Is a robo-advisor better than a fund manager?
For straightforward goals like retirement or planning for college, a robo-advisor can be an appropriate option. But if you have more complicated financial needs or want help with more complex things estate planning or tax optimization, you may need a traditional financial advisor.
Do Human Financial Advisors Outperform Robo-Advisors? Not necessarily. Their performance, like that of robo-advisors, depends on a variety of factors, including market trends and the individual's financial situation and goals.
The type of advisor that is better for you depends on what your financial needs are. For core investing and planning advice, a robo-advisor is a great solution because it automates much of the work that a human advisor does. And it charges less for doing so – potential savings for you.
The biggest difference between robo-advisors and index funds is that robo-advisors manage your investments automatically, whereas index funds do not. Index funds do tend to be less expensive than robo-advisors. Index funds are baskets of investments that track a market index, such as the S&P 500.
Do robo-advisors outperform the S&P 500? Robo-advisors can outperform the S&P 500 or they can underperform it. It depends on the timing and what they have you invested in. Many robo-advisors will put a percentage of your portfolio in an index fund or a variety of funds intended to track the S&P 500.
Digital Advisor Use Dropped in 2022
High-net-worth investors exited robo-advisor arrangements at the highest rates.
Limited Flexibility. If you want to sell call options on an existing portfolio or buy individual stocks, most robo-advisors won't be able to help you. There are sound investment strategies that go beyond an investing algorithm.
Robo-advisor performance is one way to understand the value of digital advice. Learn how fees, enhanced features, and investment options can also be key considerations. Five-year returns from most robo-advisors range from 2%–5% per year.
The generic cons of Robo Advisors are that they don't offer many options for investor flexibility. They tend to not follow traditional advisory services, since there is a lack of human interaction.
Some robo-advisors only offer human support for tech- and account-related questions, which means there's no one to answer questions about your investments. Others have a hybrid model which may give you access to human advisors.
Should I use a robo-advisor or do it myself?
Doing it yourself can give you more control, flexibility, and customization over your investments, but it also requires more research, monitoring, and discipline. You should consider your goals, risk tolerance, and investment style before choosing between a robo-advisor or doing it yourself through an online broker.
They do not, however, generally function as stock brokers, instead choosing a basket of funds for you based on your goals. Don't expect a robo-advisor to beat the market since its goal is to maintain a balance with the market.
Robo-advisors may carry higher fees than ETFs, but their costs usually remain below those of a traditional human advisor.
- Best Overall, Best for Goal Planning, Best for Portfolio Construction, Best for Portfolio Management: Wealthfront.
- Best for Beginners, Best for Cash Management, Best for Tax-Loss Harvesting, Best for Crypto Portfolio Selection: Betterment.
- Best for Low Costs: SoFi Automated Investing.
Tax minimising: Most robo-advisors include the option to sell underperforming investments at a loss to offset taxes owed from other, higher-performing securities. This sophisticated strategy, also known as tax-loss harvesting, helps boost returns over a longer term period.
Markets can be unpredictable, and no form of investing is immune to potential losses. Robo-advisors, like human advisors, cannot guarantee profits or protect entirely against losses, especially during market downturns—even with well-diversified portfolios.
Suppose you're starting from scratch and have no savings. You'd need to invest around $13,000 per month to save a million dollars in five years, assuming a 7% annual rate of return and 3% inflation rate. For a rate of return of 5%, you'd need to save around $14,700 per month.
Robo-advisors lack the ability to do complex financial planning that brings together your estate, tax, and retirement goals. They also cannot take into account your insurance, general budgeting, and savings needs.
Your cash is insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). This coverage protects your cash in the event that a bank goes out of business. Wealthfront uses multiple partner banks to ensure FDIC coverage of up to $8 million for your cash deposits.
Is Wealthfront Safe? Wealthfront carries the same safety protocols that you'll find in most major financial institutions. Your cash is insured by the FDIC, while investments are insured by the SIPC. 23 No insurance protects your investments from the price fluctuations of the stock and bond markets.
What is a good robo-advisor fee?
Funds' expense ratios: The robo-advisor will invest your money in various funds that also charge fees based on your assets. The fees can vary widely, but across a portfolio they typically range from 0.05 percent to 0.25 percent, costing $5 to $25 annually for every $10,000 invested, though some funds may cost more.
While a robo-advisor can be efficient in managing your investing decisions, a human advisor may be best for more complex decisions like helping you choose the right student loan repayment plan or comparing compensation packages for a new job. Cost: If cost is a factor, robo-advisors typically win out here.
A robo-advisor can help ease the burden of managing your portfolio as you transition to retirement—and help you figure out how to tap your assets in tax-smart ways.
But according to the Robo Report, the five-year returns (2017 to 2022) from most robo-advisors range from 2% to 5% per year. And Wealthfront, one of the best robo-advisors available, also states that customers can expect about a 4% to 6% return per year, depending on their risk tolerance.
Robo-advisors offer the convenience of a hands-off investment management strategy at a lower cost. However, if you prefer more human interaction and need recommendations based on a more nuanced view of your overall financial picture, a financial advisor could be the way to go.
