Best Robo-Advisors of November 2024

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Wealthfront

4.9

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• Fund your first taxable Investment Account and get a $50 bonus
• Globally diversified portfolio
• Automated tax-loss harvesting makes the service basically fee-free
• Algorithmic, rules-based investment strategies

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Acorns

4.6

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• Easily invest with your spare change
• Bonus $20 after your first investment
• No surprise fees
• Protected by bank level security

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Stash

4.6

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• Get $20 to make your first investment¹
• Stocks, bonds, ETFs, & fractional shares
• Retirement accounts available

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Investing can be one of the best ways to meet your short-, medium-, and long-term goals. A robo-advisor is investment management software that uses mathematical models and algorithms to guide your portfolio with moderate to minimal human intervention.

Our list of best robo-advisors includes Stash², Acorns, Wealthfront³, and more. Let's take a look at the different features each of them offers and the ways they can help you plan your investments and reach your goals.

Best robo-advisors of November 2024

1. Stash: Best robo-advisor for beginners
2. Acorns: Best robo-advisor for micro-investors
3. Betterment: Best robo-advisor for retirees
4. Wealthfront: Best robo-advisor for Roth IRA holders
5. Charles Schwab: Best robo-advisor for hands-on investors
6. Ellevest: Best robo-advisor for women
7. SoFi Automated Investing: Best robo-advisor for cost-conscious investors
8. SigFig: Best robo-advisor for high-net-worth individuals
   

Compare the best robo-advisors

Stash: Best robo-advisor for beginners

Stash offers a robo-advisor service named Smart Portfolio that allows you to deposit your money and have it automatically allocated to different assets according to your investment strategy. The Stash robo-advisor account designs this investment strategy based on your risk tolerance, investing goals, and more. It also rebalances your portfolio to improve your chances of staying on target. You can start a Stash Smart Portfolio with $5 and set up your account to automatically add more money to it over time⁵.

Sign up for Stash

... Or read our Stash review.

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FinanceBuzz doesn’t invest its money with this provider, but they are our referral partner. We get paid by them only if you click to them from our website and take a qualifying action (for example, opening an account.)

Acorns: Best robo-advisor for micro-investors

Acorns also creates portfolios of ETFs on your behalf, using the information you provide about your risk tolerance. It employs a flat-rate membership plan system that increases based on the services you get, including banking products and retirement accounts. One feature that stands out with Acorns is that you can invest using pocket change, setting roundups so your purchases are rounded to the nearest dollar, and the difference is invested. This allows you to begin investing without too much effort or thought and with small amounts of money.

Sign up for Acorns

... Or read our Acorns review.

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FinanceBuzz doesn’t invest its money with this provider, but they are our referral partner. We get paid by them only if you click to them from our website and take a qualifying action (for example, opening an account.)

Betterment: Best robo-advisor for retirees

Betterment is one of the top robo-advisors overall, offering a low account minimum and low management fees. You choose a risk tolerance and Betterment constructs a portfolio for you. On top of that, Betterment features access to different individual retirement account plans. You can also get access to features like automatic rebalancing and tax-loss harvesting. Add on the ability to speak with human financial advisors to map out strategies for long-term planning, as well as banking products, Betterment offers an all-around robo-advisor experience.

Sign up for Betterment

... Or read our Betterment review.

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Wealthfront: Best robo-advisor for Roth IRA holders

Wealthfront creates a portfolio for you based on your risk tolerance, but it also allows you to customize it. Wealthfront is a solid robo-advisor that offers banking products as well as investing portfolios. On top of that, Wealthfront also offers the ability to borrow. Another notable feature is the fact that it offers access to a 529 plan. Wealthfront does have an account balance minimum of $500, however. So, although there are robo-advisors with lower minimums, Wealthfront does stand out with its unique offerings.

Sign up for Wealthfront

... Or read our Wealthfront review.

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Charles Schwab: Best robo-advisor for hands-on investors

Charles Schwab is a financial institution that offers a robo-advisor platform named Charles Schwab Intelligent Portfolios. This user-friendly platform is suitable for beginners and can offer a full hands-off experience. However, it also contains several tools for investors who prefer a more hands-on approach. You can easily manage your automated portfolio to buy or sell one asset or another, view in-depth information about your investment performance, use advanced calculators, and more. Schwab Intelligent Portfolios gives you a range of portfolio options, including goal setting, tax-loss harvesting, risk management, and more.

Read our Charles Schwab review.

Ellevest: Best robo-advisor for women

Ellevest markets to women, but people of any gender identity or expression are welcome. However, Ellevest makes recommendations based on different salary curves related to gender. The idea is to address the pay and retirement gaps experienced by those who identify as women. Ellevest charges a flat rate with different membership levels. You can get access to reduced rates for coaching, as well as access to banking, retirement, and investing services. Plus, it offers the ability to invest in multiple goals at once.

