Ellevest Review [2025]: Investing by Women, for Women

Ellevest is a first-of-its-kind robo-advisor platform and wealth management company started by women to support the unique needs of female investors. While it's available to everyone, its investment algorithm optimizes for common issues that women face with traditional investing and financial management, including gender pay gaps and career breaks. Its suite of learning tools also aims to educate and empower women interested in investing.

In this Ellevest review, learn about the site's fees and investment options, and see how it stacks up against the competition.

What is Ellevest?

Sallie Krawcheck, the former president of the Global Wealth and Management division of Bank of America, founded Ellevest in 2014. Ellevest's mission is to close gender gaps in the investment industry by accounting for issues that primarily impact women, such as pay gaps, career breaks, and longer life spans.

According to Ellevest, investment companies often default to men's career trajectories, preferences, and life spans, which can be vastly different from those of women. Ellevest aims to address this issue by offering personalized investment options to help you reach your individual financial goals as a woman.

How does Ellevest work?

As a robo-advisor, Ellevest makes investing simple even if you're a new investor. When you sign up, the company will ask you a few questions about your financial goals, risk tolerance, and desired timeline. Based on your answers, its algorithms will design a customized investment portfolio for you.

Ellevest investment plans

Ellevest divides its services into two tiers: One for people with under $500,000 in investable assets, and one for people with over $500,000 in investable assets.

If you have less than $500,000, Ellevest will recommend its automated investing services to you (just remember that these accounts will not be available to new customers).

Automated investing

If you choose to take advantage of Ellevest's robo-advisor services, the platform will tailor a portfolio to your needs based on your risk tolerance and goals, like a typical robo-advisor. But unlike a typical robo-advisor, Ellevest optimizes its portfolios and the way it invests for women. You can have up to six portfolios.

You can choose between Ellevest Core Portfolios, which include ETF investments with a focus on diversification and low fees, and Impact Portfolios, which are specifically designed to invest in support against gender inequality, racial injustice, and other "issues that disproportionately affect women."

This service includes automatic rebalancing and tax optimization, and you receive 50% off one-on-one financial planning sessions with Ellevest.

Other robo-advisors to consider

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• Invest on autopilot in expert-recommended portfolios
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Wealth Management

If you have more than $500,000 and want access to more comprehensive money management and personalized support, Ellevest will recommend its Ellevest Wealth Management service. These services are provided by financial experts and human portfolio managers, as opposed to the algorithms that handle automated portfolios. 

Wealth Management includes fully customized investment portfolios with the addition of Intentional Impact Portfolios, tax-loss harvesting, alternative assets, and financial planning with an advisor.

Investment options

Ellevest's focus is on diversification, reducing overall risk, and offering tools designed to weather market fluctuations. While Ellevest's tools and services might be helpful, it's important to remember that all investments come with the risk of loss.

Automated portfolios are comprised of exchange-traded funds (ETFs), which is often the case for robo-advisors. Typically, when you invest in an ETF, you often invest in hundreds of companies at once, which may help you build a diversified portfolio. Ellevest notes that it "[invests through] underrepresented asset managers," with a woman and/or person of color on the team of 80% of the investment managers it uses. The industry at large can only claim 2% for this, by contrast.

Because Ellevest focuses on diversification with its portfolios, users cannot invest in individual stocks.

Who can use Ellevest?

Designed for women, Ellevest could also be a useful investment option for men. The platform indicates that it welcomes members of all gender identities and expressions. It uses gender-specific statistics regarding salaries and longevity to inform investing recommendations and financial forecasts.

Who should?

Ellevest's robo-advisor services would be a better choice for beginner to intermediate investors who want a more hands-off investment option, while its wealth management is ideal for high-net-worth clients looking for comprehensive and personalized support. Its algorithms or human managers can help design your portfolio for you and invest your contributions according to your preferences and needs. 

It could also be a great choice for women who feel that traditional investing platforms aren't addressing their needs and unique financial challenges, such as career breaks and gender pay gaps. Those interested in making a gender-specific impact with their investment choices may also appreciate Ellevest's investment options.

Ellevest also automatically rebalances your portfolio as needed to keep it in line with your target asset allocations and reinvests dividends, which may help grow your portfolio more quickly over time. For investors who want to set and forget their investments, Ellevest could be a good option.

How much can you earn with Ellevest?

Unfortunately, Ellevest does not provide current information about the earnings you can expect with its different plans. Just know that investing always comes with risk, and earnings aren't guaranteed. However, the more diversified your portfolio is, the better you can hedge against market fluctuations.

