If you think about it, the people who need a financial advisor are the ones who can't afford one. If you're impoverished or firmly in the middle class and can't seem to make it to the next level, you're the one who could really use financial advice. If you're wealthy, you know what you're doing.Yet many financial advisors simply aren't interested in working with the middle class. Many firms in recent years have stopped paying commissions to brokers for accounts that are considered small, including accounts ranging from $100,000 to $500,000 in assets. Firms that do take less than those minimums sometimes charge as much as 2 percent in annual fees, though 1 percent is more typical.So what should a middle-class investor do to find a good financial advisor? Experts recommend following these tactics.Know Where to LookAt the beginning of the process, you should think about what type of financial advisor you want to meet with: fee-based or commission-based. Think about what you're looking for. Are you seeking help with investments and retirement planning, or simply someone to go to when you have questions? Some advisors include financial planning in their fees for managing your investments, while others charge a separate fee or hourly rate for advice.As for where to find a financial advisor, there are several places, from the obvious to the unexpected: Ask friends, family or colleagues for recommendations. Obviously, you'll be more likely to find somebody who will work with you if your friends, family members or colleagues are in a similar tax bracket as you are. The Garrett Planning Network. GarrettPlanningNetwork.com offers a map of the United States where users can click on a state and find a listing of financial advisors who cater to the middle class. The National Association of Personal Financial Advisors. The association's website, NAPFA.org, allows you to find a financial advisor near you. It isn't for financial advisors who generally cater to the middle class, however. Still, you may want to take a look and see who shows up near your home. Robo advisors. You may want to consider an automated portfolio management service as a cost-effective option. For example, Schwab Intelligent Portfolios does not require advisory fees, account service fees or commissions, though you will need $5,000 to get started with them. Meanwhile, Wealthfront, another popular robo advisor, has a $500 minimum account requirement, and only charges an annual advisory fee of 0.25 percent on all assets under management deducted monthly. The Accredited Financial Counselor website. "I would strongly encourage true middle-income people to look (at Afcpe.org) for an accredited financial counselor," says Justin Chidester, who is both an accredited financial counselor and a certified financial planner – as well as the owner of Wealth Mode Financial Planning in Logan, Utah. Search engines. This one may seem like a no-brainer, but the power of search engines can't be overlooked. Chances are a search engine is how you found your way here. So if none of the above prove fruitful, consider a quick Google search for "financial advisor near me" or "financial advisor for the middle class." You've probably heard of certified financial planners, but accredited financial counselors have been around for a while too, according to Chidester."They often have a focus on helping low- and middle-income people, at affordable prices, with topics relevant to everyone – saving, budgeting, paying debt, improving credit, preparing to buy a home and working through poor habits with money," Chidester says.He adds that they can't legally provide investment or insurance advice, but they can provide great education about any financial topic and point you in the right direction for those things.Know What Questions to AskAre you looking for help with investments and retirement planning, or simply for someone to go to when you have questions? Knowing what you're looking for in a financial advisor is the first step to finding the right advisor for you. Knowing how to match an advisor to your needs is the second step. Ask any potential financial advisors these questions: What services do you provide? What type of clients do you typically work with? How will we communicate with each other? How often will I hear from you? Are you a fiduciary? How are you compensated? And how much will I be charged for your services? Some advisors include financial planning in their fees for managing your investments, while others charge a separate fee for advice. As for how much you'll pay, it will vary depending on where you live and the scope of the work you're asking for. Some advisors may charge a couple thousand dollars for a comprehensive plan; others may charge around $200 to $400 an hour to dispense financial advice.Stephanie Genkin, a certified financial planner in Brooklyn, New York, charges hourly – as opposed to what's known as "assets under management." Most fee-only advisors charge according to assets and therefore have minimum thresholds an individual needs to have in their bank account before they'll even consider the person as a client. How much is the minimum? It varies, of course, but often you'll need at least $50,000 before many advisors will consider working with you."That means most middle-class people are automatically excluded from service as they don't have enough in investments to manage," Genkin says. Genkin, who charges $200 an hour for her services, is also a fiduciary. That's important to know because there are two standards that financial advisors adhere to. If you're working with a fiduciary financial advisor, they are legally bound to put your needs before their own. A financial professional who has a suitability requirement is legally bound to provide products that are suitable for your needs, but which may not be the very best for you. That doesn't mean somebody who upholds the suitability standard isn't going to look out for you – but it does mean that the rules for those advisors are less stringent.Registered investment advisors, investment advisor representatives and certified financial planners all carry fiduciary-level responsibility. You can easily spot these titles on business cards, websites and email signatures, if you look after the person's name. Chartered retirement planning counselor and accredited investment fiduciary are other designations that indicate a fiduciary responsibility. Keep in mind, your financial advisor will likely carry a Series 65 license or a Series 7.As for what you might discuss with a financial advisor, it can run the gamut. In Genkin's case, she says, "I work with students to help them create realistic debt repayment plans, self-employed individuals who need help figuring out what they can do to save for retirement and new families who have limited resources and would like to save for a down payment on a home and start a college savings plan for their baby at the same time."She also points out that you may not need many hours, at first, with a financial advisor. If you're just starting this journey, you probably have fewer assets, and you just need that initial guidance. By the time you need more help to manage your assets, well, you'll presumably have more money, and paying for more financial advice won't be as challenging.Stick Up for YourselfTo avoid getting scammed, make sure to get references and check out everything you can find on the financial advisor online first. And keep in mind, everyone pays something when they hire a financial advisor – and not everyone is out to get you.But after you find a financial advisor, you do want to make sure you're in sync. You'll want to get a sense of whether your advisor has a financial philosophy that lines up with yours.And the most important question of all? "Ask how can they help you reach your goals," says Brett Anderson, a certified financial planner and president of St. Croix Advisors, an investment advisory firm in Hudson, Wisconsin.And if you're anxious that you don't make enough money for a financial advisor to work with you, just tell the advisor upfront what you earn, Anderson says."Established advisors will want to have a dialogue even before they schedule an initial meeting with you," he says. "Be honest. Just lay it all out. You'll save everyone time."And the more time you save in looking for a financial advisor, the faster you can get started making your money work for you.
