When it comes to money management, there is no lack of choices. For investors interested in rock-bottom fees and automated platforms, there are many robo-advisors or digital advisors from which to choose. If you’re looking for a traditional financial advisory relationship with a dedicated financial planner to assist with your money management, there is also an abundance of choices.
Comparing a financial advisor employed by popular financial services behemoth Edward Jones with a robo-advisor is in some ways comparing apples to oranges. The traditional Edward Jones advisor stands tall in stark contrast to the robo-advisory type of automated investment management.
Here's why.
What Investors Like About Edward Jones
Headquartered in Missouri, the company has over 13,500 offices throughout the U.S. and 600 through its Edward Jones Canada affiliate.Unlike many of its competitors who service institutions and corporations, Edward Jones zeroes in on individual clients.Each of its more than 20,000 financial advisors provides one-on-one personalized service to clients. Up until 2013, Edward Jones guided investors toward publicly available stocks, bonds, and mutual funds. In 2013, Edward Jones created its first proprietary mutual fund, which is available to clients that participate in the Jones’ fee-based Advisory Solutions platform.
Edward Jones' approach begins with a personal meeting between client and advisor with the advisor’s goal of getting to know you. The Jones advisor looks to understand why you’re investingas well as tries to grasp your short, medium, and long-range goals. The advisor learns your risk tolerance, helps you set goals, and develops a personalized plan. The Jones advisor then recommends investments and tactics that they hope fit with your goals.
Edward Jones advisors are generally compensated in a variety of ways. Advisors receive commissions when you buy and sell a securityandthey are compensated through a product mark-up, like when you buy a bond. In the advisor programs, the Edward Jones professional is compensated with a percentage fee of assets under management. Finally, there are additional third-party arrangements that pay the advisor when they sell a particular investment product.
Jones vs. a Robo-Advisor
The robo-advisor model has taken the financial industry and turned it on its head. The overriding robo-platform gives investors access to high-level tech algorithms that allegedly manage your investments better for higher returns and lower fees. Underneath the robo-advisor umbrella, there arevariations with some services likePersonal Capital offering access to financial advisors—assets under management must reach above a certain amount—anda computer-assisted program. In general, a robo-advisor does aquick assessment of an individual’s time horizon and comfort with risk. From that data, it creates a menu of mutual funds—and occasionally individual stocks—for the investor.
Other robo-advisor distinctions: Mostcontrol the consumers’ investments through regulated clearinghouses, although a few, such as SigFig and Jemstep (which also offers its white-listed service to financial advisors), allow the investor to keep their existing accounts. Most robos offer regular portfolio rebalancing and many practice tax-loss harvesting in an effort to reduce taxes and boost returns. The robo-advisors generally levy fees based upon assets under management and some advisors will manage the first $10,000 for free. Robos have a limited number of investment solutions for the consumer.
Edward Jones is a traditional financial advisory service that tailors client-driven investment portfolios. In contrast, a robo-advisor will funnel a user into a particular category based on the initial questionnaire. The Edward Jones approach will generally cost the consumer much more than a robo’s low fee. There is also a possibility that a Jones advisor might be tempted to invest in a product based on the advisor’s commission without considering if the particular product is the best available for their client.
There’s debate regarding returns. Robos promise that due to their low fees and computerized investment programs, the investor will obtain the best returns for the lowest fees. Additionally, through rebalancing and proprietary algorithms, robos pledge less investment volatility or risk. Traditional advisory firms justify fee structures with the personal touch they offer to clients.
Robos are attractive to younger investors who likely have fewer dollars to place into financial markets. With their low required minimum investments, robo-advisors give smaller investors access to top-level investing guidance.
The Bottom Line
Edward Jones is comprised of thousands of advisors. For individuals who want a personal touch, the right Jones advisor may very well be a good choice. On the other hand, low fees and tested investment strategies of robos give investors more net dollars to deploy into the markets. It all depends on what type of relationship an investor is looking to forge with an advisor.