Read our Ellevest review.

SoFi Automated Investing: Best robo-advisor for cost-conscious investors

SoFi Automated Investing is a robo-advisor offered SoFi Invest®⁶ that makes an excellent option for cost-concious investors. SoFi Automated Investing charges no management or advisory fees and offers access to human financial advisors. This automated investment tool gives you access to a number of investment portfolios that are designed for different risk tolerance and objectives. These portfolios use diversified and low-cost ETFs. The main downside of SoFi Automated Investing is that it doesn't offer tax-loss harvesting

Read our SoFi Invest review.

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SigFig: Best robo-advisor for high-net-worth individuals

SigFig is different from others on this list of best robo-advisors. Rather than using an algorithm to create portfolios, SigFig offers wealth management by taking care of your portfolios. It can manage your TD Ameritrade, Fidelity, or Vanguard investment portfolio on your behalf. You also get perks such as unlimited consultations via phone chat and personal advisor service. As with other robo-advisors, SigFig offers automatic portfolio rebalancing and focuses on tax efficiency. The personal touch, though, is where this advisor shines. However, it comes with a high minimum balance requirement of $2,000.

Read our SigFig review.

What is a robo-advisor?

A robo-advisor is software that manages your financial assets or investments by relying on mathematical algorithms and investing models. A robo-advisor automatically determines how to invest your money by allocating it to different assets, often after presenting you with a questionnaire to define your preferences.

Robo-advisors are usually more affordable compared to human advisors or actively-managed portfolios. Robo-advisors require minimal human input when choosing investments or rebalancing portfolios, minimizing operational costs.

Many robo-advisors have low- or no-minimum investment requirements and charge small percentages of your portfolio as annual fees for managing your portfolio.

How do robo-advisors work?

Robo-advisors mostly work by using algorithms to put together portfolios based on your risk tolerance. Many of them use principles of modern portfolio theory, a theory developed by Nobel Prize-winning economist Harry Markowitz. It suggests that the asset allocation of your portfolio matters more than the individual securities you hold. When you learn how to invest money, a robo-advisor can be a good place to start.

As a result, many robo-advisors use index exchange-traded funds (ETFs) to create an investment portfolio that’s designed to help you reach certain goals based on your time frame and risk tolerance. Some robo-advisors also offer individual securities, but in many cases, the idea is to automate portfolio management using index products to reach a high level of diversification.

In order to keep your portfolio on track, many of the best robo-advisors also make it a point to rebalance your portfolio, as well as maintain some tax efficiency. The algorithms used to determine what asset allocation is likely to work well for your portfolio are also used to determine whether you’re straying from the ideal. When that happens, your holdings are automatically adjusted to better reflect the desired portfolio makeup.

Finally, some robo-advisors also offer financial advice. You can usually pay an additional advisory fee for help with financial planning and suggestions on investments. This can help you determine how much to set aside for various goals and can complement the automated investment management of your portfolio.

Who are robo-advisors right for?

Robo-advisors are often best for those who want to take a more hands-off approach to investing. They work especially well for long-term financial goals like saving for retirement and college planning. Although it’s possible to have success with short-term goals when using a robo-advisor, many investors prefer to use them for medium- to long-term goals.

Additionally, with many robo-advisors offering checking accounts and other banking products now — including those that are FDIC-insured — it can make sense to use a robo-advisor if you want a one-stop-shop for your money needs.

On the other hand, if you don't like the idea of automated investing and you want to make more individual trades, robo-advisors might not work as well for you. Although you can customize some robo-advisors to a certain extent, in many cases, you don’t have much control over your portfolio.

Some investors like to take a hybrid approach, using one of the best robo-advisors for long-term goals like retirement planning and using a more traditional broker for trading. However, for many investors, a long-term asset allocation approach, combined with dollar-cost averaging, can be a good way to build wealth over time — and robo-advisors offer that.

Robo-advisor vs. traditional brokerage

When considering where to put your money, it makes sense to consider whether a robo-advisor vs. traditional brokerage is the right investing platform for you.

In general, robo-advisors do most of the heavy lifting with your investments, using advanced formulas to settle on asset allocation and then putting together a portfolio and managing it for you. With a traditional brokerage account, you’re in charge of everything, from figuring out how to create your portfolio and when to rebalance it to choose whether to invest in mutual funds, index funds, stocks, ETFs, or something else. You also have to determine the most tax-efficient way to approach your investments.

Traditional brokerages are more likely to provide access to human help and advisory services, though some robo-advisors are starting to expand their options so you can use a traditional financial advisor.

