225: Jon Stein, CEO of Betterment

In my Ask Farnoosh episodes I received a number of questions from  you about financial advisors. How do I know I’m ready to work with one? How much do they cost? Is it worth it? I also receive a number of questions about the growing market of “robo advisers” or online advisors that offer more affordable financial planning. You don’t get to meet with an advisor one-on-one but you receive a virtual plan that addresses your goals…And many people are participating. ..Still many are not sure if this is right for them. That’s why I’ve invited today’s guest…co-founder and CEO of Betterment, Jon Stein.  Betterment launched in 2008 and is, as the company says, “a smarter automated investing service that provides optimized investment returns for individual, IRA, Roth IRA & rollover 401(k) accounts… Through diversification, automated rebalancing, better behavior, and lower fees, Betterment customers can expect 4.30% higher returns than a typical DIY investor.” The company also practices automation and passive investing. It’s free to sign up and as your account  balance grows, so does your monthly fee…But it is significantly cheaper than a traditional account fee. Back to Jon, he comes from a background in financial services…and is a graduate of Harvard University and the Columbia Business School.  In addition to holding Series 7, 24 and 63, he is a CFA charterholder.