Wealthfront
★★★★★
Finder rating 4 / 5
Available asset types
Stocks, ETFs
Stock trade fee
Minimum deposit
$500
Complete signup bonus
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Marcus Invest review
Its fees are fair, but it requires a $1,000 deposit.
finder.com’s rating: 3.29 / 5.0
★★★★★
This straightforward robo-advisor offers access to retirement accounts and Goldman Sachs funds but lacks some of the bells and whistles offered by better-equipped competitors.
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$1,000
Minimum deposit
Details
| Account types | Retirement, Robo-Advisor |
|---|---|
| Annual fee | 0.35% |
| Available asset types | Stocks, Bonds, ETFs |
Overview
| Fees | ★★★★★ 2.75/5 | Its 0.35% fee is marginally higher than competitors. |
| Minimum deposit requirement | ★★★★★ 1/5 | You’ll need at least $1,000 to open an account. |
| Account selection | ★★★★★ 4/5 | Individual, joint and retirement accounts are available. |
| Tax advantages | ★★★★★ 3.5/5 | It lacks tax-loss harvesting but prioritizes the sale of assets with low tax burdens. |
| Customer support | ★★★★★ 4/5 | Support is available by phone and email. |
| Customer feedback | ★★★★★ 3/5 | Marcus Invest feedback is lukewarm. |
To learn how our star ratings are calculated, read the methodology at the bottom of the page.
What I think of Marcus Invest
There’s nothing wrong with Marcus Invest — it’s got all the standards you’d expect, like automated rebalancing and a decent selection of accounts. But — there’s nothing that really sets it apart. Not when you compare it to competitors like Acorns and Betterment that are laser-focused on automated investments.
In need of tax-loss harvesting? You won’t find it with Marcus.
Fractional shares? Nope.
Round-up investments? Access to financial advisors? Sorry, but no.
Now, don’t get me wrong. Marcus Invest is backed by Goldman Sachs, which means it has the resources and expertise of a well-established financial institution at the helm. Plus, the service is relatively new, which means it has plenty of room to grow.
Marcus Invest may be a practical fit for those who already bank with Goldman Sachs. But better-equipped robo-advisors with lower fees and account minimums can be found elsewhere.
How does Marcus Invest work?
Marcus Invest operates like many standard robo-advisors:
- You answer questions about your financial goals.
- Marcus Invest suggests a portfolio strategy.
- You fund the account.
- Marcus Invest monitors your investments.
You’ll need to deposit at least $1,000 to get started, and you can open an individual, joint or retirement account.
Marcus Invest fees are reasonable
As far as robo-advisor fees are concerned, Marcus Invest’s 0.35% management fee is on par with big bank competitors Chase Self-Directed Investing and TD Ameritrade — though it sits a little higher than Betterment and Wealthfront’s 0.25% fee.
The $1,000 minimum deposit requirement stands out, though. The aforementioned platforms only ask for $500 to get started — with the exception of Betterment, which doesn’t impose a minimum deposit.
| Minimum opening deposit | $1,000 |
| Annual management fee | 0.35% |
| Account transfer fee | $75 |
Pros and cons
This robo-advisor has its perks but consider the drawbacks before you apply.
Pros
- Automatic rebalancing. This standard robo-advisor feature tweaks your portfolio as needed to help you align with your investment goals.
- Goldman Sachs ETFs. Invest in Goldman Sachs exchange-traded funds through the Smart Beta portfolio strategy.
Cons
- No tax-loss harvesting. Its tax-lot relief methodology sells assets with the lowest tax burden first to minimize taxes but isn’t as sophisticated as the tax-loss harvesting offered by competitors.
- Minimum deposit. You’ll need to be prepared with a minimum deposit of at least $1,000 to open a Marcus Invest account.
- No custodial accounts. If you’d like to open a UTMA or UGMA account, you’ll need to look elsewhere.
Marcus Invest reviews are mixed
As of February 2022, Marcus Invest is accredited with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and receives an A+ rating — a grade that takes into account the 152-year history of its parent company, Goldman Sachs, and the way it responds to complaints. BBB customers award it 1.15 out of 5 stars after 93 customer reviews, though it’s worth noting that some of the negative feedback pertains to its Apple Card and savings accounts. Investors complain of account transfer delays and frustrating customer service experiences.
Marcus Invest doesn’t have a Trustpilot page, but there are some Reddit threads dedicated to the service. Redditors say they like being able to invest in Goldman Sachs ETFs but wish the service offered tax-loss harvesting.
| Better Business Bureau | Rating: A+ |
| Better Business Bureau | Accredited? Yes |
| BBB customer rating | 1.15/5 stars based on 83 customer reviews |
| Google Play app reviews | 4.4/5 stars based on 5,322 customer reviews |
| Apple App Store app reviews | 4.9/5 stars based on 76,648 customer reviews |
| Data last updated | February 2022 |
How do I get started?
The signup process starts on the Marcus Invest website and doesn’t take more than five minutes to complete. You’ll need to be ready to supply some basic personal information, like your name, residential address and date of birth. You’ll also need to enter your Social Security number.
Here’s the process broken down step by step:
- Select Open an account.
- Review Goldman Sachs’ Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and select Continue.
- Pick the type of account you’d like to open.
- Answer questions about your financial habits.
- Select the investment strategy you’d like to use for your portfolio.
- Enter your full name, email address, residential address, date of birth and Social Security number.
- Complete the application process by funding your account.
Alternatives to Marcus Invest
Backed by Goldman Sachs, Marcus Invest offers numerous portfolio strategies to fit your financial goals. But it won’t be a practical fit for everyone.
If the $1,000 minimum is a dealbreaker, opt for a platform that doesn’t impose any deposit requirements, like Betterment or Ellevest.
Or, if you’d prefer something with more competitive fees, check out M1 Finance or SoFi — both let you use their services for free.
Carefully consider features, investor feedback and pricing before you apply, weighing your options across multiple robo-advisors to find the account that best meets your needs.
Compare Marcus Invest to other platforms
Acorns
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Finder rating 4 / 5
Available asset types
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Stock trade fee
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Minimum deposit
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Get a $20 bonus when you set up an account and make your first recurring investment (min. $5)
JPMorgan Automated Investing
Available asset types
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Stock trade fee
Minimum deposit
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Complete signup bonus
How we rate trading platforms
★★★★★ 5/5 — Excellent
★★★★★ 4/5 — Good
★★★★★ 3/5 — Average
★★★★★ 2/5 — Subpar
★★★★★ 1/5 — Poor
We analyze top online trading platforms and rate them one to five stars based on factors that are most important to you. These factors include fees, securities available for trade, customer support, customer feedback, platform resources and overall reliability.
For a complete breakdown of how we score each category, read the full methodology of how we rate robo-advisors.
For a complete breakdown of how we score each category, read the full methodology of how we rate robo-advisors.
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