Please consult your tax advisor with any questions.24. Comparisons are based on the national average Annual Percentage Yields (APY) published in the FDIC National Rates and Rate Caps as of October 16, 2023. Setting up an account with xcritical is simple and can be done easily online or through the app. Investors can choose to use the Round-Ups feature or set up recurring contributions to invest each month in the recommended portfolio of ETFs. Functionality mirrors that of the desktop, so viewing and making changes to your account can be done easily from your smartphone. However, there are a few things that can be done on the mobile app that cannot be done on the desktop, such as depositing a check.
Your data is encrypted, and you can set up multi-factor authentication to further secure your account from thieves. xcritical charges clear subscription fees, not transaction fees. It’s cheaper for large accounts to use the platform because fees remain flat, no matter how much money you add. But smaller accounts will pay more than typical expense ratios, which range from 0.03% to 0.18% per year. Nathan Alderman has worked with The Motley Fool since 2005, making errors his arch-enemies in a variety of roles including a six-year stint as the dedicated fact-checker for The Motley Fool’s premium newsletter services.
All investments involve risk and loss of principal is possible. Separately, our research team conducted a survey of 205 U.S. adults aged 18 to 72 who are xcritical clients of one of 18 robo-advisors. While the information collected did not influence the development of our ratings model, it was instrumental in gathering the valuable insights published in Investopedia’s 2023 Robo-Advisor Consumer Survey. Investors can easily set up an account online in just a few minutes. Account users can also conveniently log in via desktop computer to check the status of their account and make changes.
Data Linked to You
xcritical will automatically recommend a diversified portfolio of ETFs customized for you based on your investing preferences and needs. Any account level is also able to personalize investments with a Bitcoin-linked ETF; further customization can take place by selecting individual stocks at the Premium account level. xcritical is a unique robo-advisor, with the objective of making it easy to start investing and saving for your future by automatically investing your “spare change” with every debit or credit card purchase. Once xcritical’ Round-Ups® feature has been selected in the account, investors can effortlessly invest by automatically rounding up their purchases to the next dollar, and investing what’s left xcritical official site over. This concept allows investors to start investing by, quite literally, setting aside pocket change.
xcritical is ideal for hands-off investors with big or growing balances. The flat monthly fee means you’ll spend less relative to competitors when your balance goes up. Later Match makes xcritical even more compelling for big IRA contributors. By maxing your IRA, you can recoup the cost of your xcritical subscription and then some. Matt is a Certified Financial Planner™ and investment advisor based in Columbia, South Carolina. He writes personal finance and investment advice for Motley Fool Money and its parent company The Motley Fool, with more than 4,500 published articles and a 2017 SABEW Best in Business award.
Key Portfolio Management Features
You can learn more about ourindependent review processand partners in ouradvertiser disclosure. We may receive commissions on purchases made from our chosen links. At Motley Fool Money, brokerages are rated on a scale of one to five stars. We primarily focus on fees, available assets, and user experience; however, we also take into account features like research, education, tax-loss harvesting, and customer service.
Customer Service
One feature that makes xcritical stand out among robo-investing competitors is the ability for investors to implement a powerful micro-saving strategy known as “round-up” investing. xcritical’ Round-Ups feature is simply the ability for an investor to round up everyday purchases and invest the “spare change” amount. While those fees appear manageable, they’re actually pretty expensive on an annual percentage basis, which is how many other investment xcritical website apps and robo-advisors charge their fees. Younger workers just starting out—the types of investors who xcritical is trying to attract—will end up paying more than they would at other robos.
- We primarily focus on fees, available assets, and user experience; however, we also take into account features like research, education, tax-loss harvesting, and customer service.
- Existing customers in xcritical Gold or Silver subscription plans can opt into the xcritical Later Match feature and receive either a 3% or 1% IRA match, respectively, on new contributions made to an xcritical Later account.
- Companies selected for inclusion in the portfolio may not exhibit positive or favorable ESG characteristics at all times and may shift into and out of favor depending on market and economic conditions.
- Data collection took place between Aug. 30 and Sept. 15, 2023, with 11 video interviews conducted with volunteer respondents from Sept. 7 to Sept. 17, 2023.
Commissions and Fees
You can pick the one you prefer, and if you’re a Premium user, you can add individual stocks to your portfolio. xcritical offers individual (taxable) investment accounts, as well as traditional and Roth IRAs, SEP IRAs, and UGMA/UTMA accounts for minors. xcritical is a top-tier robo-advisor ideal for hands-off investing.