Day: June 13, 2017

  Risk and youth go hand in hand. If you are thinking we are talking about thrill-seeking and adventurous youngsters, then here’s the clarification. We are talking about youth and their ability to take the risk in investment. Yes, you read that right. It’s this risk taking and digitally active generation, which is gradually re-shaping the FinTech sector.  As indicated by Wealthfront, millennials will control $7 trillion in liquid assets by 2019. That is surely quite an achievement. The financial institutions are adopting technological innovations such as machine learning, big data and artificial intelligence (AI) to engage and retain digitally-savvy young investors. The robo-advisors, the latest FinTech innovations, are finding followers in millennials. Studies and research suggest that young investors are willing to rely on robo-advisors more than human financial advisors. The use of robo-advisors, thanks to the advancement in AI in FinTech is set to explore more in the coming days. These algorithm-based advisors cater to the needs of digitally motivated customers, thus helping companies and also investors make cheaper, faster and better decisions. Did you know Wealthfront, one of the leading robo-advisors, has resulted in the growth of AUM from $100 million to over $3.7 billion by September 2016, placing it in the top 100 independent registered investment advisors in the United States? The advent of robo-advisors has definitely given a much-needed boost to the existing business models in the FinTech world especially when it comes to portfolio management, asset management, wealth management and financial planning. So, let’s take a quick look at how robo-advisors can help the millennials and also the retirees. Robo-advisors and millennials Let’s admit it. Young guns have changed the way we bank and invest. They don’t prefer to visit the bank physically. Face-to-face business meetings, endless waiting at banks, and filling out numerous yet similar forms are passé. Millennials want everything fast and want to control all their finances and investments at their fingertips via smart devices or computers. This is where robo-advisors are scoring over financial advisors. Millennials prefer handling banking and investing services online. Working with robo-advisors is less time-consuming and require less of paperwork too. These automated investment services offer an easy interface, which is comfortable to use. Millennials like that. Robo-advisors are a great choice for young investors who require portfolio management for a specific savings goal. In that case, the young investor need not worry about other aspects of wealth management such as retirement planning. Also, according to the financial climatic condition, the algorithms reshape the portfolio of the investors. Credit: Sachs Insights According to Meir Statman, professor of behavioural finance at Santa Clara University, automation is important to attract youngsters to invest and adopt good savings habits early on. An individual financial advisor or advisory firm charge 1 % or higher. Here’s the catch. Robo-advisors are economical. For small investors, finding a good financial advisor might come at a cost. And taking help of agents for important financial service and investment decisions are not always a worthy advice. In such initial cases, robo-advisors can come handy and build a portfolio at a lesser cost than a human advisor, who comes at a higher cost. According to Wealthfront, financial advisors charge 1.31% average fee. However, a robo-advisor charges an annual fee of 0.25% and 0.50%. Betterment, one of the pioneer robo-advisers, charges 0.15%-0.35%. According to a report by Business Insider, a robo-adviser SigFig charges $10 every month. Robo-advisers are good for people who are interested in Exchange-Traded Fund (ETFs) and they are a low-cost solution. Robo-advisors make the process of investing faster and easier. Both Betterment and Wealthfront charge management fee of 0.15% per year for ETFs. Millennials are a very profitable section of the market, comprising 25% of the US population and 21% of consumer discretionary purchases. Knowing how to reach them is vital for survival in today’s market, especially if you’re a company or product that is tied to the technology field. Also, let’s not forget how millennials love their freedom, be it in life or money matters. This is where robo-advisors score again. These automated investment platforms encourage the investors to manage the portfolio on their own (read DIY) by asking them about risk tolerance and investment model they want to choose. Accordingly, the computer algorithms will decide a portfolio for you. According to an article in CNBC, Wealthfront also looks after millennials and their early focus was on young “techies” in the Silicon Valley. Take a quick glance at some of the reasons why millennial find robo-advisors interesting: Robo-advisors are economical You can invest a small amount of money No need for face-to-face business meetings and filling out of numerous forms In case of market fluctuation, robo-advisers automatically rebalance portfolios Robo-advisors make the process of investing faster and easier These automated investment platforms have a user-friendly interface, which makes it comfortable for internet savvy millennials  Robo-advisors and baby boomers Can a retiree who has considerable assets to invest and wealth to preserve rely on a computer for investment planning? Well, even a few years ago, most of the answers to this question would have been an absolute ‘no’. But technology has changed a lot in our lives. And it has also changed our mindset. Today, retirees or baby boomers or the silent generation are no longer hesitant towards adopting technological innovations. Agreed, though most retirees prefer having a human advisor who will manage investment portfolio and provide tailor-made financial advice as and when the market moves, with each passing day, baby boomers are also trying out these computer algorithms for their financial planning. Take this: According to an article published in January 2017 in Business Insider, nearly half of Schwab’s Intelligent Portfolio consumers are above the age of 50. Also, approximately two-thirds of Vanguard’s Personal Advisor Service customers are approaching the age of retirement age or have already retired. We are all aware that baby boomers, pre, and post retirees have more wealth than the young investors. This means people above the age