financial goals
If the tired old cliché applies and the best things in life are free, then surely its opposite does as well and the worst things in life are fee. ATM fees. Concert ticket surcharge fees. Airport tax fees. How shall we count the feeble paths to hair-tearing aggravation?But if you're an investor, perhaps no fee rankles the spirit and wrangles the portfolio quite like the ones investment managers and financial advisors might overcharge.And while it's possible to sweep such charges under the rug as the cost of doing business, investors do so at their portfolio's peril."I see it every week, when I ask investors questions," says Scott Krase, founder and president at CrossPoint Wealth in the Chicago area. "Whether in a meeting, video conference call or on the phone, I ask questions about their current investments. I ask if they know the risk they truly hold and what do these investments cost them. The answer is the same. They don't know."Yes, but they absolutely need to know."Fees take a percentage of a client's return over time," says Ryan Goldenhar, partner advisor at AdvicePeriod and based in San Diego. "The higher the fees, the lower the benefits of compound interest for a client."Albert Einstein supposedly called compound interest the eighth wonder of the world, adding: "He who understands it, earns it; he who doesn't pays it." Safe to say that if he weren't dabbling in the relativity thing, Einstein might well have made a splendid investment guru. For as money accrues in a portfolio, you can easily reinvest it – think of dividends – and create a mountain of money where none once existed.For example, let's take $5,000 with a monthly addition of $10, compounded 10 years over a return rate of 8%. You'll end up with $12,553. Now, let's do it again: You're now up to $28,840. One more time, and in 30 years you've got a whopping $64,000. And all it cost you was 33 cents a day and some patience.If you tried the same thing but did not contribute that $120 – which a financial advisor's commissions and hidden fees could far surpass – here's what happens: You'll have just $50,313 after those same 30 years, or close to $13,700 less. (You can run similar calculations at investor.gov, a website of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.)The trouble is, many people invest greater sums and hence miss out on much more money than that."Fees can be silent killers in a portfolio," says Daniel Kern, chief investment officer at TFC Financial Management in Boston.TFC is independent and "fee only," but don't be confused by the term. It means they fulfill a fiduciary responsibility to always act in their clients' best interest. They do not accept any sales-related fees or compensation, which is where charges really begin to kill an investor."Managing costs and taxes is an important aspect of selecting an advisor or mutual fund," Kern says. "A 1% annual fee on a $500,000 investment at a 6% return over 20 years compounds to more than $180,000.""Over an investors' lifetime, excessive fees can take an astonishingly huge share of the investors nest egg," says Stefan Sharkansky, creator of the Personal Fund analyzer site for advisors and individual investors. "Although some managers do beat the market before fees, it's impossible to know in advance who the lucky managers are going to be."Investors should observe two types of fees, says Carlos Dias Jr., founder of Florida-Based MVP Wealth Management Group and Excel Tax & Wealth Group."With investment advisors, a portfolio manager – the person who's doing the actual investing – might charge 0.5% more or less, while the financial advisor – the person overseeing the account and providing financial advice – might charge 1%," Dias says.When fees pass those amounts, or commissions run high, it's time to take a closer look at your arrangement. Another danger sign: lack of transparency in how an advisor constructs a portfolio, says Mason Williams, chief investment officer at Coral Gables Trust in Florida."Minimal proactive contact from your advisor is a clue," Williams says. "It's important to ask for service expectations up front and what is to be expected as a relationship begins."That's the key word: relationship. Some people need the financial equivalent of a personal trainer to get themselves in ship shape, even if other people can start and follow their own fitness regimen."If advisors are only charging for investment advice, then arguably the fees might not be worth it to an investor," says Matthew Schulte, head of financial planning at eMoney Advisor.Indeed, one way around high fees is to work with a web-based, automated investing platform commonly known as a robo advisor."Depending on an investor's personal financial situation, it might make sense for them to work only with a robo advisor," Schulte says. "If their needs are simple, pursuing a low-cost, low-touch module is certainly one possible way to achieve their financial goals. However, as their needs become more complicated, an investor can greatly benefit from working with a planning-led advisor who can provide recommendations based on their holistic financial picture."And of course not all fees are alike, and an educated investor needs to learn the difference, says Brent Weiss, co-founder of Baltimore-based Facet Wealth."Start by educating yourself on the total fees that you are paying," Weiss says. "Ask your advisor or your service provider for a summary of all fees so you know the true cost."Because in the end, knowing and dealing with the total cost now is far preferable to and cheaper than dealing with it later.
Find a robo advisor that matches your investing style.
Watching the robo advisor industry grow is like seeing evolution in action. What started as simple tools for beginners to start investing have evolved into hybrid digital advice tools for all levels of investors, says Igor Jonjic, senior product manager at Fiserv. Today, robo advisors come in as many flavors as Ben & Jerry's ice cream. Having options is great, but only if you know how to sort through them to find the best one for you. To help you find the right robo advisor, here are the best robo advisors of 2019 for every type of investor.
Fidelity Go: Best overall robo advisor.
Fidelity Go was awarded the Best Overall Robo for the second time in a row by Backend Benchmarking in their latest 2019 Robo Rankings. The ranking evaluates robo advisors based on quantitative performance and cost plus qualitative metrics such as their services, platform and features. Fidelity Go excelled both quantitatively with near-top portfolio performance and low cost (thanks in large part to the zero expense ratios and commissions on the funds it uses), and qualitatively for its strong digital planning platform. Where the robo advisor falls short is in access to financial advisors. For that, you’d need their hybrid Personalized Planning and Advice model, which costs 0.5% per year and has a $25,000 account minimum. Fidelity Go also lacks the tax loss harvesting feature offered by many other robos, but it does provide free rebalancing and withdrawals.Management fee: 0.35% (0.5% for the hybrid model)Account minimum: None ($25,000 for the hybrid model)
Betterment: Best for beginning investors.
With no account minimum, Betterment is a great robo advisor to start investing – and Backend Benchmarking agrees. The Robo Rankings awarded Betterment the Best Robo for First-Time Investors this year thanks to its low cost, no minimum and straight forward goal-based investing. Like the robo advisor industry, Betterment has evolved from a purely robo tool providing investors a quick way to get started to the hybrid robo-and-human advisor model it is today, Jonjic says. And just as Betterment has grown over time, investors can grow with it. The beginner level, called Betterment Digital, gets you started on goal-based investing and provides unlimited access to experts via chat. Or, its Premium level matches you with a certified financial planner for a one-on-one advisor relationship.Management fee: 0.25% (digital) or 0.4% (premium)Account minimum: None (digital) or $100,000 (premium)
Vanguard Personal Advisor Services: Best for access to a human financial advisor.
