You want your money to work hard for you, but investing can be hard work, too.

From exchange-traded funds (ETFs)1 to stocks and bonds, knowing which types of investments are right for you and your situation can be overwhelming. And once you decide on the right funds, you also need to manage your portfolio to make sure you’re on track to meet your goals. It can be a daunting process.

Thankfully, there’s an easier way. U.S. Bancorp Investments, an affiliate of U.S. Bank, offers a robo-advisor called Automated Investor that does the heavy lifting for you during the investment process. Helping you work towards your financial goals more effectively, the algorithm-based program has diverse portfolios built by the Asset Management Group experts from U.S. Bank. 

Here we answer some common questions about robo-advisors and Automated Investor.

What is a robo-advisor?

A robo-advisor is an online investment account that leverages smart technology to set up a mix of investments for you based on your goals and preferences. Adjustments are made to your account automatically.  

People enjoy investing with a robo-advisor because they can start investing with less money—just $1,000—and they get all the elements of a diversified investment account without needing to make complicated decisions.

How do you set up an account?

Enrollment in Automated Investor is easy and takes just a few minutes. First, you select a goal and say what you are investing towards, and then give more details, like how much you want to invest. 

Next, decide if you want to invest additional money over time, such as making biweekly or monthly deposits. Once that’s established, determine how much risk you’re willing to take. If you don’t know your risk tolerance, Automated Investor’s Risk Quiz will help guide you. Lastly, set a timeline for your investment based on your financial goals.

How does the Automated Investor robo-advisor work?

Once you’ve funded the account, Automated Investor will select a group of investments across asset classes and invest your money according to the parameters you establish. As the markets change, your investments will rebalance to ensure that you're invested appropriately over time. You’ll receive a monthly statement that shows your balance, as well as detailed quarterly reports comparing your performance with different indices. Don’t worry: Human support is available to you whenever you need it. And if your situation changes, you can adjust your risk tolerance at any time to trigger a rebalance.

Why do people choose a robo-advisor?

When you want to add to your investment, you don’t have to decide which funds to purchase. And when it’s time to withdraw money, you don’t have to pick or choose what to sell. Automated Investor makes those decisions for you, keeping your portfolio intact and in line with your original strategies. It’s a set-it-and-forget-it approach to investing, which can be especially helpful during volatile markets that can cause concern for investors who may wonder if their money is allocated properly.

How are robo-advisors different to human advisors?

The process is like working with an investment advisor. Both the human and robo-advisor will build your portfolio and tailor it to your needs. The biggest difference is that Automated Investor provides a digital experience with lower costs. You won’t be charged commission or fees on individual trades, and annual fees are 0.24%2 of invested assets, billed quarterly.

A tool like Automated Investor is a great way to get started investing in the market. The tool can also provide peace of mind for financially savvy individuals who want to diversify and balance their portfolio with a set of assets that are tailored to help meet their goals.

Ready to get started with Automated Investor?

You now have the answers to questions like, “What is a robo-advisor?” and “How do robo-advisors work?” So, are you ready to get to work with Automated Investor? Visit our page on Automated Investor to get the additional information you need to get started.

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Disclosures

Automated Investor legal agreements & disclosures

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  1. Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) are subject to risks similar to those of stocks, such as market risk. Investing in ETFs may bear indirect fees and expenses charged by ETFs in addition to its direct fees and expenses, as well as indirectly bearing the principal risks of those ETFs. ETFs may trade at a discount to their net asset value and are subject to the market fluctuations of their underlying investments.

  2. Annual advisory fee is 0.24% of invested assets, billed quarterly with a minimum investment of $1,000. Your annual advisory fee doesn’t include ETF fees and expenses which are reflected in the daily pricing of the fund, or other account level fees as described in our Automated Investor Wrap Fee Program Brochure.

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Investment and insurance products and services including annuities are:
Not a deposit • Not FDIC insured • May lose value • Not bank guaranteed • Not insured by any federal government agency.

U.S. Investments is a marketing logo for U.S. Bancorp Investments Inc.

Investment and insurance products and services including annuities are available through U.S. Bancorp Investments, the marketing name for U.S. Bancorp Investments, Inc., member FINRA and SIPC, an investment adviser and a brokerage subsidiary of U.S. Bancorp and affiliate of U.S. Bank.

Insurance products are available through various affiliated non-bank insurance agencies, which are U.S. Bancorp subsidiaries. Products may not be available in all states. CA Insurance License #0E24641.

U.S. Bancorp Investments and its representatives do not provide tax or legal advice. Your tax and financial situation is unique. You should consult your tax and/or legal advisor for advice and information concerning your particular situation.

IMPORTANT: The projections or other information generated by Automated Investor regarding the likelihood of various investment outcomes are hypothetical in nature, do not reflect actual investment results and are not guarantees of future results. Results may vary with each use and over time.

Investing involves risk, including possible loss of principal.

U.S. Bancorp Investments is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission as both a broker-dealer and an investment adviser. To understand how brokerage and investment advisory services and fees differ, the Client Relationship Summary is available for review.

Pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, U.S. Bancorp Investments must provide clients with certain financial information. The U.S. Bancorp Investments Statement of Financial Condition is available for you to review, print and download.

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Rule 2267 provides for BrokerCheck to allow investors to learn about the professional background, business practices, and conduct of FINRA member firms or their brokers. To request such information, contact FINRA toll-free at 1-800‐289‐9999 or via https://brokercheck.finra.org. An investor brochure describing BrokerCheck is also available through FINRA.

Past performance and market conditions do not guarantee future results. There is no assurance that a particular investment mix or hypothetical performance shown will lead to actual investment results or performance. Diversification and asset allocation strategies do not guarantee low volatility, profit or protection against loss. There is no guarantee that you will achieve your goal within your time horizon, or over a longer time period by using Automated Investor. You are responsible for providing accurate and up to date information about your goal, time horizon, and risk tolerance.

If you have any questions or concerns, contact us to consult with an investment professional 866-758-8655. The illustrative portfolios cannot account for the impact that economic, market, and other factors may have on an actual investment portfolio.

Municipal Securities Education and Protection– U.S. Bancorp Investments is registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board (MSRB). An investor brochure that describes the protections that may be provided to you by the MSRB rules and how to file a complaint with an appropriate regulatory authority is available to you on the MSRB website at www.msrb.org.

U.S. Bancorp Investments Order Processing Information.