Top Online Financial Advisors for May 2025

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Looking for a trustworthy financial advisor? Look no further.

For this list, we focused on affordable, tech-driven firms where you can access automated and personalized portfolio management, holistic financial planning, and as-needed or ongoing professional advice from financial advisors, planners, and fiduciaries.

The top online financial advisor could offer services such as managing your wealth, planning for estates, handling taxes, and saving for retirement.

Below are our top selections for the finest online financial advisors chosen by Business Insider editors in 2025.

Best Online Financial Advisors

• SoFi Robo Investing Top online financial advisers for newcomers
• Vanguard : Best online financial advisors for hybrid financial planning
• Betterment Investing : Best online financial advisors for large account balances
• Ellevest Top online financial advisors specialized for women
• Ameriprise Financial Investments Top online financial advisers for retirement savings
• Wealthramp Top online platforms for locating Certified Financial Planners (CFPs)

Discover an Online Financial Advisor

Best for Beginners

Advisor type: Hybrid module

SoFi Robo Investing is an all-encompassing online brokerage designed for both active and passive investors. It offers not only smooth investment options but also features low costs. ETFs , you can benefit from professional advice and support provided by SoFi’s certified financial planners (CFP) who are particularly suited for newer and less seasoned investors.

SoFi's financial advisors are bound by fiduciary standard, which means they are both legally and morally obligated to prioritize your interests. Even though face-to-face meetings aren’t possible, SoFi planners provide counsel and direction on investment strategies, borrowing options, budget planning, and savings techniques.

A SoFi membership includes a free 30-minute conversation with a financial advisor. CFP To enjoy unrestricted access to financial advisors, you need to be a SoFi Plus member.

You can gain SoFi membership by initiating an account with them. SoFi checkings or savings account , or you can opt for SoFi Plus membership by arranging direct deposits or paying $10 each month.

Pros:

• Members of SoFi receive a free 30-minute conversation.
• Beginner-friendly financial planning services
• Does not impose monthly, asset management, or annual fees for advisory services.

Cons:

• To enjoy unrestricted access, one must be a SoFi Plus member. CFPs However, membership becomes complimentary when you set up direct deposits or pay $10 monthly.

Ideal for Combined Financial Planning

Advisor type: Hybrid module

Vanguard Personal Advisor stands out as a top-tier financial advisory service, managing more than $8.6 trillion in assets. This brokerage provides an extensive array of investment options along with various advisory services, such as robo-advisor along with a professional management account option.

Using Vanguard's Personal Advisor service, you benefit from a blend of automated portfolio management along with the expertise and guidance provided by professionals who act as your fiduciaries for comprehensive financial advice.

A Personal Advisor account comes with a higher minimum requirement, potentially making it unattainable for certain investors. However, the increased $50,000 threshold might appeal to retirees (or individuals close to retiring) who have already accumulated that amount and desire greater professional support and supervision.

The financial advisory company provides guidance on numerous monetary issues such as handling debts, tax planning, and managing healthcare expenses. ways to prepare for your retirement savings However, Vanguard Personal Advisor doesn’t permit investing in individual stocks, bonds, or options.

Pros:

• It includes both robotic advisory services and access to human financial advisors who act as fiduciaries.
• Comprehensive wealth management and financial planning services covering a broad spectrum of subjects
• Offers access to numerous retirement plans and resources designed to assist you in assessing your options. How much money do you require to achieve retirement? And how should you distribute your funds?

Cons:

• A $50,000 minimum balance makes this account unattainable for individuals with less savings.
• A management fee of 0.30% applies to account balances below $5 million.

Ideal for Big Bank Accounts

Advisor type: Hybrid module

Betterment Investing Is a straightforward yet comprehensive trading platform providing unrestricted access to CFPs via phone or email with Betterment Premium. It also includes the platform’s robo-advisory features like tax-efficient approaches and automated portfolio adjustments.

Betterment Certified Financial Planners develop customized plans tailored for investment, retirement saving, and tax strategies. These planners craft an individualized retirement blueprint considering factors such as your age, financial objectives, and projected lifespan.

To gain access to Betterment’s Premium membership and enjoy continuous financial advice, your account needs to hold a minimum of $100,000. As part of this premium tier, you'll get extra benefits like expedited customer service along with a 20% discount when using Trust & Will for estate planning services (an online tool for managing estates).