Vanguard's robo advisor took the silver medal overall in the latest Robo Rankings report, thanks in part to its top-notch access to human financial advisors and financial planning tools. The mutual fund behemoth's robo component, called Vanguard Personal Advisor Services with Ongoing Guidance, gives investors an alternative to the traditional “come to my office every six months to review your portfolio” advisor relationship, Jonjic says. Instead, you can call, email or video chat. The advisor will put together a plan based on your situation. Said plan will generally be Vanguard funds-based and not include individual securities. Also of note: while the robo advisor has a $50,000 minimum, to receive an assigned advisor, you need to invest more than $500,000; anything below that gets you a team of advisors.Management fee: 0.3% – 0.05% based on account sizeAccount minimum: $50,000
Wealthfront: Best for financial planning tools.
Wealthfront has branded its passive, rules-based investment strategy on Burton Malkiel’s (who happens to be Wealthfront’s chief investment officer) famous line that a blindfolded monkey could pick stocks as well as the experts. Instead of monkeys, Wealthfront uses a team of Ph.D.s (which may not be a fair comparison) and software programs to find investment strategies. Portfolios consist mainly of low-cost, passive exchange-traded funds. Since they believe in passive, software-based investing, you don’t get access to financial advisors for human guidance. But you do get a wealth (pun intended) of financial planning resources to help you get your finances in order yourself. The platform’s complex planning tools, which model six different goal-based scenarios, from retirement to income windfalls to taking a sabbatical to travel, is why they were awarded Best Robo for Digital Financial Planning from Backend Benchmarking. Since some of these goals require short-term funds, the platform also offers an impressive high-interest savings account, currently earning 2.07% APY. Management fee: 0.25%Account minimum: $500
WiseBanyan: Best for low fees.
WiseBanyan was recently rebranded as Axos Invest but still advertises itself as “the world’s first free financial advisor,” a title earned by its zero management, trading or rebalancing fees. And to those who believe the axiom “you get what you pay for,” the Robo Report says, “false.” In addition to being among the lowest cost robo advisors, the report found Axos Invest had the second best two-year and three-year performance behind Fidelity Go and SigFig, respectively. The Report attributed this outperformance over other low cost robo advisors to the fact that Axos Invest does not keep a high cash balance in their portfolios.Management fee: NoneAccount minimum: $1
Blooom: Best for 401(k) investors.
If you have a 401(k), you need to know about Blooom, says Shannah Compton Game, a Los Angeles-based certified financial planner and host of the "Millennial Money Podcast." For $10 per month, Blooom “helps you sort through the laundry list of investment choices in your 401(k) and create a portfolio that meets your risk tolerance and investing needs,” she says. “Their strength is in optimizing your portfolio and helping you get rid of any pesky hidden fees that are lurking in your 401(k).” They’ll also help with other employer-sponsored plans like your 403(b), 401a or 457 but nothing outside an employer’s sphere. Feeling unsure? Take Blooom for a trial run with their free five-minute 401(k) analysis.Management fee: $10 per monthAccount minimum: None
SoFi Automated Investing: Best for all your financial needs.
Known primarily for student loan debt consolidation, SoFi has expanded its offering into investment advice with SoFi Invest. The investment app lets you trade on your own, or you can use its automated investing feature to take the legwork out of investing. SoFi’s robo advisor uses goals-based investing to craft a portfolio from its suite of low-costs ETFs. The robo’s $1 account minimum, zero management fees, and free access to human financial advisors and career counseling earned it the runner up spot for Best Robo for First-Time Investors in the latest Robo Rankings report. The company also offers free checking and a high-interest savings account, complete with budget tracking to help you save more so you can invest more.Management fee: NoneAccount minimum: $1
EarthFolio: Best for socially responsible investing.
While many robo advisors have socially responsible investing options, if you want SRI and nothing but SRI, the best robo advisor to use is EarthFolio. It uses 10 environmental, social and governance criteria to screen for the best-in-class sustainable funds. After a quick questionnaire about your timeline, risk tolerance and goals, EarthFolio will recommend a portfolio of sustainable funds to match your financial needs. It’ll also give you the 15-year historical performance of their recommendation and a head-to-head comparison of it to your current portfolio. The downside to EarthFolio is it has a steeper account minimum and advisory fee (common with SRI investments) than other robo advisors on this list.Management fee: 0.5%Minimum investment: $25,000
Acorns: Best for help saving.
If your biggest hurdle to investing is saving, Acorns is the best robo advisor for you. This micro-investing app automatically invests your spare change by rounding up purchases to the nearest dollar and investing the difference. No need to make deposits or set up recurring contributions (although that’s an option). Answer a few questions to identify which of their five ETF portfolios is right for you, link your credit or debit card or PayPal account and the rest, as they say, is automatic.Management fee: $1, $2 or $3 per month depending on planAccount minimum: None
M1 Finance: Best for DIY investors.
If you’d rather build your own portfolio or prefer individual stocks over funds, you want M1 Finance. It combines some of the best robo advisor features with the ability to self-direct investments. You can build your own portfolio, or your “pie” as they call it, using any stock or ETF traded on a major exchange. Simply set the percentage of your portfolio each investment should represent and M1 Finance will allocate your contributions accordingly so you’re always balanced. And by using fractional shares, you’re always fully invested “down to the penny.” If you decide building your own portfolio is too much work after all, M1 offers fully built pies, too.Management fee: NoneMinimum investment: $100 ($500 for retirement accounts)
Ellevest: Best for women investors.
Women have a different approach to investing, according to Ellevest’s co-founder Sallie Krawcheck, which is why she and the Ellevest team created a robo advisor geared toward women and their specific needs. You get personalized ETF portfolios targeted toward your goals that are automatically rebalanced with tax-minimizing strategies and no penalties for withdrawals. Ellevest Premium also gets you one-on-one access to CFPs and executive coaches for salary negotiation and career advice for double the management fee. They also offer a private wealth management service for investors with more than $1 million to invest, which was recognized by the Robo Rankings for its complex financial planning capabilities. Fees for that are determined by just how much you’ve got.Management fee: 0.25% (digital) or 0.5% (premium)Account minimum: None ($50,000 for Ellevest Premium)
The best robo advisors of 2019.
Fidelity Go: Best overall robo advisor.Betterment: Best for beginning investors.Vanguard Personal Advisor Services: Best for access to a financial advsior.Wealthfront: Best for financial planning tools.WiseBanyan: Best for low fees.Blooom: Best for 401(k) investors.SoFi Invest: Best for all your financial needs.EarthFolio: Best for socially responsible investing.Acorns: Best to start saving.M1 Finance: Best for DIY investors.Ellevest: Best for women investors.
