Understanding robo-advisor performance | Vanguard (2024)

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Enrollments in Vanguard Digital Advisor require at least $3,000 in each Vanguard Brokerage Account. For each account you wish to enroll, the entire balance must be in certain allowable investment types (based on eligibility screening by Digital Advisor at the time of enrollment) and/or the brokerage account's settlement fund. We'll typically invest your assets in a portfolio of Vanguard ETFs, all of which are commission-free through a Vanguard Brokerage Account. Vanguard Brokerage Accounts are offered through and maintained by VMC, a registered broker-dealer and member FINRA and SIPC. If you decide to manage your investments on your own, you can buy and sell Vanguard ETF Shares through Vanguard Brokerage Services or another broker (which may charge commissions).

Vanguard Digital Advisor is an all-digital service. Digital Advisor charges Vanguard Brokerage Accounts an annual gross advisory fee of 0.20% for its all-index investment options and 0.25% for an active/index mix. The gross advisory fee is reduced by a credit of the actual revenue VGI or its affiliates retain from investments in each managed account, resulting in a net advisory fee that will be the actual fee collected from your account. The actual net fee amount will vary based on your unique asset mix, investment setting, account types, and specific investments in each managed account. Note that this fee doesn't include investment expense ratios—such as fees paid to the funds' third-party managers, which aren't credited. While we generally recommend using low-cost Vanguard funds to build your portfolio, it's important to be aware that actively managed funds will have higher expense ratios than index funds. You should consult your plan fee disclosure notice for the applicable annual gross advisory fees that apply to your 401(k) account. For more information, please reviewVAI's Form CRS and the Vanguard Digital Advisor Brochure.

Understanding robo-advisor performance | Vanguard (2024)

FAQs

Understanding robo-advisor performance | Vanguard? ›

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.

How well do robo-advisors perform? ›

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.

Which robo-advisor has best performance? ›

According to our research, Wealthfront is the best overall robo-advisor due to its vast customization options, fee-free stock investing, low-interest rate borrowing, dynamic tax-loss harvesting, and other key features.

What is a good return for a robo-advisor? ›

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.

Do robo-advisors outperform 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.

What is the biggest downfall of robo-advisors? ›

No Human Contact

This type of personal contact is relegated to the traditional financial advisory models. Most robo-advisors won't hold your hand and comfort you after a significant market drop.

What is the average return of a robo-advisor? ›

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.

Do millionaires use robo-advisors? ›

According to Spectrem, on a scale of 1 to 100 (1 being low and 100 being high), wealthy investors rated their knowledge of robo advisers at 15.47, and only 6% said they have ever used one.

Does Wealthfront outperform the S&P 500? ›

In 2022, the Wealthfront Smart Beta strategy outperformed its benchmark by 4.71%. Figure 4 shows the total return of each factor portfolio over the full comparison period, along with the total return of the S&P 500.

Do robo-advisors beat the market? ›

Robo-advisors often build portfolios using a mix of various index funds. But depending on the asset class mix and the particular index funds selected, a robo-advisor may underperform or outperform a broad equity index like the S&P 500.

Can robo-advisors lose money? ›

Robo-advisors are much quicker to respond to changes in your assets, but they are not able to predict market outcomes. It is just as possible to lose money using a robo-advisor as it is using a human advisor.

What is one disadvantage of using a robo-advisor? ›

Drawbacks of Robo-Advisors

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.

Which robo-advisor has tax-loss harvesting? ›

3 If you're seeking robo-advisory management for a non-retirement (taxable) account, determine whether the provider offers tax-loss harvesting. Robo-advisors such as Betterment offer affordable services with tax-loss harvesting features that investors should consider for their portfolios.

What are 2 cons negatives to using a robo-advisor? ›

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.

Does Warren Buffett recommend the S&P 500? ›

Berkshire Hathaway CEO Warren Buffett has regularly recommended an S&P 500 index fund.

Is robo-advisor better than etf? ›

Robo-advisors help automate the decision-making, recommending a portfolio that aligns with an investor's goals and preferences. Robo-advisors may carry higher fees than ETFs, but their costs usually remain below those of a traditional human advisor.

Do robo-advisors beat human advisors? ›

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.

What are the disadvantages of using a robo-advisor? ›

Cons of Robo-Advisors
  • Employ standardized strategies off their questionnaire, offering limited customization.
  • Cannot take a holistic view of your financial planning to help integrate your estate planning, tax strategy, etc.
  • No human point of contact or limited human interaction if you have specific questions.

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