In the past, traditional brokerages used to charge higher fees, and you’re still more likely to see trading fees with a traditional brokerage. Some traditional brokers, though, have reduced or eliminated their trading fees, making them more desirable to some traders. Robo-advisors, on the other hand, usually charge a relatively low management fee, though some robo-advisors do charge flat monthly fees. In both cases, if you use funds in your portfolio, you’ll be subject to expense ratios.

For investors interested in reducing how much time and effort they spend on a portfolio, a robo-advisor can be a good choice — especially if you choose a robo-advisor that offers add-on services like human investment advice.

How to choose the right robo-advisor

When deciding among the best robo-advisors, it’s important to carefully consider your individual needs and preferences. Here are some things to keep in mind as you compare robo-advisors and make your choice.

1. Consider your budget

Start with your budget. How much can you afford to invest? Do you already have what you need set aside in a savings account? If an investment platform has a $500 minimum and you don’t have that, you might be better off with a platform that has no minimum. It’s also important to consider platform fees. Although robo-advisor fees are generally low, some platforms charge more than others, so you’ll want to consider that as you compare your options.

2. Think about how you want to invest

Before signing up with a robo-advisor, you need to consider what matters to you and what you’re looking for. Think about the asset classes you want to invest in. Even the best robo-advisors may not use assets such as cryptocurrency or options. Instead, they generally use a limited list of ETFs or other fund-type investments to build most of the core portfolio. Review what they are before you open an investment account.

Also, consider whether you want socially-responsible investment options or whether you want access to some individual stocks. Some robo-advisors offer access to individual stocks, as well as pre-determined portfolios, so you can add individual equities available on the stock market using fractional shares. Think about what you want in your portfolio, and then look for a robo-advisor that offers access to what you’re most interested in.

Another consideration is the type of accounts you need access to. For example, it’s fairly common for the best robo-advisors to offer traditional and Roth IRAs — not all of them offer SEP IRAs — as well as taxable accounts. Think about how you’ll be saving for retirement, and look for a robo-advisor that offers the account you need. Some don’t offer joint accounts, so if you have a partner and want to open an account together, you might not be able to do so.

3. Compare platform technology and features

Finally, look at the different features offered by the robo-advisor. Many offer tax-loss harvesting and rebalancing, but not all do, so check to see how that works. Think about the features that matter most to you, and then choose the robo-advisor that checks the most boxes.

Consider the technology used to make sure it’s adequate for your needs. If a mobile app is important to you, compare the best investment apps to see what is likely to be the most convenient and useful for you.

Don’t forget about other features. If you want access to a cash account or are looking for the ability to borrow, those are extra features. You may also want access to educational resources or are interested in a 529 college savings plan. Double-check to see whether the unique features fit your needs.

Robo-advisors FAQ

Robo-advisors: bottom line

By employing algorithms to choose where to put your money, a robo-advisor can assist you in managing your financial assets. Robo-advisors are typically less expensive than human advisors or certified financial planners (CFP) because they require minimal human input. Numerous robo-advisors offer low or no investment minimums and may charge a management fee as a small percentage of your portfolio.

Robo-advisors can be a good choice for those who choose a hands-off approach to investing. They may support long-term investment goals, such as retirement. However, people who prefer making specific investment decisions or having full control over their portfolios may prefer using their own brokerage account. Explore our list of the best brokerage accounts for more information.

Our methodology

In determining our list of the best robo-advisors, we looked at popular companies and considered factors critical to the consumer. 

FinanceBuzz criteria include:

• Account minimum: Companies that offer lower minimum investments came up higher.
• Fees: Companies that offered lower fees came up higher on the list.
• Account types supported: The types of accounts supported vary across different robo-advisors. Those that supported more account types came up higher.
• Features: Companies offering certain features that are attractive to the customer came up higher than those that did not offer those features.
• Customer support: Companies listed offer varying types of customer support. Those that offered the most avenues for support came up higher.

Keep in mind that our ranking doesn't follow a specific order. We also did not evaluate all companies in the category.

Easily Invest With Your Spare Change

4.6

FinanceBuzz writers and editors score products and companies on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence our ratings.

Acorns Benefits

• Invest on autopilot in expert-recommended portfolios
• No surprise fees; plans start at just $3/mo
• Ability to earn up to a 3.00% match on new contributions to your Acorns Later IRA
• Bonus $20 after your first investment

4.6

FinanceBuzz writers and editors score products and companies on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence our ratings.

Visit Acorns

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FinanceBuzz doesn’t invest its money with this provider, but they are our referral partner. We get paid by them only if you click to them from our website and take a qualifying action (for example, opening an account.)

Author Details

Yahia Barakah, CEPF

Yahia Barakah, CEPF, has created finance-focused content since 2011. As a Certified Educator of Personal Finance, he has a background in institutional investment and asset management, as well as a deep passion for financial literacy.