Thanks to Betterment and Wealthfront, anyone can invest. A low-cost and easy way to start investing is provided by these robo-advisors.
Artificial intelligence can be used to build and rebalance investment portfolios, so you don’t have to hire a human financial advisor. They can help you with your individual needs and goals.
Every year, there are new robo-advisors from start-ups and powerhouses. There is an efficient and cost-effective way to manage investments with technology that can be used by both experienced investors and those just starting out. Betterment and Wealthfront lead the pack. The standard for automated investing platforms is set by both companies.
What are the differences between them? It is important to research both options thoroughly to determine which one is the best fit for your individual needs. Which one should you choose? It’s important to consider all of your options before making a decision, as it can be difficult to decide between the different options. Is it possible to go with another robo? If we’re feeling adventurous, we could try investing on our own.
Betterment vs Wealthfront: What Are They?
Betterment and Wealthfront help ordinary people invest their money more easily and at a low cost.
Financial advisors used to build investment portfolios manually. With the advancement of technology and the internet, many financial managers are using automated software to assist them in building investment portfolios for their clients. The best financial planning will be tailored to your life and future plans if you hire a pro. They can help you implement the plan and offer ongoing support.
The decisions required to build and manage an investment portfolio can be reduced to a series of patterns. The use of technology can free up time for investors to focus on other aspects of their investments. That is how robo-advisors work. If you don’t have the time or expertise to actively manage your investments, robo-advisors are a great option.
Artificial intelligence built intorobo-advisors can identify patterns in the market, consider the patterns required to meet your investment goals, and make sound decisions. It can provide more efficient management of investments than a human advisor.
You shouldn’t expect a robo to be creative, but you can expect it to apply modern portfolio theory and limit your capital gains taxes with tax-loss harvesting. This may be all you need for your investment portfolio.
Betterment & Wealthfront Use AI
Both Betterment and Wealthfront work the same way. They both use artificial intelligence to invest your money, automatic rebalancing of your portfolio, and limit your tax exposure. Each platform has its own fees and features that may make it more suitable than the other.
Both platforms invest your dividends. It is easy to take advantage of the power of compounding and grow your investments over time. Both invest your money in exchange-traded funds (ETFs) instead of individual stocks and bonds so you can spread your portfolio across a broad stretch of individual securities.
Both platforms can integrate, but not manage, your outside accounts so you can see a bigger picture of your finances.
You can change asset allocations on the app. As markets change or you get closer to your goals, it’s much easier to adjust your portfolio.
Betterment vs Wealthfront: At a Glance
| Feature | Betterment | Wealthfront |
| Minimum Initial Investment | $0 | $500 |
| Annual Fees | 0.25% – 0.40% | 0.25% |
| Promotions | Up to One Year Free | First $5,000 Managed Free |
| Automatic Rebalancing | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Tax-Loss Harvesting | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Human Advisors | ✔️ | ✖️ |
Betterment vs Wealthfront: Features
The key differences that will help determine which service to use are account minimums and the annual fee structure. Carefully review the features of each service to ensure you choose the one that best meets your needs.
Betterment’s Standout Features
Betterment has no minimum deposit required to open an account, and the platform is slightly more user-friendly, so it’s ideal for new investors who don’t want to commit to investing a lot of their money.
Betterment attracts more beginners than Wealthfront because Betterment’s management fee increases once you pass $100,000 in investments. Wealthfront has a lower management fee for larger portfolios. (We’ll compare fees more thoroughly below.)
Here are some unique Betterment features:
- Betterment’s portfolios make it easy to mix in the U.S. U.S. government bonds are a reliable source of income. A lower-risk investment option is government and corporate bonds. Government and corporate bonds provide a steady income stream with less volatility than other types of investments.
- When you buy fractional shares, you don’t have to wait until you have enough to buy a full share of the fund. You can purchase any amount of fractional shares, no matter how small, as they are a great way to begin investing with limited funds. You can keep more of your cash invested. It’s a great way to build wealth over time.
- Betterment can analyze your bank account, anticipate your monthly expenses, and move money from your savings account into your investment account. With less effort, this can help you reach your investment goals. It’s optional, of course. If you decide to add an extra sentence, it’s up to you.
- Both ways smart deposits work. If your balance falls too low, Betterment could return money to your account. When your account balance drops below a certain amount, Betterment can send you notifications.
