In the heated battle of robo-advisors vying to help you build a portfolio, Wealthfront and Vanguard Personal Advisor Services are among the top choices. Yet there are key differences — especially the minimum you need to open an account, the types of accounts supported and management fees.
Let’s see how they stack up:
Wealthfront vs. Vanguard
Wealthfront is best for:
- Low account balances.
- Free financial tools, even if you don’t have a Wealthfront account.
- 529 college savings plan management.
Wealthfront at a glance
| Overall | |
| Account minimum | $500 |
| Account management fee | 0.25% (first $5,000 managed free for NerdWallet readers). |
| Investment expense ratios | ETF expense ratios average 0.08%. Portfolios that include the Wealthfront Risk Parity Fund may have an overall expense ratio of 0.11%. |
| Account fees (annual, transfer, closing) | None. |
| Portfolio mix | ETFs from 11 asset classes (portfolios generally consist of 6 to 8). Individual stocks held in larger accounts. |
| Accounts supported |
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| Tax strategy |
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| Automatic rebalancing | Free on all accounts. |
| Human advisor option | None. |
| Tools |
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| Customer support options (includes website transparency) | Phone support Monday-Friday 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern; email support. |
| Promotion | NerdWallet readers get free management on the first $5,000 invested. Refer a friend and you both get an extra $5,000 managed free. |
Learn more: Read our full Wealthfront review
Vanguard Personal Advisor Services is best for:
- Large account balances.
- Low-cost access to financial advisors.
- Comprehensive financial planning.
Vanguard Personal Advisor Services at a glance
| Overall | |
| Account minimum | $50,000 |
| Account management fee | Depends on account balance: 0.30%: Less than $5 million 0.20%: $5 million to less than $10 million 0.10%: $10 million to less than $25million 0.05%: Greater than $25 million |
| Investment expense ratios | 0.04% - 0.12%; weighted average is 0.08% |
| Account fees | No account fees; some customers may incur transaction costs for non-Vanguard products (this isn't typical) |
| Portfolio mix | Portfolios are created by advisors on an individual basis. Core holdings are Admiral Shares of Vanguard index funds. ETFs and active funds are incorporated if needed. |
| Accounts supported |
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| Tax strategy | Assets are allocated strategically among taxable and tax-advantaged accounts to optimize for taxes. Tax-loss harvesting done on client-by-client basis. |
| Automatic rebalancing | Quarterly; Advisors can also review and alter the automatic rebalance trades at any time |
| Human advisor option | Appointments typically take place Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern; certified financial planners available |
| Tools | High-quality tools, including simulators, calculators, retirement-planning and educational materials |
| Customer support options (includes website transparency) | Phone and email support available Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern; some information difficult to find on website. |
| Promotion | None |
Learn more: Read our full Vanguard Personal Advisor Services review
Curious about other options?
The number of online advisors continues to swell, as does the range of services. NerdWallet conducted an in-depth analysis of 22 offerings this year. We’ve covered the best choices here.
