

Bettermentīetterment is a crowd favorite when it comes to robo-advisors. But there are other great robo-advisor options available to investors. Our Favorite Robo-AdvisorsĪccording to a recent NextAdvisor survey with personal finance experts, Betterment was the clear favorite. In reality, you only need a few dollars (and minutes) to get started. A common barrier for newbie investors is removing the idea that you need to be an expert investor. But it’s not required to get started or even have an ongoing relationship with your investments. Some people like the idea of working with a human to get tailored, specific financial advice. Robo-advisors don’t fall prey to emotions, instead relying on programmatic investment elections and asset allocations.” “One of the best ways to outperform the stock market is through not making mistakes when everyone else does,” Adams says. You can do it without ever talking to another human. Using software, the robo-advisor puts together your entire investment portfolio within a few minutes. “A robo-advisor platform has an initial data gathering process where you answer questions related to your finances, risk tolerance, and timeframe,” says Cassandra Kirby, private wealth advisor at Braun-Bostich & Associates, a financial advisory firm.

Based on algorithms or mathematical rules and formulas, the tool determines an appropriate model for your investment portfolio based on your needs and preferences. When you sign up with a robo-advisor, they all start with some basic questions about you, like how old you are, your investment goals, and how much you can reasonably contribute to your account. Betterment, Wealthfront, and Ellevest all began as robo-advisor-only firms. For instance, Fidelity has Fidelity Go, its robo-advisor offering alongside its traditional advisory platform. Over the last nearly 15 years, other companies have popped up or created robo-advisor branches to already existing firms. “The company pioneered the idea of asking their users questions and making investment portfolio decisions based on these answers and the goals they have.”

“The first robo-advisor to hit the market was Betterment in the aftermath of the Great Recession,” says Riley Adams, a CPA, senior financial analyst at Google and owner of Young and the Invested.
HANDS OFF INVESTMENT SOFTWARE
What Is a Robo-Advisor?Ī robo-advisor is an automated investing software that uses your personal investing information to make investment decisions on your behalf. They’re great tools for beginners and advanced investors, and make investing decisions based on information you give like your age, when you want to retire and your risk tolerance. If you’re just getting into investing and want to explore all your options, you’ll want to know what a robo-advisor is and if getting one is the right fit for you. They’re enticing with low fees, friendly user interfaces, and minimal work on your part. If you’re exhausted about making investment decisions, let the robots take over. For more information, see How We Make Money.įor newbie and hands-off investors, robo-advisors are one of the best ways to handle your investments. Some links on this page - clearly marked - may take you to a partner website and may result in us earning a referral commission. We want to help you make more informed decisions.
