(800) 943-8804

info@association-financial.com

PNC Center

Suite # 2020, Troy, MI 48084

Mon – Fri, 9am to 5pm

Sat - By Appointment Only

Welcome to Association Financial Services, LLC — Your Path To A Brighter Future

Saturday, July 5th of 2025

(800) 943-8804

info@association-financial.com

PNC Center

Suite # 2020, Troy, MI 48084

Mon – Fri, 9am to 5pm

Sat - By Appointment Only
Association Financial Services, LLC
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Services
    • Education Planning
    • Insurance Planning
    • Investment Planning
    • Personalized Planning
    • Public Notary Services
    • Retirement Planning
    • Social Security Planning
    • Wealth Management
  • Investments
    • Annuities
    • Bonds
    • Commodities
    • Equities (Stocks)
      • How Stocks Trade
      • Types of Stocks
    • ETPs
    • Investment Trusts
    • Mutual Funds
    • Real Estate (REITs)
  • News
    • Industry News
    • Industry Talk
  • Links and Resources
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
Association Financial Services, LLC
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Services
    • Education Planning
    • Insurance Planning
    • Investment Planning
    • Personalized Planning
    • Public Notary Services
    • Retirement Planning
    • Social Security Planning
    • Wealth Management
  • Investments
    • Annuities
    • Bonds
    • Commodities
    • Equities (Stocks)
      • How Stocks Trade
      • Types of Stocks
    • ETPs
    • Investment Trusts
    • Mutual Funds
    • Real Estate (REITs)
  • News
    • Industry News
    • Industry Talk
  • Links and Resources
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
Skip to content
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Services
    • Education Planning
    • Insurance Planning
    • Investment Planning
    • Personalized Planning
    • Public Notary Services
    • Retirement Planning
    • Social Security Planning
    • Wealth Management
  • Investments
    • Annuities
    • Bonds
    • Commodities
    • Equities (Stocks)
      • How Stocks Trade
      • Types of Stocks
    • ETPs
    • Investment Trusts
    • Mutual Funds
    • Real Estate (REITs)
  • News
    • Industry News
    • Industry Talk
  • Links and Resources
  • Careers
  • Contact Us

Making Cents of Online Investment Services – Which is Best?

Share

Making Cents of Online Investment Services | Online Investment Advisory
Administration Department April 4, 2020 No Comments

The question of the day is all about making cents of online investment services – Which is best? In other words; should you or shouldn’t you? Naturally, as you might as well expect with this sort of question, there is no one size fits all answer here. Should you use Robo-Advisors or Human Advisers?

Working Definition of Robo-Advisors and Human Advisers

Let’s begin with a good clear definition of what we are talking about here so that everyone is on the same page. For the purpose of this article, we will define an online investment service as any sort of investment service where you don’t have the dedicated attention of a specific financial adviser – a Human Adviser. In most cases, this is done as a sort of lowering the bar if you will so that those with fewer dollars to invest can still benefit from professional advice.

Robo-Advisors?

Although you may have encountered the term Robo-Advisors in and around your Google Searches for investment advice, this phrase is something of a disservice to the industry.

Uh, hmm; not so much. Actually this is considered to be somewhat of a derogatory term by those in the business. Although you may have encountered the term Robo-Advisors in and around your Google Searches for investment advice, this phrase is something of a disservice to the industry. For example, the term “robo” implies more of a commoditized, mass produced product. Yet as you already know, each financial situation is unique. Consequently, it would not make sense to try and use a one size fits all approach.

What’s Available?

It turns out that there is a wide range of online investment services. Depending on which firm you’re looking at, you can receive access to services such as portfolio management, asset management, investment advising, financial planning, portfolio analysis, online brokerage services, asset allocation advice, and more. The point is that depending on your own personal financial situation, chances are you can locate an online investment advisory service that fits your needs which is exactly what we do.

How Do They Do It?

Understand that even the best online investment service can only work with what you give them. Most of these firms start the process with an online questionnaire for you to fill out. For example, should you happen to be interested in how best to allocate your assets among the various investment choices available to you, the online questionnaire will have specific questions about your time horizon. Using this information, the adviser will then suggest a model portfolio for you to implement based on that timeline.

Using an online investment advisor means you have to take the time out to carefully think through the initial part of the setup.

At the same time, there are some online investment advisory services that offer to select which portfolios that best fit your risk tolerance, time horizon, that sort of thing. The point to get here is that using an online investment advisor means you have to take the time out to carefully think through the initial part of the setup. Otherwise, the advice you receive, the portfolio models and such, will have little to no real meaning.

Real World Examples of Online Investment Services

Here is what this looks like in the real world. Take a look at how it works at the online investment company named Betterment. Betterment begins their process with an online interview process that is specifically focused on your time horizon for specific financial goals. During this process, you have a wide range of different investment goals to choose from such as wealth building, retirement savings amount, retirement income targets, safety net funding amounts, IRAs, and more.

