E-Trade Core Portfolios / Automated Investment Management

E-Trade Core Portfolios review quick take: A managed investment account offering diversified portfolios designed by human specialists.

What is ETrade Core Portfolios?

Etrade Core Portfolios is a robo-advisory service that offers automated investment management. It combines the expertise of investment professionals with advanced technology to create and manage a diversified portfolio tailored to your goals and risk tolerance. The service handles the day-to-day management of your investments, including monitoring, rebalancing, and tax-loss harvesting.

It offers:

• • A customized portfolio with an investment strategy that has the potential to grow with you
  • Monitored to keep your investments on track every day and rebalance to help meet your goals
  • Help whenever you need it with any support you may need

The accounts available are:

• • • Individual
    • Joint
    • Custodial
    • Retirement accounts: Traditional, Roth, Rollover IRA

Securities products and investment advisory services are offered by Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC, a Registered Investment Adviser and Member SIPC, which protects securities customers of its members up to $500,000 (including $250,000 for claims for cash).

How E-Trade Core Portfolios Work

Core Portfolios invests on your behalf but cannot tell you whether a managed account is right for you.

1. To create a plan, answer a few questions and share where you’d like to be.
2. Get a diversified portfolio with investments handpicked by experts who seek to provide optimal returns based on your goals and risk tolerance.
3. Your investment strategy can be customized.
4. The technology then monitors and automatically updates your portfolio to keep your goals on track.

The initial minimum deposit is $500.

Key Features

• Customized Portfolios: Tailored to your specific goals and risk tolerance.
• Automated Management: Continuous monitoring and rebalancing of your portfolio.
• Tax-Loss Harvesting: Potentially reduces your tax bill by offsetting capital gains with losses.
• Diversification: Investments in various asset classes for balanced risk and return.
• Socially Responsible Investing: Option to invest in ETFs that focus on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria.

Fees

• Management Fee: Pay as low as $1.50 or 0.30% of assets under management annually.

This fee covers the management of your portfolio but does not include the underlying expenses of the ETFs in your portfolio.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Low minimum investment with as little as $500
• Hands-off investment approach
• Includes tax-loss harvesting
• Tailor portfolio with socially responsible investments

Cons

• Advisor might be higher compared to some other robo-advisors
• Customization options are more limited compared to traditional advisory services.

Who is it best for?

ETrade Core Portfolios is ideal for investors who prefer a hands-off approach to investing and want professional management of their portfolio through a robo-advisor service.

ETrade Core Portfolio Review

E-Trade Core Portfolio is a legitimate service offered by Morgan Stanley. It provides a solid robo-advisory service with a strong emphasis on customization and tax efficiency. The platform’s integration with ETrade’s broader suite of investment tools and its affiliation with Morgan Stanley adds credibility and depth to the service.

In researching ETrade Core Portfolio reviews, we found that the online brokerage has a 4.6 out of 5-star rating in the App Store with over 168,000 reviews. However, it receives a poor rating of 1.2 out of 5 stars from about 400 reviews on Trustpilot, with most sharing issues with customer support.

E-Trade Core Portfolios Review Conclusion: It’s particularly suited for those starting with a modest investment and values the benefits of automated portfolio management, including tax optimization and ESG investing.

How to Start Using E-Trade Robo-advisors

Minimum Requirements

• • • Must be at least 18 years old
    • Verifiable personal information
    • Social security number

Step-by-Step to Open an E-Trade Core Portfolio Account

The time needed: 3 minutes.

• • 1. Getting started
       • Download the app or visit the website.
       • Submit your personal information, such as name, email, and password.
    2. Select Core Portfolios
       • Share your investment goals and wait for a portfolio recommendation.
    3. Fund your account
       • Start with just $500.

E-Trade Robo Portfolio Alternatives

Robo Portfolios alternatives include Betterment, Wealthfront, and SoFi Automated Investing.

Find more robo-advisors in the marketplace.