
Wealthfront has a minimum balance requirement of $500 for its Digital plan and $100,000 for its Premium plan.
You'll need to meet this minimum balance requirement to take advantage of Wealthfront's investment management services.
Features
The Wealthfront Cash Account has a lot to offer when it comes to features. You can open an account with just $1, and there are no minimum balance requirements to earn interest or keep your account open.
One of the standout features is the variable 4.50% APY, which is competitive with high-yield savings accounts. This rate is subject to change with market rates, but it's a great opportunity to earn interest on your cash.
Wealthfront offers FDIC insurance through partner banks, providing up to $8 million in coverage. This is the highest coverage we found in researching top cash management accounts. You can rest assured that your money is protected.
The account also offers unlimited free transfers, making it easy to manage your finances. You can use the Wealthfront Debit Card for free ATM withdrawals, make purchases, and withdraw cash.
Additional reading: Wealthfront Compound Interest
Here are some of the key features of the Wealthfront Cash Account:
- No account management fees
- FDIC insurance through partner banks for up to $5 million ($10 million for joint accounts)
- Unlimited free transfers
- High interest rates that change in line with market rates
- Wealthfront Debit Card – Free ATM withdrawals
- Free bill pay
- Direct deposit allows cash access two days early
- Mobile check deposit
- Send checks (individual accounts only)
- Free overdraft protection
Overall, the Wealthfront Cash Account is a great option for those looking for a low-maintenance and high-payout cash account.
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Is it Safe?
Wealthfront makes security on their accounts a top priority, with active fraud monitoring, app-specific passwords, debit card lock, and standard two-factor verification.
They have multiple partner banks that provide FDIC insurance of up to $8M, which goes up to $16M for joint accounts. This means you can benefit from more than 250K FDIC insurance without the hassle of dealing with multiple banks yourself.
The Wealthfront Savings Account has a unique setup, where your money is deposited at four different banks. This provides FDIC insurance of up to $5 million for individual accounts and $10 million for joint accounts.
However, if you have other money saved at one of Wealthfront's partner banks, you'll only have the typical $250,000 FDIC insurance across all accounts held at that institution.
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Fees and Costs
Fees with Wealthfront's Cash Account are minimal. There are no account fees for the Cash Account itself.
The connected debit card has some fees that may apply, including a $2.50 fee for out-of-network ATMs, plus the ATM owner fee, which varies. Bank teller fees are also $2.50, plus the teller fees, which vary.
International transaction fees are 2.75% of the transaction amount. Cash loads at participating retailers can cost up to $5.95.
You can avoid the out-of-network ATM fee by using your debit card to withdraw from one of Wealthfront's over 19,000 free ATMs at places like CVS, Target, and Walgreens.
There's also a $10 fee per outgoing wire transfer, but no charge for incoming wire transfers.
Wealthfront's Cash Account has no fees or investment minimums, making it a great option for those with little to no money to invest. You can get started with as little as $1.
Here's a quick rundown of the fees you can expect with Wealthfront's Cash Account:
Wealthfront's overall fees are relatively low, with a 0.25% annual fee for investment management. Some optional services may charge slightly higher fees.
Investing and Portfolio
Wealthfront offers a range of investing options, including a robo-advisor that creates a portfolio based on your financial questionnaire responses.
You can choose from an individual investing account, joint investment account, IRAs, or other investing account options. Wealthfront charges a 0.25% annual management fee, with $0 trading commissions and a $0 account transfer fee.
Their algorithms diversify your portfolio between six to eight asset classes, including U.S. and foreign stocks, dividend stocks, real estate, government, and corporate bonds, and inflation-protected securities.
Explore further: Wealthfront Automated Bond Portfolio
How It Works
Wealthfront's algorithms can divide a portfolio between six to eight asset classes, including U.S. and foreign stocks, dividend stocks, real estate, government, and corporate bonds, and inflation-protected securities.
They primarily use low-cost exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and can also opt for a stock portfolio.
Wealthfront's software readjusts your investments through threshold-based rebalancing, which means they'll re-allocate your investments once an asset crosses a predetermined "threshold".
Their goal is to minimize taxes, and they achieve this through daily tax-loss harvesting, a service available to all investors.
Broaden your view: Balanced Retirement Portfolio
Wealthfront's Cash Account functions like other online high-yield savings accounts, with all paperwork completed online.
It offers substantially better interest rates than traditional bank savings accounts, especially in the current rising interest rate environment.
The Wealthfront interest rate will change as market interest rates adjust, so you'll benefit from higher interest payments.
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Retirement Savings
You can open traditional, SEP, and Roth IRAs with Wealthfront to save for retirement. This includes accepting IRA or 401(k) rollovers.