Going a step further is another online investment adviser firm named Hedgeable. Hedgeable takes this process one step further. Instead of merely offering you model portfolios and the like, Hedgeable will actually manage your money for you to meet the goals you have identified. This means, Hedgeable will buy and sell securities for you account.

Another step up in the online investment service realm can be found at Personal Capital. Like Hedgeable, Personal Capital will also manage your money for you. Yet Personal Capital takes it one step further – Personal Capital provides wealth management services.


Now What?

The above list is a small sampling of what’s available out there in terms of online investment services. Check out our other article discussing Robo-Advisors.


Bottom line is this: if you are the type of person who doesn’t mind taking care of your personal finances online, then online investment advisors are the next logical step for you. On the other hand, should you be more comfortable dealing with your human financial adviser face to face, well that option is still available also and that’s exactly what we do.

—

Posted from Admin at Association Financial Services, LLC

Disclaimer
This is a Financial and Insurance Services Website. The views and opinions of Association Financial Services, LLC, and Association Financial, LLC, do not reflect the opinion(s) of any organization we may be affiliated with, nor are we making official statements on behalf of any company. Information contained in our post(s) is considered true and accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time of posting and as with any written article, there may be omissions, errors, or mistakes. Kindly notify us should you discover any so that they may be corrected immediately. The content provided is for informational purposes only and should not be considered advice, such as financial, legal, tax, or any other type of advice. Tax and accounting services are not provided by Association Financial Services and its advisers, although we may refer these services to licensed professionals in their respective industry. Any information relied upon in our post(s) is used at your own risk. Therefore, we are not liable for any adverse consequences. We are not a professional in the topic or view discussed, unless otherwise stated, and you should always consult with a professional prior to taking any sort of action. We reserve the right to change or modify the content of our post(s) at any time, including the focus and/or content, and how it may be managed.
Account, Investments, Portfolios Betterment, Financial Adviser, Hedgeable, Investment Adviser, Online Services, Personal Capital, Portfolio, Robo-Advisor
Post navigation
← Uncommon Wealth Building Wisdom – Trash the Benchmark
True or False? — Does it Take Money to Make Money? →

Recent News

  • Preparing for retirement emotionally December 3, 2021
  • Taking a goals-based approach to investment risk January 2, 2021
  • I’m hearing a lot about a CFP lately. What’s with all the noise? November 7, 2020
  • The IRS combats refund fraud and identity theft by offering IP PINs October 3, 2020
  • Why now is still a good time for a financial review September 5, 2020

X

Tweets by @CallAFS

Categories

  • Account
  • Accounting
  • Budgets
  • CFP
  • FINRA
  • Investments
  • IRS
  • Money
  • Portfolios
  • Retirement
  • SEC
  • Security
  • Technology
  • Wealth

Tags

401k 403b 457 Adviser Benchmarks Betterment Budget Computer Electronic Filing Email Fiduciary Financial Adviser Form CRS Goals Hacker Hedgeable Ideas Inventors Investment Adviser IRA Market Online Services Passwords Performance Personal Capital Personal Finance Planning Portfolio Risk Robo-Advisor Roth IRA Savings Sensitive Information SEP-IRA Taxes Tax Forms Tips Video Conferencing Wealth Management

Association Financial Services, LLC

As a Registered Investment Adviser Firm, we provide expert financial advice to both individuals and businesses. With over 25 years of experience, we’ll ensure that you’re always getting the best comprehensive and independent guidance from the top people in our industry.

Quick Links

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Investments
  • Services
  • News
  • Resources
  • Careers
  • Contact Us

Industry Talk

  • Preparing for retirement emotionally December 3, 2021
  • Taking a goals-based approach to investment risk January 2, 2021

Our Weekly Newsletter



    Get In Touch →
    • Facebook
    • LinkedIn
    • X
    • Legal
    • Privacy Policy


    Insurance products offered through Association Financial, LLC, an affiliated company conducting business in 6 states. Advisory services provided by Association Financial Services, LLC, A Registered Investment Adviser Firm, conducting business in 16 states either through registration or an exemption. Association Financial Services, LLC, and its Financial Representatives, may only transact business in a particular state where it is appropriately registered or exempt from registration. Tax and accounting services are not provided by Association Financial Services and its advisers. Please seek the assistance of a tax qualified professional for any tax related questions and concerns, or we can refer you. This site has been prepared for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a solicitation, offer, or sale of investment advisory services to anyone residing outside of the United States.

    This Website is secure and verified by Sectigo Limited.
    © 1998-2025 ASSOCIATION FINANCIAL SERVICES, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
    Top
    Association Financial Services, LLC - FREE Newsletter Signup

    TOTALLY FREE! Cancel any time!

    CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP!

    WHY NOT

    Newsletter

    FREE Weekly

    Call Now Button