Charles Schwab Corp (NYSE:SCHW) just launched a new offering for investors that hopes to capitalize on the rising trend of automated investments while still retaining the old school touch of human advisors.
Written by StockNews.com
Dubbed Schwab Intelligent Advisory, the service gives clients a financial and investment plan, a portfolio of robo-controlled ETFs managed by computer programs, and unlimited access to a real-life human advisor via phone or video conference.
Reuters has additional details on pricing and availability:
The service, for clients with at least $25,000 to invest, includes an online platform that keeps track of financial goals and retirement plans, the San Francisco-based company said in a statement. It will charge a 0.28 percent fee on assets, with a quarterly maximum of $900.
Schwab’s move comes just a couple of months after startup robo advisor Betterment, which was one of the first new-age robos and now one of the largest, launched a couple of similar hybrid plans. The biggest difference between Betterment and Schwab’s offerings is the investment minimum. Betterment’s two programs require a much-higher $100,000 and $250,000 minimum investment, respectively, versus Schwab’s paltry $25,000 minimum.
Betterment and other robo advisors are facing stiff competition from traditional brokerages like Schwab, which have fought back with their own automated offerings. That competition is expected to only intensify in coming years.
Charles Schwab Corp shares were unchanged in premarket trading Tuesday. Year-to-date, SCHW has gained 9.11%, versus a 6.39% rise in the benchmark S&P 500 index during the same period.
SCHW currently has a StockNews.com POWR Rating of A (Strong Buy), and is ranked #3 of 30 stocks in the Investment Brokerage category.
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