Individuals who move at least $20,000 qualify for a complimentary initial chat with a Betterment Financial Advisor aimed at assisting you in setting up your account and exploring your financial objectives.

For individuals who can readily invest $100,000 into a brokerage account, Betterment’s financial planning tools offer an excellent choice, providing them with advanced trading capabilities and comprehensive financial advice. Should enhanced professional guidance via Certified Financial Planners (CFPs) be unnecessary, Betterment remains a top pick. best robo-advisors For newcomers to get into low-cost trading and readily available investment tactics.

Pros:

• CFPs are fiduciaries
• Multiple financial planning services are available, including tax strategies
• Premium members get discounted pricing on estate planning services with Trust & Will

Cons:

• A single complimentary consultation necessitates a minimum account balance of $20,000.
• Requires a minimum account balance of $100,000 for continuous advisor support.
• Premium members are subject to an additional 0.65% annual fee.

Best for Women

Advisor type: Hybrid advisor

Ellevest Is a thorough financial planning and wealth management platform designed with women's specific requirements and obstacles in mind. While it isn't solely for women, its investment strategies factor in gender disparities.

Ellevest offers complete automated investment, financial planning, and wealth management solutions. Every Ellevest Certified Financial Planner is female. Sessions begin at $250 each ($1,000 total for packages intended for Ellevest members).

A free initial consultation can be accessed without committing to create an Ellevest account. In this session, an Ellevest financial advisor will outline subsequent actions and materials tailored to your personal finances.

You will also have access to a vast collection of content along with workshops led by advisors.

By April 17th, Ellevest plans to transfer its automated investment accounts to Betterment. Nonetheless, they will still provide wealth management and financial advisory services for high-net-worth clients with investments of at least $500,000.

Pros:

• Women-focused investment and advisory solutions
• Free complimentary consultation available prior to account opening
• Wide range of financial planning, retirement, and wealth management services

Cons:

• Financial coaching costs extra (but members get 30%- 50% off).
• Access to retirement account management requires an upgrade

Best for R etirement Savers

Advisor type: Human advisors

Ameriprise Financial Investments is one of the largest registered investment advisors in the US and is best for experienced investors looking for advanced charting and investing features. You'll get access to fiduciary financial advisors for consultations or account management.

Our number one choice for retirement savings and planning is thanks to its vast collection of retirement planning materials, portfolio management services, and availability of fiduciary experts.

The following management accounting options are accessible for the best IRAs , 401(k)s, and 403(b)s:

• Client-directed: Collaborate with a financial advisor to construct your portfolio. Each investment choice requires your approval.
• Manager-directed: A chosen investment manager from your selected list offers ongoing management and trading authority.
• Advisor-directed: A financial advisor possesses the power to choose investments and determine asset distribution for your portfolio, yet they require your permission to construct and oversee it.

Various investment advisory methods come with differing minimum requirements and investment choices. This may not be ideal for newcomers to investing.

Pros:

• Provides multiple tiers of account management services with advisors.
• Provides various goal-setting instruments such as investment screening tools and monetary calculators

Cons:

• The managed accounts from Ameriprise come with high and intricate fees.
• The website is harder to navigate when compared to the ones listed here.

Best for Finding CFPs

Advisor type: Human advisors

Wealthramp is a personalized advisor matching service that helps people find reliable money advice. After answering a series of questions about your financial situations and goals, Wealthramp generates advisor matches based on your preferences.

Wealthramp’s fiduciary advisers operate on a fee-only basis and provide an array of standard investment and estate planning services. They also feature tailored financial strategies such as tax, divorce, estate, and legacy planning, LGBTQ+ financial guidance, along with special needs planning options.

Pros:

• Free to use
• Simplifies the process of finding a financial advisor

Cons:

• Wealthramp is not a brokerage firm and doesn’t provide trading or investment services directly.

Find a Financial Advisor

What Exactly Are Digital Financial Advisers?

The phrase "financial advisor" encompasses roles such as financial planners and investment advisors. Many web-based advisory firms provide investment management—whether managed by humans or advanced algorithms—as well as financial planning services or resources.