Marketing your services as a financial advisor isn't as hard as it seems.
If financial services was a foot race, marketing would be the first giant hurdle you had to leap over, right after the rope ladder that is getting your licenses and certifications. Business marketing is the process of promoting your services to potential clients so you can move them through the lead pipeline. To successfully market your services, you need to get in front of the right people at the right time. This can feel like trying to hit a bull's-eye blindfolded, but it needn’t be such a shot in the dark. With the right marketing strategy, financial advisors can attract and convert prospects and even re-engage existing clients and turn them into regular sources of referrals. These 10 financial advisor marketing ideas will help you grow your business inside and out.
Ditch the general messaging.
The first rule of successful financial advisor marketing is to market to your audience, your whole audience and no one but your audience. “You can’t be everything to everyone,” says John Anderson, managing director of practice management solutions, independent advisor solutions at SEI in Oaks, Pennsylvania. “Prospects will seek out experts to solve their issues so create personas that you can use to help focus on your ideal client’s needs and concerns.” He suggests starting with a content marketing campaign directed at your target clients through social media, such as blogs, podcasts or even videos. “By showing your expertise within that persona, you set yourself apart from a generalist advisor,” he says. Best of all: it has a low cost and can be leveraged across multiple platforms.
Optimize your website for your ideal client persona.
In addition to social media campaigns, financial advisors should design their websites with their target client in mind. A recent Broadridge survey found that 57% of industry innovators generated leads from their website. “Optimize your firm’s site to educate, connect and capture leads” by making it a “one-stop shop for all information on your offerings as an advisor,” says Kevin Darlington, vice president of advisor solutions at Broadridge. This way prospects can do research on their own time. “Your website should also be a straightforward way for prospects to get in touch with you, with all contact information readily available,” he says. “It’s easy to do and can be as simple as adding blog content or an email capture form.”
Personalize your online presence.
Like your firm’s website, your own online presence should be personalized for your target audience, too. According to Edward Jones research, clients and prospects spend 16% more time on a personalized website, says Matt Burkemper, principal of Branch Team Talent Acquisition at Edward Jones. Nearly 80% of the 18,500 Edward Jones financial advisors have said they benefited from tools allowing them to personalize their online presence, he says. For instance, within weeks of reinforcing her personal brand online with some of her accomplishments and local community philanthropic involvement, Sarah Reznik, a financial advisor with Edward Jones in Newbury Park, California, saw an increase in prospects reaching out through the "contact us" form on her site. “When I asked them specifically what it was that brought them to me, they all mentioned my biography on my website,” she says.
Be a resource matchmaker.
The other side of not being everything to everyone is allowing for the fact that you cannot be the expert in every area of financial planning. With the future of advice “rapidly transitioning from holistic wealth management to longevity planning,” advisors need to “embrace the notion of connecting your clients to aging, transportation, health care and caregiving resources,” says Julie Genjac, managing director of Strategic Markets at Hartford Funds. “Gather a group of longevity experts in your community and ask them to speak on a panel.” These experts could be assisted living facility directors, elder law attorneys, certified aging-in-place specialists (CAPS) or geriatric care managers. “When your clients share what they learned with friends and family, you will be at the center of those conversations,” Genjac says. “They will appreciate your willingness to help them navigate these life phases and you will undoubtedly deepen your relationship with them.”
Host your own 'genius bar.'
Financial advisors can take a page from Apple’s (ticker: AAPL) playbook and engage clients and prospects by hosting an interactive, technology-based client event a la Apple’s concierge-style customer support genius bar, suggests Genjac. “Technology can seem overwhelming for people of all ages,” she says. So why not have a group of clients (and their guests) bring their tablets and smartphones for some free tech support? “At the beginning of the event, share a story of how technology has helped you or a family member in a positive way,” Genjac says. “Then ask clients to take out their devices, and help them download apps for ride-sharing, shopping, entertainment, and budgeting.” Then, every time one of them uses an app they downloaded at the event, they’ll be reminded of you and how you helped them.
Teach them something non-financial.
Client events needn’t be technology or finance-related to improve financial advisor marketing efforts. Edward Jones recently “partnered with the producers of PBS’s Tastemakers series to host nine culinary events across the country,” Burkemper says. The events allowed clients (and their friends) to learn a new skill alongside their financial advisor. “The memorable events, managed by the home office marketing team, are not only immersive, they’ve brought together more than 850 financial advisors, clients and prospective clients to learn enriching skills,” he says. They’ve also helped advisors expand their businesses. Paula Fedirchuk, an Edward Jones financial advisor in Seattle, used the events to connect with prospects from professions and organizations she had yet to explore.
Send offseason’s greetings.
Nothing beats having your face adorn your client’s holiday mantle alongside dozens of other greeting cards except having your face adorn your client’s mantle all by itself. “Instead of sending clients a standard winter holiday greeting, consider picking a more obscure time of year when their mailboxes aren’t stuffed with cards,” Genjac says. For instance, send a “happy spring” card complete with a bulb of your favorite flower. Or a happy Fourth of July card with your favorite barbecue recipe. “When your client sees the flower sprouting from that bulb, or makes your favorite recipe, they will think of you,” she says. And when someone else comments on the flower or recipe, your client will say, “It’s from my financial advisor,” which could segue into a referral opportunity.
Send a regular newsletter.
If you aren’t sending your clients and prospects regular newsletters, someone else is, Genjac says. A newsletter is essential to keeping your name in mind. By doing so, your clients and prospects will be more likely to think of you when they have a question or want to make a change with their investments. “The content of the newsletter is not as important as the activity,” Genjac says, “but be sure to include personal updates about your team,” such as marriages, births, recent travels or milestones. “Sharing those details shows the more human side of the business to clients and prospects and creates points of connection.” She suggests picking some timely educational articles to include with an update on the team.
Measure the right things and measure them obsessively.
Just as a financial advisor’s relationship with new clients typically begins by learning about the client’s goals and devising a plan to reach them, a financial advisor’s marketing plan should be based on goals and driven by metrics as well, Darlington says. “Imagine an advisor showing up to a client review without data and details of progress and investment performance.” It would not go over well. Advisors should “take their own medicine” and measure their marketing efforts against a clear plan. “For example, a growth-oriented advisor might be highly focused on attracting and converting new clients,” Darlington says. In which case, he should be measuring the various parts of his sales and marketing funnel based on how many leads he identified and where they came from.
Don’t be afraid to invest more money in your marketing.
