With the current popularity of robo-advisors, some wonder what the difference is between an algorithm and a financial professional.

Robo-advisors have been able to do something that traditional financial professionals have not: allow those with limited resources to begin creating a portfolio of investments.

Several experienced financial professionals work with high net worth individuals that have hundreds of thousands in their portfolios. On the other hand, some robo-advisors are accessible with low or no minimum balance requirements.

Getting Started

With a robo-advisor, investors can get started by simply filling out a detailed questionnaire indicating their investment goals and objectives. The entire process is automated, with the robo-advisor using a sophisticated algorithm to determine the best investments for your situation based on your preferences indicated on the questionnaire. No face-to-face meetings or appointments are required.

But this is exactly why investors choose to work with financial professionals. They want the personal touch a financial professional can provide. Working with someone can be especially helpful if you aren’t sure what your preferences or goals are yet. Several financial professionals offer virtual meetings as well as in-person ones, so you don’t need to travel for financial guidance.

A Personal Relationship

While some people prefer to do business online without human interaction, there is no way to adequately replace a person with a computer. And while it may seem easy to have a computer choose investments based on a short questionnaire, the computer knows nothing about you. Not your likes, dislikes, career path, relationship, family, or your short and long-term goals. Your financial professional knows all of those things and can make personalized recommendations based on your current life stage and plans for the future. Plus it’s nice to be able to pick up the phone or send an email to someone who can explain market fluctuations, guide you through major financial choices, or just offer some reassurance after a particularly volatile trading day.

Privacy Matters

If you like to keep your personal information private, you may have some hesitations about sharing your personal and financial data online. If you do prefer to do everything online, research how your data is being stored, protected, and used before using any provider.

A Hands-On Approach

Because robo-advisors tend to be a one-size-fits-all solution, it can be simpler for investors that want to “set and forget”. However, if you have some very definite ideas on where you want your money to go, you’ll be much better off using a financial professional, since they will work with you to help place your funds.

Conclusion

While it can be a helpful resource for those entering the market for the first time, robo-advisors cannot provide the personalized guidance or years of experience that a financial professional has.

Robo-advisors are not going away, but neither are financial professionals. Both will continue to provide services to two very different groups of people, leaving it up to you to decide which option you’re more comfortable using.

Contact us you’d like to learn more about how a financial professional can help you with your financial goals.
 

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