- Cash Reserve: Betterment’s high-yield savings account which currently pays 0.4% APY. Money can be invested in this cash account at any time. Investments in this cash account are not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. Betterment will make you invest the money.
- Tax Strategies : A tax-coordinated portfolio will put your most tax-efficient assets in taxable accounts and tax-inefficient assets in an Individual Retirement Account. This strategy can help you maximize your returns. The strategy helps lower capital gains taxes. Capital gains taxes can be reduced if profits are reinvested.
- Certified Financial Planners : With the premium plan ($100,000 in assets or more) you’d have unlimited access to financial advice from a CFP.
- CFP Appointments : Betterment Premium gives you unlimited access to a Certified Financial Planner. But with Betterment Digital you could buy an appointment with a If you want an assessment of your retirement planning or want to set new goals, you can ask for a specific purpose. A plan that is tailored to your needs and financial situation can be developed by a CFP.
- You could choose investment strategies that put your money into companies that protect natural resources. Reducing their negative environmental impact is one of the things these companies may focus on.
- It is possible to set specific financial goals such as a certain amount of income. You have more money to invest in your future if you set goals for your savings and investments. Betterment would choose a specific Blackrock exchange traded fund to make your goal more likely to happen. Betterment makes adjustments to your account as necessary to ensure that your investments are tailored to meet your individual needs.
Wealthfront’s Standout Features
It is best suited to investors who have a minimum deposit of $500. You can open a Any amount of money can be deposited into the betterment account. No matter the size of the initial investment, a Betterment account can help you secure your financial future.
If you have a large account with $100,000 or more invested, Wealthfront takes a smaller percentage of your account balance. Wealthfront is a great choice for investors looking to maximize their returns. Wealthfront works better for higher value investors. (See the full price comparison below.)
Here are some other unique Wealthfront features:
- REITs : Unlike with Betterment, you could choose real estate investment trusts and commodities, which diversify your portfolio by giving you exposure to alternative asset classes.
- Wealthfront Path : This package of financial planning tools gives you advice to help reach specific money goals like retirement and can project your future net worth given certain scenarios. It helps you put your finances into perspective, even though it is not a human advisor. It’s easy to gain financial insight and achieve your goals.
- PassivePlus : Stock level tax-loss harvesting and a tax-optimization service are included in this suite of features. It has a range of investment services to help you maximize your returns. (The suite also includes Risk Parity and Smart Beta processing for larger accounts.)
- High-Yield Savings : The deposit option at Wealthfront pays more than most national banks. The Wealthfront Savings product offers a safe and secure way to save while building wealth over time.
- College Savings Accounts : Betterment specializes in college savings plans. Retirement planning and financial advice are some of the services Betterment offers.
- Portfolio Line of Credit : If you had at least $25,000 invested with no credit check, you could borrow against your account balance. You could get cash quickly without having to apply for a loan.
- Wealthfront Risk Parity Fund : Accounts with $100,000 or more can put up to 20% of their portfolio into this mutual fund which can increase gains without impacting expense ratios. For those with smaller accounts, this fund is an excellent way to get a higher return.
- Smart Beta : Wealthfront’s most intelligent algos are tapped into by this platform for accounts with $500,000 or more.
Betterment vs Wealthfront: Fees
The management fee and expense ratio of the funds you buy should be looked at when you compare prices. It’s important to consider the features and services that come with therobo-advisor, since these can provide added value for your money.
- The management fee is calculated as a percentage of your account balance each year. $25 a year is not a bad deal on a $10,000 account with an advisory fee. It is possible to get professional advice at an affordable cost with this fee.
- Expense ratios are the fees that the ETFs charge to your advisor. The expense ratio can have a negative effect on your investment returns, so it is important to understand them and shop around for the best option. The fees average around 0.13% of your portfolio a year.
Betterment and Wealthfront have low management fees, but they vary depending on your plan. Both companies offer the convenience of automated investing and the ability to track your investments in one place, so it’s important to compare fees and services to find the right fit for your needs.
Betterment Fees
Depending on the type of account you create, Betterment charges either 0.25% or 0.40% of your assets. The costs of providing personalized financial advice and access to Betterment’s automated investment platform are covered by the fees.
