SigFig Review

Pros and Cons of SigFig

Types of Clients

As part of its robo-advisor service, SigFig only serves individual investors. More specifically, it tailors its products to non-wealthy individuals. According to the figures listed on its Form ADV, the company has less than 100 high-net-worth clients. This is typical for robo-advisors, however. Because of their automated nature and often low minimums, they’re generally more accessible to beginners or people without experience who want to build a portfolio or attain certain goals.

Though SigFig doesn’t primarily work with affluent clients, you must still invest a minimum of $2,000 before signing up. This is quite high for a robo-advisory firm, especially compared to other firms that either have very low minimum account requirements or don’t have them at all.

How SigFig Works

SigFig is an automated investing platform that builds and manages your portfolio on a discretionary basis. In simplest terms, when you create an account, the company can make trades and execute your strategy without your approval. Because it’s a robo-advisor, consider that you’re entrusting software and algorithms to do this rather than an educated human professional.

The first step to working with the company is signing up. Before doing so, however, you must complete a questionnaire that provides it with information about your goals and investing profile. When we tested the form, it asked us about the following:

• Age
• Time horizon (short, intermediate, or long)
• Household income and percentage of it saved
• Liquid asset value
• Risk tolerance (from very low to very high)

After answering the questions, the firm immediately presents you with a recommended type of portfolio, including a breakdown of its allocation strategy. While the focus will vary depending on your circumstances, SigFig notes on its Form ADV Part 2A that its portfolios often use a diversified collection of low-cost exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and mutual funds. If you accept the initial suggestion, you’ll then be able to create an account.

Per the company’s website, the next stage is putting money in your account. As mentioned in the previous section, you’ll need a base investment of $2,000 to kick off your managed portfolio. Though the company monitors and makes trades for you, you’ll need to keep your assets at a separate brokerage firm, either Charles Schwab or Fidelity.

Once you have accepted an allocation and invested an initial sum, SigFig will construct your portfolio. But what does your relationship look like over time? The company highlights that it monitors your portfolio daily. If it falls out of line with your strategy, it will automatically rebalance. The robo-advisor will also employ tax-loss harvesting if you opt in, which is a technique that offsets taxes on capital gains.

Fee Structure and Cost

SigFig charges an annual fee based on a percentage of the value of your assets under management (AUM). But if you have less than or equal to $10,000 AUM, you can use the robo-advisor service for free. Once you pass this mark, you must pay a 0.25% yearly cost. According to its Form CRS, however, fees could reach a maximum of 0.50% in certain cases.

Because it doesn’t offer a wrap-fee service, keep in mind that you’ll need to pay separate costs related to the operation of your account, such as brokerage and trading expenses.

Investment Philosophy

Trust is a big part of the relationship between an investment management professional and a client. However, it’s hard to have the same trust in a robo-advisor, like SigFig, to effectively manage your portfolio as a traditional advisor would. A worthwhile way to understand how it would take care of your assets is by learning about its investment philosophy.

SigFig makes its investment methodology available to clients in a document on its website, a common practice. It provides information on the types of asset classes it uses, how it may build and manage your portfolio, and how it minimizes risk.

While it goes into this in full detail in different sections of the paper, the company lays out the primary principles it uses in investment management in its intro. Below is a summarized version of this:

• Design a balanced portfolio using curated asset classes that lend themselves toward this strategy.
• Choose cost-effective securities, such as ETFs, that provide exposure to a larger market area.
• Align portfolio constructions to each client’s risk tolerance.
• Take appropriate rebalancing measures when necessary.

Note that the above only scratches the surface of what SigFig outlines in its methodology paper. We recommend reading its materials directly if you’re seriously considering the company.

Disclosures

SigFig Wealth Management LLC is a registered investment advisor (RIA) with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Because of this, it must report all disciplinary or regulatory actions, including criminal proceedings or arbitrations, on its filing documents as public information. According to its latest Form ADV, the firm has no disclosures to report.

Customer Service and Becoming a Client

The quickest way to contact SigFig’s customer service is by emailing support@sigfig.com. You can also call the company directly at (855) 974-4344. From what we could tell, there is no readily available “Contact Us” page, which means these are the only two options if you need support.

If you’re interested in opening an account, the simplest method is by clicking any of the “Get Started” buttons on SigFig’s website. From there, you’ll be able to fill out the questionnaire, receive an initial portfolio recommendation, and then complete your sign-up.

Methodology

This review is based on publicly available information directly from SigFig’s website and the SEC. Neither the firm nor its representatives have any say on what we’ve included on this page.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is SigFig a fiduciary?

SigFig must uphold a strict fiduciary standard when working with clients to maintain its registration as an investment advisor with the SEC. Beyond this, though, the company is a fee-only advisor and doesn’t earn commissions from products it recommends. Ultimately, this is a strong signal that the company avoids glaring conflicts of interest and manages portfolios objectively.

How much money do you need for SigFig?

SigFig requires a minimum account balance of $2,000 before you can use its robo-advisor service. It doesn’t, however, have any requirements or fees for its portfolio tracker service.

Is SigFig worth it?

It’s worth signing up for SigFig if you want to invest with extra guidance or plan to assemble a portfolio to reach one or more goals. It offers an automated investment management service with comparable features to competitors, including Betterment, Wealthfront, and Fidelity Go, such as tax-loss harvesting, rebalancing, and portfolios comprising low-cost passive options like ETFs and mutual funds.

You’ll need to make some key considerations to decide if it’s right for you. First, it doesn’t involve contact with a dedicated human financial advisor. Outside of talking to customer service representatives, your portfolio is under the discretionary control of the company’s software. The other wrinkle is that, unlike some other options in the industry, you’ll have to commit a lofty $2,000 before opening an account.

Does SigFig have human advisors?

SigFig offers the opportunity to meet with a traditional financial advisor via phone or email. According to its website, these professionals can help you with financial planning, questions about building your portfolio, and budgeting. It’s important to note, however, that the company’s primary service is its robo-advisor, and that this acts as an additional resource for clients.