Financial advisor marketing is more than just a tool in your toolbox; it should be a part of your overall business strategy as a financial advisor, Darlington says. “This means not being afraid to invest heavily in any-and-all aspects of your marketing.” Broadridge’s survey found that those financial advisors who were winning more clients were also the ones more frequently investing in all marketing channels, from digital marketing to advertising to in-person events. “We found that the average advisor is spending 3.3% of annual revenue on marketing and that the average cost per new client acquisition is $929,” Darlington says. “When you consider the lifetime value of a client, that’s a defendable figure.”
Financial advisor marketing tips:
Ditch the general messaging.Optimize your website for your ideal client persona.Personalize your online presence.Be a resource matchmaker.Host your own “genius bar.”Teach them something non-financial.Send offseason’s greetings.Send a regular newsletter.Measure the right things and measure them obsessively.Don’t be afraid to invest more money in your marketing.
Environmental, social and governance funds, or ESG, belong to the family of sustainable, responsible and impact investing, sometimes referred to as SRI. This alphabet soup of investment strategies is a newer investment approach that strives to generate high long-term returns and positive societal results.ESG investing can be accomplished by investing in individual stocks and bonds, specifically targeted SRI funds, and employing a digital or a robo investment manager who specializes in this approach.From minimal ESG investing opportunities in the 1990s to about $12 trillion in assets under management in 2017, socially responsible investing is growing in popularity. The US SIF Foundation's most recent biennial report found that one in four dollars of professionally managed funds is directed toward ESG investing. (https://www.ussif.org/sribasics)Not only individual investors but credit unions, community banks hospitals, foundations, religious institutions, venture capitalists and public pensions invest in ESG investing companies.Answering to public demand, robo advisory digital investment managers, a type of nonhuman advisor, are now in the movement.The best ESG robo advisor will incorporate SRI investing criteria that matter to you, the opportunity to customize the investment options and low fees. Here are five of the best ESG robo-advisor services:M1 Finance.Betterment.EarthFolio.Wealthsimple.Motif Impact Portfolios.M1 FinanceThis unique platform offers both managed robo advisors and do-it-yourself investing under one roof. Investopedia's editor in chief, Caleb Silver, (https://www.linkedin.com/in/caleb-silver-9639585/) OK on this source this time. But Investopedia is one of our direct competitors so please avoid in the future.ranks M1 as a top ESG platform. "They have two socially responsible portfolios made up of Nuveen ETFs, listed under Expert Pies or you can construct a collection of stocks that meet your criteria." The account minimum is $100 and there are no trading fees, provided an account has at least a $20 balance. Experts say M1 Finance is unique among the SRI robo advisors in that it doesn't charge any management fee to use the platform.BettermentBetterment customers can choose to invest in their SRI portfolios with low fees and strong socially responsible metrics. This investment choice adheres to Betterment's low-cost and diversified approach while increasing exposure to companies that meet delineated SRI criteria. The Betterment socially responsible investing avoids companies with unsavory corporate governance and unfair labor practices."We'll prioritize excluding inappropriate stocks from the SRI portfolio and replace them with companies deemed to have strong social responsibility practices such as Microsoft (ticker: MSFT), Google (GOOG, GOOGL), Procter & Gamble (PG), Merck (MRK), Coca-Cola (KO), Intel (INTC), Cisco (CSCO), Disney (DIS) and IBM (IBM)," says Adam Grealish, Betterment's director of investing(https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamgrealish/) thank you. For example, in the U.S. large-cap stock allocation, selections include the iShares MSCI KLD 400 Social ETF (DSI). Betterment's low 0.25% management fee is reasonable when compared to other robo advisors and financial planners.EarthFolioEarthFolio is one of a handful of SRI investing robo advisors. This robo advisor invests exclusively in funds classified as sustainable or responsible. To make the cut, the fund's prospectus must delineate the specific ESG criteria used in the stock or bond selection. Unlike some ESG robo advisory competitors, EarthFolio offers bond funds in addition to other ESG funds.Earthfolio requires a $25,000 minimum investment amount and thus may be out of reach for new investors. EarthFolio offers a wider range of ESG investments and also provides a free head-to-head comparison of an investor's current portfolio with the EarthFolio recommendation. With a 0.5% management fee, it is one of the more expensive SRI investment robo advisors, although it compares favorably with traditional financial advisory fees.https://www.earthfolio.net/FAQ/WealthsimpleThere are a few fund names in this graph that don't match up with the tickers that you've given. Take a look. I've provided a few links, too.Launched in 2017, this Canadian robo advisor also operates in the U.S. and the U.K. The SRI options include ETFs representing iShares MSCI ACWI Low Carbon Target ETF (CRBN), Invesco Cleantech ETF (PZD), iShares MSCI KLD 400 Social ETF Is this what you mean?YES, SPDR SSGA Gender Diversity Index ETFIs this what you mean?yes (SHE), Invesco Taxable Municipal Bond ETF (BAB For BAB I'm getting this fund: https://money.usnews.com/funds/etfs/long-term-bond/invesco-taxable-municipal-bond-etf/bab. So do you mean BAB?yes-Investco Taxable Municipal Bond ETF) and iShares GNMA Bond ETF (GNMA) For GNMA, do you mean https://money.usnews.com/funds/etfs/intermediate-government/ishares-gnma-bond-etf/gnma YES iShares GNMA Bond Fund . Around 25% of Wealthsimple's clients have socially responsible portfolios.Wealthsimple offers three investment levels with management fees ranging from 0.4% to 0.5% of assets under management. All Wealthsimple clients have access to financial advisors, and halal portfolios are available for those who want to align their portfolios with Islamic religious beliefs.Motif Impact PortfoliosMotif Impact Portfolios encompasses both robo advisory services, investing in theme-driven portfolios, and more. One of the earlier platforms to use data and analytics to find unique investment opportunities, there are managed portfolios and DIY investing options.Silver recommends the Motif Investing Impact Portfolios which are populated with individual ESG stocks not exchange-traded funds. The ESG offerings fall into one of the categories: sustainable planet, fair labor and good corporation behavior.Motif requires a $1,000 minimum investment amount and charges 0.25% in management fees. The Motif Impact Portfolios offer stocks from five distinct asset classes that adhere to tax-aware rebalancing and minimize asset sales. In addition to the preselected ESG offerings, investors may create their own collections of ESG stocks.More Socially Responsible ESG Robo-AdvisorsThe following list includes other ESG investing companies in alphabetical order: Axos Invest.Ellevest.OpenInvest.Personal Capital.SustainFolio.TIAA Personal Portfolio.More socially responsible robo advisors will likely be added as the socially responsible investing field expands. For those who are seeking a set it and forget it socially responsible platform, there are many SRI robo advisor options from which to choose. It's likely that even if a current robo advisor lacks socially responsible investing choices today, it will offer it in the future. Ultimately, as younger investors more frequently seek to match their money with their hearts, the robo advisory market will continue to meet their needs.
