- Available assets
- ETFs and cryptocurrency
- Minimum investment requirements
- $10 - $100
- Annual fee
- 0.25% - 1.15% AUM fee
Started in 2010, Betterment is a robo-advisor that has over $32 billion in assets under management and over 775,000 customers. Investors can choose from custom-built portfolios with investments in ETFs or cryptocurrencies. New and advanced investors alike can technically start a robo-advisor account with as little as $10, though a $50 minimum is required for rebalancing. A $100 initial investment is required for crypto portfolios.
For those who want to grow their portfolio while still staying true to their values, Betterment allows you to invest in companies that make social responsibility, such as lower carbon emissions or ethical labor, a priority. You will not be able to invest in individual stocks or mutual funds through Betterment.
Fees vary based on the account you have and how much you have invested. The base price for the digital plan is $4 per month. This account automatically switches to a 0.25% AUM fee when you set up regular deposits of $250 or more or when your Betterment account balances reach $20,000. Crypto investing accounts are charged a monthly digital management fee of 1%. Crypto accounts also come with up to a 0.15% fee per trade.
Betterment is a fiduciary company, meaning it has to act in your best interest and disclose any conflict of interest. Betterment Securities is a member of the Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC), which protects members’ investments up to $500,000.
Robo-advisor accounts come with automated rebalancing and advanced tax-saving tools, such as tax-loss harvesting. For those that want additional guidance, Betterment will give you unlimited financial advice from a certified financial planner (CFP) with its premium account. The cost is an additional 0.15% AUM fee.
Some of Betterment's highlights include:
- Minimal fees for accounts under $20,000
- Automatic tax-loss harvesting
Some of the downsides of using Betterment are:
- High cryptocurrency fees
- No individual stocks or mutual funds
Many report that the Betterment platform is easy to use and a simple way to get started in investing. Several reviewers saw significant growth in their investments, with one reporting that they used their investment profits to purchase a car. One California reviewer said: “I opened a regular taxable investment account with them in May 2020 when the market was already on its way out of the COVID hole. By January 2021 they earned me 28% of the sum of my deposits.”
The number one complaint is customer service. Reviewers felt that customer service reps were rude and unhelpful, or that they took a long time to resolve issues. Others complained that it was hard to get someone to answer their questions.