Wealthfront

The fintech firm's plans could herald an increase in public filings after a protracted lull in IPOs.

The Swiss bank's cancelled $1.4 billion acquisition of the robo-advisor means extra money for shareholders.

The firm is the first service that makes it possible to gain exposure to cryptocurrency as part of a diversified portfolio with automation features.

It’s a significant pivot for the robo advisor, which has historically advocated passive, ETF-driven investing.

Without market-leading, high-yield savings accounts, cash management at Betterment and Wealthfront isn’t as attractive as it was in 2019.

Wealthfront gives users more control over their money with automatic transfers to savings accounts or ETFs.

The boost in accounts has helped compensate for withdrawals by investors who need cash.

Many wealth management trends never caught on. This one is no passing fad, however.

“It’s no longer about coming to market and getting funding with some kind of novel pitch and seeing if it sticks,” says an industry analyst.

In a session at the In|Vest West conference, Rachleff revealed the digital firm’s ambitious plans to take on big banks.

The announcement is part of an ongoing mashup of financial services. The target audience? The customers of traditional banks.

The mutual fund giant’s automated advice plan could price independents out of the market — and commoditize advice even further.

In addition to launching an automated investing app, the bank created a dedicated advisor unit to provide personal service to customers when they need it.

The deal will accelerate the firm’s digital-heavy client strategy, CEO Andy Rachleff said.

The sector may be edging into dangerous territory, analysts say.

If approved, the fund would be the first in the U.S. to follow a quantitative approach that allocates across asset classes based on risk.

Acquiring clients can be expensive. Some digital investing platforms have turned to a marketing strategy they say may present “conflicts of interest.”

Several wealth management firms, including Marcus by Goldman Sachs and Wealthfront, have launched banking products to complement their investment services.

Just like in the early robo days, sustainability is a real concern for digital platforms.

Among other changes, the bank lowered its minimum investment.