Types of Online Advisors

The primary categories of web-based financial advisors include:

• Robo-Advisors: Automated investment platforms (aka robo-advisors) use algorithms to generate a custom investment portfolio based on an individual's risk tolerance, goals, and time horizon. Robo-advisors typically offer low-cost ETFs as a cost-effective way to instantly diversify an investor's asset allocation and mitigate risk.
• Human Advisors (Virtual): Online financial advisors who provide tailored financial planning and investment guidance via virtual meet-ups, emails, and various digital communication methods.
• Hybrid Models: Certain online brokerages provide a blend of automated and personal financial guidance, integrating algorithm-driven investment recommendations with individual consultations from professional advisors.

What Is the Price of Online Financial Advisors?

Financial advisors providing financial advice often charge by the hour, typically between $100 to $300. Advisors creating a comprehensive financial plan tend to charge a flat rate between $1,000 and $3,000.

When you employ an advisor to oversee your investment portfolio, you will incur fees based on a percentage of your account balance, usually ranging from 1% to 3% per year.

Compared to that, this fee is significantly higher than what the best robo-advisors charge; you gain the additional advantage of developing a rapport with a reliable provider who can modify your approach whenever necessary, offer individualized suggestions, and address queries as they come up.

Ways to Select the Top Online Financial Advisers

The ideal online financial advisor for you hinges on your objectives, risk appetite, current holdings, and investment duration. Should you be a beginner looking into passive strategies, starting with an online robo-advisor might be quite suitable.

If you prefer professional advice and a tailored financial strategy, it’s more beneficial to have access to a human advisor via phone or video calls.

You may choose to consult with an expert in person for financial advice instead. If this method suits you better, consider using these resources to locate one nearby:

• CFP Board's Let's Make a Plan

  • Here you will find a list of all certified Financial Planner™ practitioners who have been approved to utilize their CFP® credentials through the CFP® Board and are currently welcoming new clients.
  • With the sophisticated search feature, you have the option to select more than 40 specific fields you seek assistance with and add details about your present investable assets.
  • Click here to visit the CFP Board website .

• XY Planning Network

  • This database helps connect young professionals — those in generations X and Y (millennials) — with individual advisors.
  • Every advisor holds the CFP® certification, is a fiduciary, does not require a minimum net worth to take on new clients, and does not earn commissions.
  • Tap here to explore XY Planning Network .

• The National Association of Personal Financial Advisers

  • This platform keeps a record of fee-only financial advisors, rather than those with specific CFP® certifications, who pledge to uphold a fiduciary duty annually.
  • You have the option to narrow down by location to view a selection of advisory firms nearby.
  • Click here to visit the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors website .

Benefits of Using Online Financial Advisors

With online financial advisors, you can avoid the inconvenience of face-to-face meetings and get professional financial advice right from your smartphone or home PC. These digital experts use investment technologies and typically come at a lower cost than conventional in-person advisers.

It not only makes investment more accessible to a broader range of people, but also enables clients to modify and oversee their investments at their convenience. Online robo-advisors and hybrid advisory services usually provide digital platforms with user-friendly interfaces and tools designed for easy management and tracking.

Why You Can Rely on Us

We evaluated the top online financial advisors as follows: The approach Business Insider uses to evaluate investment platforms . We compared a long list of Registered Investment advisors (RIAs), considering fees, investment selection, access, ethics, and customer service. The best online advisors have top marks in all five categories. Investment platforms are given a rating between 1 and 5.

FAQs

What is the best online financial advisor for larger account balances?

Betterment is the best online financial advisor for larger account balances. You need at least $100,000 in your account to unlock ongoing financial planning and guidance from a CFP with Betterment.

Is a robo-advisor suitable for my needs?

A robo-advisor could be suitable for you if you favor a more passive approach to investing, particularly as a non-professional or beginner investor. Even those with extensive experience might find value in using robo-advisors due to their straightforwardness and easy-to-navigate platforms.

Which is the top-rated online financial advisor?

The top choice for novice investors seeking an online financial advisor is SoFi Invest. For those preferring a hybrid approach, Vanguard stands out as the best option. If your priority is working with a Certified Financial Planner (CFP), then Wealthfront is highly recommended.

Who is considered the most reliable financial advisor?

SoFi Invest is the most trustworthy financial advisor on our list of the best online financial advisors, as it has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau and robust security protocols. However, SoFi is not BBB-accredited.

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