Maximizing your earnings with Ellevest

To maximize your earnings when investing with Ellevest, try these tips:

• Consider contributing money consistently: Contributing regularly to an investment account could potentially result in greater returns over time, though there are no guarantees. For example, you might consider contributing $50 every week or every pay period (a time-tested strategy known as dollar-cost averaging).
• Give thought to your timeline: Your portfolio allocations are somewhat dependent on your desired timeline, so think carefully about how long you'll need to meet your goals.
• Consider leaving your accounts on auto-pilot: As your account fluctuates along with market conditions, you may be tempted to take money out. However, if you're investing for the long-term, it could be a wise choice to resist that urge and leave your accounts alone.
• Think about reinvesting dividends: Rather than withdrawing investment dividends, allowing Ellevest to reinvest dividends could potentially help your money grow more rapidly over time.

FAQs

How to sign up for Ellevest

You can start investing with Ellevest in just a few steps:

1. Click 'Get Started': Whether you're on the mobile app or using the Ellevest website, you can begin investing by clicking the "Get Started" button in the top right-hand corner.
2. Enter your information: The site will prompt you to enter your email address, create a password, and agree to its terms and conditions.
3. Confirm your email: Ellevest will send you a confirmation email. You must click the link in the email before you can proceed with setting up your account.
4. Answer questions: Ellevest will ask you questions about your location, age, income, and household. It will then ask you what your financial goals are, such as paying off debt, saving for retirement, or buying a home.
5. Pick your plan: Next, you'll pick your membership plan. Once you do so, Ellevest will ask you to enter your bank information so it can sync your bank account and confirm your billing information.
6. Set up contributions: Once your account is created, you can make your first contributions and begin investing with your personalized portfolio.

Other investment apps to consider

While Ellevest could be a useful investment option, it may not be the right choice for you. If you're looking for another investment app, consider these alternatives:

Stash

While Ellevest doesn't allow you to invest in individual stocks, Stash does.¹ <p> </p><p>Paid non-client endorsement. The paid partner received cash compensation of up to $150.00 (per cost per action) for providing this endorsement. Compensation creates an incentive for the individual to recommend Stash. Endorsements are not representative of the experience of all clients and are not guarantees of future performance or success. For a representative sample of client testimonials, refer to Apple App Store or Google Play reviews To begin investing on Stash, you must be approved from an account verification perspective and open a brokerage account (“Personal Portfolio”). Promotion offer is subject to <a href="https://lp.stash.com/personal-portfolio-5-first-deposit-offer-promoter/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Terms and Conditions</a>.</p><p> </p><p>This material is not intended as investment advice and is not meant to suggest that any securities are suitable investments for any particular investor. Investment advice is only provided to Stash customers. All investments are subject to risk and may lose value. All product and company names are trademarks ™ or registered ® trademarks of their respective holders. Use of them does not imply any affiliation with or endorsement by them.</p> <p>Investment advisory services offered by Stash Investments LLC, an SEC registered investment adviser. This material has been distributed for informational and educational purposes only, and is not intended as investment, legal, accounting, or tax advice. Investing involves risk.</p> <p>What doesn’t count: Cash withdrawals, money orders, prepaid cards, and P2P payment. See full terms and conditions.<br><br>Fractional shares start at $0.05 for investments that cost $1,000+ per share.</p> Plus, it allows you to invest in fractional shares of stock or ETFs.² <p class="">Before investing in any exchange-traded fund, consider your investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses.&nbsp;<br></p> With fractional shares, you have the option to invest small amounts of money, which might make investing more accessible.

With Stash, you can start investing with as little as $1, which could make it a good choice if you're new to investing. Stash also offers custodial accounts³ <p class="">The adult (or Custodian) who opens the account can manage the money and investments until the minor reaches the “age of majority.” That age is usually 18 or 21, depending on the Custodian’s state. The money in a custodial account is the property of the minor. Money in a custodial account can be used by the parent or legal guardian, but only to do things that benefit the child.<br></p> and a round-up feature. With round-ups, when you spend with a linked bank account, your purchases are rounded up to the next full dollar amount, and your spare change is automatically invested for you.

Unlike Ellevest and other robo-advisors, Stash allows you to choose your own investments, which could make it a good option for more hands-on investors.

Visit Stash | Read our full Stash review.

Acorns

Acorns is a micro-investing robo-advisor app. You can invest as little as $5 in an individual taxable account or a retirement account. Unlike Ellevest, Acorns also allows you to set up custodial accounts to save for a child's college education.

Acorns also has a round-up feature. It will track your purchases and round up your total to the next full dollar, depositing the change into your investment account.

Like Ellevest, Acorns invests in ETFs rather than individual stocks, which could make it a good choice for passive investors who don't want to actively manage their accounts.

Visit Acorns | Read our Acorns review.

For more investment options, check out our picks for the best investment apps.

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