more similar than they are. The key difference between Wealthfront and Betterment is the options offered by each platform; Wealthfront does not offer goal based savings whereas Betterment offers goal based savings. Neither firm offers online chat for customer support. Compare Betterment, Wealthfront, and Vanguard Digital Advisor and choose the best robo-advisor for you. Additionally, Wealthfront has fund fees of between 0.07% and 0.16%. Investopedia is dedicated to providing investors with unbiased, comprehensive reviews and ratings of robo-advisors. The Premium service gives you unlimited access to financial experts. Instead, robo-advisors handle your investments for you with little human intervention. Learn more about how we review products and read our advertiser disclosure for how we make money. This is where the differences between Betterment vs Wealthfront start to really show. Investopedia requires writers to use primary sources to support their work. Robo-advisors manage your investments with portfolio guidance and time-saving automation. All you need is the internet and a robo-advisor, automated investment software that makes the complicated decision of where to invest your money, with little upfront costs. Discuss: Wealthfront vs. Betterment: What's the difference? Betterment vs Wealthfront is the proverbial clash of the robo-advisor titans. It goes without saying that, these two, offer excellent robo-advisor services. Each goal you’ve set can be invested in a different strategy, so your longer-term goals, such as retirement, can have higher risk than a shorter-term goal, such as funding a down payment on a house. Wealthfront is a member of the Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC) and client accounts are protected up to a maximum of $500,000. The site actually has an article on why SIPC insurance doesn’t protect investors in the way they think it does, but the company still holds the coverage. Their trades are cleared at RBC Correspondent Services, a Canadian company that focuses on wealth management and financial advisors rather than clearing firms that serve broker/dealers with very active traders. Most support questions posed on the Wealthfront Twitter account are answered relatively quickly, though we saw one that took more than a week before there was a response. Betterment has no minimum deposit, whereas Wealthfront's minimum deposit is a $500 minimum. In addition, Wealthfront requires a $500 minimum deposit to open a new account. However, due to limited performance data provided by Betterment, the comparison is no better than approximate. Wealthfront offers a college savings plan. The methodologies are likely very similar, swapping in comparable assets for a loss to offset gains elsewhere. You can also get help from financial planners at any time with a Premium account, but you’ll pay a fee of $199-$299 to consult a planner if you have a basic account. You’re shown the exact portfolio prior to funding your account, but you cannot customize the pre-set portfolio at all. Investing can seem like a daunting task if you don't know where to begin. Here is a quick chart to summarize their product and service offerings. The Digital plan includes personalized advice, automatic rebalancing, and tax-saving strategies, while the Premium plan also offers advice on assets held outside Betterment and guidance on life events such as getting married, having a child, or retiring. Get started. That said, the biggest difference in features is the fact that Betterment offers you a human option (for a fee) while Wealthfront is digital-only beyond basic customer service. You can even figure out how long you can take a sabbatical from work and travel, while still making your other goals work. Betterment has very easy-to-follow steps for setting a goal, and each one can be monitored separately. Both these robo-advisors have very competitive pricing, offering an annual fee of 0.25% that is quite affordable. Wealthfront vs Betterment performance. We delete comments that violate our policy, which we encourage you to read. It's hands-off investing. That said, for the majority of investors we believe Betterment will be the better option. Betterment vs Wealthfront vs Vanguard review for 2019. If you're looking to get started today with a few dollars, Betterment might be a better option for you. Since not everyone's investment plans are the same, you can talk to a certified financial planner to get specific advice just for you. Click here to read our full methodology. Their Path planning tool helps you compare your projected retirement income against your current spending habits so you’ll be able to see whether you can maintain your lifestyle later. These include white papers, government data, original reporting, and interviews with industry experts. Read more: What is a robo-advisor? Posted September 16, 2019 April 21, 2020 Colleen Bagdon +2-0. Or you can talk to a pro for at least $199 if you don't meet the premium account minimum. Betterment is one of the first robo-advisors and also one of the leaders in the space.