If you opt for Betterment Digital package, your fee will be 0.25 of your assets, with no minimum balance required. Betterment Digital has access to a team of certified financial planners who can help with your financial planning needs.
You will pay an annual fee of 0.40% if you choose the Betterment Plus package with access to in-depth advice from real Certified Financial Planners.
You can get up to one year of free with our special offer. Don’t miss out on this offer, it’s only available for a short time. Betterment is cheaper for the first year. Betterment offers additional features such as retirement planning and tax-loss harvesting, making it an attractive option for long-term investors.
Wealthfront Fees
Wealthfront charges 0.25 of your balance, regardless of account type. As your balance grows, your fees will not increase. You will get the first $5,000 managed for free with a current promotion. You can get the most out of your investments with this promotion.
After you stop benefiting from Betterment, Wealthfront has lower fees. Wealthfront has a suite of tools and strategies to help you manage your investments.
Betterment vs Wealthfront: Signing Up
Both services are easy to use. There are no hidden fees associated with either service.
Signing-up For Betterment
You will be able to create different account types after Betterment establishes a baseline account for you.
You can create various accounts for different investment goals. You can either link your bank account to make cash deposits or transfer investments from your previous account to a different one.
Signing-up For Wealthfront
You will be asked to fill out a questionnaire. Wealthfront will use this questionnaire to determine your risk tolerance, investment goals, and time horizon. If you are happy with the plan assigned, Wealthfront will invite you to open an account. The Wealthfront team will help you stay on track with your investment goals.
There are options for different account types. Start investing in the stock market today by choosing the one that best fits your needs.
Betterment vs Wealthfront: Security
Two-factor verification is offered by Betterment and Wealthfront. Any security-related questions or concerns can be answered by both platforms.
Betterment Security
Betterment protects their accounts from unauthorized activity and stores their data in a secure facility. A team of security professionals is employed by Betterment.
SIPC insurance protects Betterment’s account up to $500,000. Excess SIPC coverage is provided by Betterment and Apex Clearing Corporation. SIPC insurance doesn’t prevent your account from declining in value because of market movement, but it does prevent you from losing your account’s value if Betterment goes under. SIPC insurance doesn’t protect against losses due to poor investment decisions.
Wealthfront Security
Wealthfront makes trades only on behalf of clients to keep your money safe. A secure online platform that allows clients to monitor their investments in real time is provided by Wealthfront.
SIPC insurance protects securities of a value of up to $500,000.
Betterment vs. Wealthfront: Mobile App
Both companies have an app that you can download. Both companies offer great customer service, so you can be sure you’ll get the help you need.
Betterment App
Betterment allows customers to manage their goals and investments.
Wealthfront App
Wealthfront strongly encourages customers to use their app from the start; before opening an account, they will prompt you to explore the information on your phone to understand your investment goals better. Wealthfront’s app can be used to gain an understanding of the world of investing and how it can help you achieve your financial goals.
Betterment vs Wealthfront: Customer Support
The type of advisors you have access to is a big difference between the two companies. One company has human advisors while the other has automated advice.
Betterment Customer Support
If you have a $100,000 investment with Betterment and are willing to pay more, you can talk to a human advisor. The financial wellness program can be tailored to fit your personal goals and preferences, making it easier than ever to start investing with Betterment.
They have a customer support team that is available seven days a week. A swift and satisfactory response is provided by the customer support team.
Wealthfront Customer Support
All advisors are digital with Wealthfront. It’s cheaper to get a consultation than it is to speak to a real person. It’s more convenient for people with busy schedules who can’t visit a doctor in person.
Betterment vs Wealthfront: Asset Classes
Betterment Asset Classes
Betterment divides its asset classes into 15 categories:
- There are 8 stock-based ETFs with small-cap, large-cap, U.S., mid-cap, foreign, emerging market offerings and two socially responsible classes from iShares. A diversified portfolio can be tailored to meet your investment goals.
- There are 7 bond-based ETFs with U.S., municipal, corporate, foreign, and emerging market classes. The diversified portfolio offered by these ETFs can be tailored to the investor’s goals.