It's that time of year when people begin thinking about how they'll improve their lives in the new year. For many that includes looking for ways to make a fresh start with their money. Nearly a third of adults are planning to make a financial resolution for 2019, according to a survey of 2,005 adults for the Fidelity Investments 10th annual New Year Financial Resolutions Study.While taking steps to improve your financial situation is laudable, be careful not to fall into common traps that can sabotage your success. "Don't be too ambitious about your goals," says Maura Cassidy, vice president of retirement and small business for Fidelity. That means not stretching for goals you're unlikely to reach. "Don't try to save $1 million by next year," Cassidy says as one exaggerated example.[See: 9 Financial Tasks to Complete Before the New Year.]Instead, develop resolutions that are not only attainable but also pertain to your specific situation. "You have to sit down and figure out your financial goals for the year," says Kevin Brauer, chief financial officer for Affinity Federal Credit Union. Once you know those, you can identify specific steps, such as increasing savings, reducing spending or making lifestyle changes such as moving or finding a new job.It's best to create resolutions that are both specific and measurable so you know when you've achieved your goal. However, be aware that some common resolutions can actually make it more difficult to be financially successful. For example, the five resolutions below are ones you shouldn't make, let alone keep.Resolution No. 1: I Will Focus All My Extra Money on Paying Down DebtWhy you shouldn't keep it: Nearly 3 in 10 survey respondents told Fidelity they were likely to make paying down debt their New Year's resolution. That's not a bad resolution, but you want to be smart about it."If you make it so that you eliminate all the fun out of life, you're most likely to fail on your financial resolutions overall,” Brauer says. Rather than earmarking every last cent for debt, budget some money for discretionary purchases. How much to spend on these expenses can vary depending on your income, but generally, it's a good rule of thumb to budget no more than 10 percent of your take-home pay for this purpose. By spending a small amount on the things you want, you're more likely to stick to your financial plan in the long run.A second risk with this resolution is neglecting other financial priorities. “Focus on paying off debt, but not to the detriment of savings,” says Joe Wirbick, author of "Everything They Never Told You About Retirement" and president of advisory firm Sequinox in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Without emergency savings, it could be harder to get out of debt, and you don't want to wait years to start putting money aside for retirement.[See: 20 Financial New Year's Resolutions for 2019.]Resolution No. 2: I Will Consolidate My Debt Using Whatever Means PossibleWhy you shouldn't keep it: Consolidating debt can be helpful, particularly if you have high-interest credit cards that can be rolled into a lower-interest loan. However, not all consolidation methods are created equal. For instance, it might be tempting to take out a 401(k) loan to pay off debt, but these loans can negatively impact retirement savings and may be subject to taxes and penalties if not paid off prior to leaving your employment. Plus, five years is the maximum term allowed for most 401(k) loans. Consider taking out a personal loan from a bank or credit union instead.What's more, rising interest rates make some previously attractive consolidation options less appealing. "Now is a terrible time to refinance," Wirbick says. Given increased interest rates and closing costs that can run into the thousands, he doesn't recommend consolidating debt using this method.A home equity line of credit may be a better option, but don't think you can deduct the interest from your federal income taxes. Under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, interest on home equity loans or lines of credit taken out for debt consolidation cannot be deducted.Resolution No. 3: I Will Work Through a List of GoalsWhy you shouldn't keep it: It can be natural to want to check items off a list, but this approach can backfire. "Don't make one financial goal that gets in the way of your other goals," Cassidy says.Instead of planning to run down a list of financial goals in order, create resolutions that you will pursue independently and simultaneously. Not only will that position you to achieve multiple goals at once, but it also prevents you from getting bogged down in one aspect of your financial life, such as paying off debt, while ignoring other priorities like saving for retirement or college.[See: 10 Foolproof Ways to Reach Your Money Goals.]Resolution No. 4: I Will Contribute More to a Traditional 401(k) or IRAWhy you shouldn't keep it: It can be hard to imagine there is anything wrong with contributing more to your 401(k) or IRA next year, but putting money into a traditional retirement account isn't ideal. A better resolution is to contribute money to a Roth accounts.While traditional 401(k) and IRA accounts provide taxpayers with an immediate deduction for contributions, Roth 401(k) and IRA accounts are funded with after-tax dollars. Then, the money grows tax-free and can be withdrawn tax-free in retirement. Meanwhile, money in traditional accounts will be subject to income tax in retirement. With lower tax brackets in effect for at least the next five years as a result of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, it may make financial sense for most workers to pay taxes on contributions now and avoid the taxman later.Plus, Roth IRAs have an added perk. "If you needed to tap into it for some emergency or to buy a house, you can," Cassidy says. Since contributions to a Roth IRA are already taxed, people can withdraw the principal at any time without penalty. Since withdrawals from Roth 401(k) accounts are prorated between contributions and earnings, a penalty-free early withdrawal isn’t usually possible with these accounts.Resolution No. 5: I Will Shop for Cheap Car InsuranceWhy you shouldn’t keep it: Fifteen percent of people say they think they'll resolve to spend less in the next 12 months, according to the Fidelity study. If this is your New Year's resolution, shopping for new car insurance could be on your list of ways to cut costs.However, Wirbick cautions against reducing costs by dropping coverage. Eliminating comprehensive coverage can save a significant amount in premiums, but it could leave you worse off financially in the long-run. "You have one accident, and it could wipe out your savings," Wirbick says.A better approach is to determine your coverage needs, and then look for a highly rated company that provides that level of protection at a reasonable rate, or check with your current insurer and see if you might be eligible for discounts that don't involve raising your deductible or lowering your coverage. In the end, you don't necessarily want the cheapest car insurance, but rather the policy that offers the best value..
Marketing your services as a financial advisor isn't as hard as it seems.
If financial services was a foot race, marketing would be the first giant hurdle you had to leap over, right after the rope ladder that is getting your licenses and certifications. Business marketing is the process of promoting your services to potential clients so you can move them through the lead pipeline. To successfully market your services, you need to get in front of the right people at the right time. This can feel like trying to hit a bull's-eye blindfolded, but it needn’t be such a shot in the dark. With the right marketing strategy, financial advisors can attract and convert prospects and even re-engage existing clients and turn them into regular sources of referrals. These 10 financial advisor marketing ideas will help you grow your business inside and out.
