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Learning, Sharing, and Teaching => Investor Alley => Topic started by: BabyShark on December 21, 2016, 02:46:50 PM

Title: Wealthfront vs. Vanguard
Post by: BabyShark on December 21, 2016, 02:46:50 PM
Hi all,

I figure this is a great place to ask this question that's been on my mind for a little while.  I signed up for Wealthfront and have a little over $12,000 in my account there.  I contribute $250/month to it.  I guess I was curious about the whole robo-investor thing and decided to jump in with them about a year or so ago.  I also have an Individual Mutual Fund with Prudential that my dad set up with his guy years and years ago for me, there's about $36,000 in that account but there haven't been any contributions to that in a while as far as I know

My question is, which option do y'all recommend:
1) leaving it all alone
2) stop contributing to the Wealthfront account but leave it be and start a Vanguard account with my monthly contributions
3) Close the Wealthfront account and move it all to Vanguard
4) start contributing to the Prudential account in some fashion
Title: Re: Wealthfront vs. Vanguard
Post by: Huskie87 on December 21, 2016, 03:15:53 PM
Wealthfront doesn't charge a whole lot, but you could certainly get very similar results doing it yourself with vanguard or fidelity or schwab.  The main benefit is rebalancing, which you could easily do with a simple calculator and a reminder on your calendar to check the balances every quarter or so.  I'd say move it all, but just my opinion.
Title: Re: Wealthfront vs. Vanguard
Post by: SeattleCPA on December 21, 2016, 05:11:08 PM
It seems much more likely that X number of years from now, Vanguard will be around than Wealthfront will be around.

That might be an issue to consider.
Title: Re: Wealthfront vs. Vanguard
Post by: Cwadda on December 21, 2016, 05:13:15 PM
Another thing to think about: customer service. Try vetting them out.

I can't speak for Wealthfront or Prudential, but Vanguard's customer service has always been phenomenal from my experiences.