Wealthfront Asset Classes
Wealthfront uses 11 asset classes:
- There are 4 stock-based exchange traded funds from Vanguard. The performance of large, mid-size, small and international companies in the U.S. market makes them ideal for investors looking to gain exposure to the entire U.S. stock market. stocks and foreign stocks)
- 5 bond-based ETFs from Vanguard, Schwab, and iShares (government, corporate, municipal and emerging markets)
- There are 2 alternatives, one of which is a natural resources exchange traded fund. You could invest in both types of funds for a more comprehensive approach to investing.
Wealthfront Pros and Cons
Pros
- A Wealthfront account offers a wider variety of accounts including SEP-IRA for small businesses and a 529 college savings plan account.
- Lower fees are charged for higher wealth investors. Wealthfront still offers competitive fees and a range of services for those with smaller amounts to invest.
- The platform’s high-dividend yield ETFs make it better suited for dividend-payingstocks.
- There are more tax efficient investment strategies. Understanding and implementing tax-efficient investment strategies is important to maximize the potential of a portfolio.
Cons
- Minimum assets are needed to invest.
- No human advisors.
- It doesn’t stress socially responsible investing. Investing in a socially responsible manner is an important part of helping to make the world a better place, but it shouldn’t be done at the expense of your financial goals.
Learn More:
Betterment Pros and Cons
Pros
- A minimum deposit is not required to invest.
- Betterment does not require a starting balance to open an account. Betterment can help you reach your financial goals.
- Betterment gives you the ability to choose socially responsible investing strategies. Betterment has tools to help you understand how socially responsible investing works.
- Betterment is better for portfolio rebalancing and retirement planning
- The option of charitable giving assistance can help reduce capital gains taxes. It is possible to reduce taxes while still giving back to the community.
- The option to talk with human advisors is offered by Betterment Plus. An extensive team of experts, including certified financial planners, are available to help you make the most of your investments.
Cons
- More limited variety of accounts: just taxable accounts, SEP, Traditional and Roth IRA accounts, 401(k)s, and rollover IRAs.
- Higher account balances are less tax efficient. Some investment strategies are more tax efficient for individuals with higher account balances.
- Less suited for paying dividends. Growth stocks are usually characterized by higher price-to-earnings ratios and lower dividends, making them less suitable for investors seeking regular income.
Learn More:
Alternatives
Although Betterment and Wealthfront are both great robo-advisory platforms suitable for most people, there are a few other alternatives for those with more specific needs.
Personal Capital
If you want a portfolio mix, Personal Capital has a wide range of investment options. Users can receive personalized advice from financial experts on the platform. Real estate and government bonds are excluded from Betterment and Wealthfront. Both services offer a wide range of investments, however, investors should be aware that there are some exclusions which may affect their portfolio.
Learn More:
Ally Invest
Ellevest
There are social responsibility investments that align with your values. It is possible to invest in a way that is financially and socially responsible. It is marketed to women because they earn less over their lifetime and live for longer. It is important for women to take active steps to manage their finances and gain a secure financial future.
Men can use it as well. It is possible for men to benefit from the same features and advantages as women.
Learn More:
Can I Have Both Betterment and Wealthfront?
It might be tempting to open an account with both platforms to see which works best for you. Before opening accounts with either platform, be sure to read the terms and conditions carefully.
There is no rule against doing this. It doesn’t make sense, and you might run into difficulties. It’s a good idea to think before you take on a difficult task.
Consider tax-loss harvesting. An index fund can be bought for tax reasons. The same pattern may be detected by the other platform. There is a chance that both platforms are competing with each other. You will not be able to make the same gains twice. It’s important to keep building your skills and knowledge.
It is more difficult for advisors to give reliable advice when they do not have a complete perspective on your portfolio. For investors with complex portfolios, the interrelatedness of their investments can be difficult to determine without a comprehensive view. Pick one platform. It’s important to research the platform to make sure it’s the right one for you and your business.
Wealthfront vs Betterment: Which Is Best For You?
Betterment and Wealthfront are great investment platforms. They make investing far too easy and cheap for you to not get involved.
Personal preferences and investment needs are what determines the platform you choose. Before making a decision, it is important to do your research and weigh the pros and cons of each platform. The size of your portfolio, your experience investing, and the types of portfolio you want are all important factors to consider when choosing between the two sites.
Betterment is a better option for new and low-asset investors, while Wealthfront is a better option for experienced investors. Betterment does not have a range of advanced tools that Wealthfront does.