Ditch the general messaging.
The first rule of successful financial advisor marketing is to market to your audience, your whole audience and no one but your audience. “You can’t be everything to everyone,” says John Anderson, managing director of practice management solutions, independent advisor solutions at SEI in Oaks, Pennsylvania. “Prospects will seek out experts to solve their issues so create personas that you can use to help focus on your ideal client’s needs and concerns.” He suggests starting with a content marketing campaign directed at your target clients through social media, such as blogs, podcasts or even videos. “By showing your expertise within that persona, you set yourself apart from a generalist advisor,” he says. Best of all: it has a low cost and can be leveraged across multiple platforms.
Optimize your website for your ideal client persona.
In addition to social media campaigns, financial advisors should design their websites with their target client in mind. A recent Broadridge survey found that 57% of industry innovators generated leads from their website. “Optimize your firm’s site to educate, connect and capture leads” by making it a “one-stop shop for all information on your offerings as an advisor,” says Kevin Darlington, vice president of advisor solutions at Broadridge. This way prospects can do research on their own time. “Your website should also be a straightforward way for prospects to get in touch with you, with all contact information readily available,” he says. “It’s easy to do and can be as simple as adding blog content or an email capture form.”
Personalize your online presence.
Like your firm’s website, your own online presence should be personalized for your target audience, too. According to Edward Jones research, clients and prospects spend 16% more time on a personalized website, says Matt Burkemper, principal of Branch Team Talent Acquisition at Edward Jones. Nearly 80% of the 18,500 Edward Jones financial advisors have said they benefited from tools allowing them to personalize their online presence, he says. For instance, within weeks of reinforcing her personal brand online with some of her accomplishments and local community philanthropic involvement, Sarah Reznik, a financial advisor with Edward Jones in Newbury Park, California, saw an increase in prospects reaching out through the "contact us" form on her site. “When I asked them specifically what it was that brought them to me, they all mentioned my biography on my website,” she says.
Be a resource matchmaker.
The other side of not being everything to everyone is allowing for the fact that you cannot be the expert in every area of financial planning. With the future of advice “rapidly transitioning from holistic wealth management to longevity planning,” advisors need to “embrace the notion of connecting your clients to aging, transportation, health care and caregiving resources,” says Julie Genjac, managing director of Strategic Markets at Hartford Funds. “Gather a group of longevity experts in your community and ask them to speak on a panel.” These experts could be assisted living facility directors, elder law attorneys, certified aging-in-place specialists (CAPS) or geriatric care managers. “When your clients share what they learned with friends and family, you will be at the center of those conversations,” Genjac says. “They will appreciate your willingness to help them navigate these life phases and you will undoubtedly deepen your relationship with them.”
Host your own 'genius bar.'
Financial advisors can take a page from Apple’s (ticker: AAPL) playbook and engage clients and prospects by hosting an interactive, technology-based client event a la Apple’s concierge-style customer support genius bar, suggests Genjac. “Technology can seem overwhelming for people of all ages,” she says. So why not have a group of clients (and their guests) bring their tablets and smartphones for some free tech support? “At the beginning of the event, share a story of how technology has helped you or a family member in a positive way,” Genjac says. “Then ask clients to take out their devices, and help them download apps for ride-sharing, shopping, entertainment, and budgeting.” Then, every time one of them uses an app they downloaded at the event, they’ll be reminded of you and how you helped them.
Teach them something non-financial.
Client events needn’t be technology or finance-related to improve financial advisor marketing efforts. Edward Jones recently “partnered with the producers of PBS’s Tastemakers series to host nine culinary events across the country,” Burkemper says. The events allowed clients (and their friends) to learn a new skill alongside their financial advisor. “The memorable events, managed by the home office marketing team, are not only immersive, they’ve brought together more than 850 financial advisors, clients and prospective clients to learn enriching skills,” he says. They’ve also helped advisors expand their businesses. Paula Fedirchuk, an Edward Jones financial advisor in Seattle, used the events to connect with prospects from professions and organizations she had yet to explore.
Send offseason’s greetings.
Nothing beats having your face adorn your client’s holiday mantle alongside dozens of other greeting cards except having your face adorn your client’s mantle all by itself. “Instead of sending clients a standard winter holiday greeting, consider picking a more obscure time of year when their mailboxes aren’t stuffed with cards,” Genjac says. For instance, send a “happy spring” card complete with a bulb of your favorite flower. Or a happy Fourth of July card with your favorite barbecue recipe. “When your client sees the flower sprouting from that bulb, or makes your favorite recipe, they will think of you,” she says. And when someone else comments on the flower or recipe, your client will say, “It’s from my financial advisor,” which could segue into a referral opportunity.
Send a regular newsletter.
If you aren’t sending your clients and prospects regular newsletters, someone else is, Genjac says. A newsletter is essential to keeping your name in mind. By doing so, your clients and prospects will be more likely to think of you when they have a question or want to make a change with their investments. “The content of the newsletter is not as important as the activity,” Genjac says, “but be sure to include personal updates about your team,” such as marriages, births, recent travels or milestones. “Sharing those details shows the more human side of the business to clients and prospects and creates points of connection.” She suggests picking some timely educational articles to include with an update on the team.
Measure the right things and measure them obsessively.
Just as a financial advisor’s relationship with new clients typically begins by learning about the client’s goals and devising a plan to reach them, a financial advisor’s marketing plan should be based on goals and driven by metrics as well, Darlington says. “Imagine an advisor showing up to a client review without data and details of progress and investment performance.” It would not go over well. Advisors should “take their own medicine” and measure their marketing efforts against a clear plan. “For example, a growth-oriented advisor might be highly focused on attracting and converting new clients,” Darlington says. In which case, he should be measuring the various parts of his sales and marketing funnel based on how many leads he identified and where they came from.
Don’t be afraid to invest more money in your marketing.
Financial advisor marketing is more than just a tool in your toolbox; it should be a part of your overall business strategy as a financial advisor, Darlington says. “This means not being afraid to invest heavily in any-and-all aspects of your marketing.” Broadridge’s survey found that those financial advisors who were winning more clients were also the ones more frequently investing in all marketing channels, from digital marketing to advertising to in-person events. “We found that the average advisor is spending 3.3% of annual revenue on marketing and that the average cost per new client acquisition is $929,” Darlington says. “When you consider the lifetime value of a client, that’s a defendable figure.”