Wealthfront will analyze your spending and savings, as well as other relevant data like projected inflation and Social Security, to ensure you have enough cash when the time comes.
Their Path feature will help you stay on track with your retirement goals.
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Return
You can earn a 5.00% APY on your money in a Wealthfront Cash Account.
The account is FDIC insured up to $8 million for individual accounts, and up to $16 million for joint accounts.
Wealthfront's Cash Account offers no fees and doesn't charge for transfers, making it a hassle-free option.
You can open a Cash Account with just $1, making it one of Wealthfront's more affordable offerings.
If you're already paying for an investment account, the fee won't apply to money in your Cash Account.
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Compare Savings Accounts
If you're considering a cash management account, there are alternatives to Wealthfront Cash Account that offer competitive features and benefits.
The Betterment Cash Reserve, for instance, offers a high 4.75% APY with no minimum balance requirement, zero fees, and unlimited withdrawals. This is an excellent option for everyday cash management.
Betterment's FDIC insurance coverage is lower, however, at up to $2 million with its partner banks, compared to Wealthfront's up to $5 million coverage.
Empower Personal Cash, formerly Personal Capital Cash, is another alternative to consider, but its FDIC insurance coverage is not mentioned in the article.
Wealthfront Cash Account has some key features that set it apart from other savings accounts, including its high APY and zero fees.
Here's a comparison of Wealthfront Cash, Betterment Checking/Cash Reserve, and Chime Spending:
Ultimately, the best savings account for you will depend on your individual needs and preferences.
Pros and Cons
The Wealthfront Cash Account has a lot to offer, but let's dive into the pros and cons.
The high APY of 5.00% is a major perk, especially when compared to other high-yield savings accounts.
You'll also get more FDIC insurance, up to $8M, which is a significant advantage over traditional bank accounts.
One of the best things about the Wealthfront Cash Account is that there are no account fees, no overdraft fees, no transfer fees, and no minimum balance requirement.
You can even get direct deposits up to two days before they would be available in a normal bank account, which can be a huge help with budgeting.
The account is also linked to your Wealthfront investment account, making it easy to transfer and invest your money quickly.
Here are some of the key benefits of the Wealthfront Cash Account:
- High APY of 5.00%
- Up to $8M FDIC insurance
- No account fees
- No minimum balance requirement
- Easy direct deposit
- Linked to Wealthfront investment account
It's worth noting that the Wealthfront Cash Account has some limitations, such as not being able to accept cash deposits or having physical branches.
However, these limitations are outweighed by the many benefits of the account, making it a great option for those looking for a high-yield savings account.
A unique perspective: Individual Cash Account Wealthfront
Opening and Depositing
Opening a Wealthfront Cash Account is an easy process, and you can choose from an individual, joint, or trust account type.
To get started, you'll need to decide which account type you want and select it by sharing who will own the account.
You can fund your Wealthfront Cash Account with a minimum of $1 using an external account.
Depositing checks is also possible, but you'll need to meet certain requirements: you've direct deposited at least $250 and held an average balance of at least $2,500 over the last 60 days in all your Wealthfront accounts.
This can be done easily by taking photos and submitting them via the mobile app, but note that cashier's checks, money orders, and checks from international banks not in USD are excluded.
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Betterment and Competition
Betterment offers a suite of financial planning tools, and access to both standard brokerage accounts and retirement accounts. The base price for investing accounts is $4/month with Betterment and you’re automatically switched to a 0.25% annual fee once you meet certain thresholds, which matches up with Wealthfront.
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One glaring difference between Wealthfront and Betterment is that Betterment offers personalized financial planning with unlimited support from Certified Financial Planner™ professionals for a higher 0.40% annual fee, but you’ll need a minimum balance of $100,000 to qualify.
Betterment's fees are comparable to Wealthfront's, but Betterment's financial planning tools set it apart. Both Wealthfront and Betterment provide automated investment management comparable to traditional human investment financial advisors but at a fraction of the cost.
Here's a comparison of the two:
Ultimately, the choice between Wealthfront and Betterment depends on your individual needs and financial situation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens if Wealthfront goes under?
If Wealthfront were to go out of business, customer Cash Balances swept into Money Market Funds are insured up to the applicable SIPC limits. This protection is in place to safeguard your investments in the unlikely event of a business closure
Sources
- https://www.cnbc.com/select/wealthfront-cash-account-review/
- https://www.moneyunder30.com/banking/reviews/wealthfront-cash/
- https://www.roboadvisorpros.com/wealthfront-cash-account-review/
- https://www.finder.com/banking/wealthfront-high-yield-account
- https://www.moneyunder30.com/investing/reviews/wealthfront/
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