Financial advisor marketing tips:
Ditch the general messaging.Optimize your website for your ideal client persona.Personalize your online presence.Be a resource matchmaker.Host your own “genius bar.”Teach them something non-financial.Send offseason’s greetings.Send a regular newsletter.Measure the right things and measure them obsessively.Don’t be afraid to invest more money in your marketing.
Environmental, social and governance funds, or ESG, belong to the family of sustainable, responsible and impact investing, sometimes referred to as SRI. This alphabet soup of investment strategies is a newer investment approach that strives to generate high long-term returns and positive societal results.ESG investing can be accomplished by investing in individual stocks and bonds, specifically targeted SRI funds, and employing a digital or a robo investment manager who specializes in this approach.From minimal ESG investing opportunities in the 1990s to about $12 trillion in assets under management in 2017, socially responsible investing is growing in popularity. The US SIF Foundation's most recent biennial report found that one in four dollars of professionally managed funds is directed toward ESG investing. (https://www.ussif.org/sribasics)Not only individual investors but credit unions, community banks hospitals, foundations, religious institutions, venture capitalists and public pensions invest in ESG investing companies.Answering to public demand, robo advisory digital investment managers, a type of nonhuman advisor, are now in the movement.The best ESG robo advisor will incorporate SRI investing criteria that matter to you, the opportunity to customize the investment options and low fees. Here are five of the best ESG robo-advisor services:M1 Finance.Betterment.EarthFolio.Wealthsimple.Motif Impact Portfolios.M1 FinanceThis unique platform offers both managed robo advisors and do-it-yourself investing under one roof. Investopedia's editor in chief, Caleb Silver, (https://www.linkedin.com/in/caleb-silver-9639585/) OK on this source this time. But Investopedia is one of our direct competitors so please avoid in the future.ranks M1 as a top ESG platform. "They have two socially responsible portfolios made up of Nuveen ETFs, listed under Expert Pies or you can construct a collection of stocks that meet your criteria." The account minimum is $100 and there are no trading fees, provided an account has at least a $20 balance. Experts say M1 Finance is unique among the SRI robo advisors in that it doesn't charge any management fee to use the platform.BettermentBetterment customers can choose to invest in their SRI portfolios with low fees and strong socially responsible metrics. This investment choice adheres to Betterment's low-cost and diversified approach while increasing exposure to companies that meet delineated SRI criteria. The Betterment socially responsible investing avoids companies with unsavory corporate governance and unfair labor practices."We'll prioritize excluding inappropriate stocks from the SRI portfolio and replace them with companies deemed to have strong social responsibility practices such as Microsoft (ticker: MSFT), Google (GOOG, GOOGL), Procter & Gamble (PG), Merck (MRK), Coca-Cola (KO), Intel (INTC), Cisco (CSCO), Disney (DIS) and IBM (IBM)," says Adam Grealish, Betterment's director of investing(https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamgrealish/) thank you. For example, in the U.S. large-cap stock allocation, selections include the iShares MSCI KLD 400 Social ETF (DSI). Betterment's low 0.25% management fee is reasonable when compared to other robo advisors and financial planners.EarthFolioEarthFolio is one of a handful of SRI investing robo advisors. This robo advisor invests exclusively in funds classified as sustainable or responsible. To make the cut, the fund's prospectus must delineate the specific ESG criteria used in the stock or bond selection. Unlike some ESG robo advisory competitors, EarthFolio offers bond funds in addition to other ESG funds.Earthfolio requires a $25,000 minimum investment amount and thus may be out of reach for new investors. EarthFolio offers a wider range of ESG investments and also provides a free head-to-head comparison of an investor's current portfolio with the EarthFolio recommendation. With a 0.5% management fee, it is one of the more expensive SRI investment robo advisors, although it compares favorably with traditional financial advisory fees.https://www.earthfolio.net/FAQ/WealthsimpleThere are a few fund names in this graph that don't match up with the tickers that you've given. Take a look. I've provided a few links, too.Launched in 2017, this Canadian robo advisor also operates in the U.S. and the U.K. The SRI options include ETFs representing iShares MSCI ACWI Low Carbon Target ETF (CRBN), Invesco Cleantech ETF (PZD), iShares MSCI KLD 400 Social ETF Is this what you mean?YES, SPDR SSGA Gender Diversity Index ETFIs this what you mean?yes (SHE), Invesco Taxable Municipal Bond ETF (BAB For BAB I'm getting this fund: https://money.usnews.com/funds/etfs/long-term-bond/invesco-taxable-municipal-bond-etf/bab. So do you mean BAB?yes-Investco Taxable Municipal Bond ETF) and iShares GNMA Bond ETF (GNMA) For GNMA, do you mean https://money.usnews.com/funds/etfs/intermediate-government/ishares-gnma-bond-etf/gnma YES iShares GNMA Bond Fund . Around 25% of Wealthsimple's clients have socially responsible portfolios.Wealthsimple offers three investment levels with management fees ranging from 0.4% to 0.5% of assets under management. All Wealthsimple clients have access to financial advisors, and halal portfolios are available for those who want to align their portfolios with Islamic religious beliefs.Motif Impact PortfoliosMotif Impact Portfolios encompasses both robo advisory services, investing in theme-driven portfolios, and more. One of the earlier platforms to use data and analytics to find unique investment opportunities, there are managed portfolios and DIY investing options.Silver recommends the Motif Investing Impact Portfolios which are populated with individual ESG stocks not exchange-traded funds. The ESG offerings fall into one of the categories: sustainable planet, fair labor and good corporation behavior.Motif requires a $1,000 minimum investment amount and charges 0.25% in management fees. The Motif Impact Portfolios offer stocks from five distinct asset classes that adhere to tax-aware rebalancing and minimize asset sales. In addition to the preselected ESG offerings, investors may create their own collections of ESG stocks.More Socially Responsible ESG Robo-AdvisorsThe following list includes other ESG investing companies in alphabetical order: Axos Invest.Ellevest.OpenInvest.Personal Capital.SustainFolio.TIAA Personal Portfolio.More socially responsible robo advisors will likely be added as the socially responsible investing field expands. For those who are seeking a set it and forget it socially responsible platform, there are many SRI robo advisor options from which to choose. It's likely that even if a current robo advisor lacks socially responsible investing choices today, it will offer it in the future. Ultimately, as younger investors more frequently seek to match their money with their hearts, the robo advisory market will continue to meet their needs.