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'''Wealthfront Inc.''' is an [[Robo-advisor|automated investment service]] firm based in [[Palo Alto, California|Palo Alto]], [[California]],<ref name="techcrunch1">{{cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2014/01/13/automated-investment-services-company-wealthfront-now-manages-over-538m-in-assets-up-450-percent-over-past-year/|title=Automated Investment Services Company Wealthfront Now Manages Over $538M In Assets, Up 450 Percent Over The Past Year|date=2014-01-13|author=Leena Rao|accessdate=2014-08-22}}</ref><ref name="riabiz">{{cite web|url=http://www.riabiz.com/a/5022384834740224/andy-rachleff-is-out-as-ceo-of-wealthfront-as-former-linkedin-star-takes-his-plac|title=Andy Rachleff is out as CEO of Wealthfront as former LinkedIn star takes his place|date=2014-01-30|author=Brooke Southall|accessdate=2014-08-22}}</ref><ref name="bloomberg">{{cite news|last1=Saitto|first1=Serena|title=Wealthfront Said to Be Raising $30 Million Led by Index|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-03-24/wealthfront-said-to-be-raising-30-million-led-by-index.html|accessdate=22 August 2014|agency=Bloomberg L.P.|publisher=Bloomberg News|date=25 March 2014}}</ref><ref name="cnbc">{{cite web|url=https://www.cnbc.com/id/101714841|title= The 2014 CNBC Disruptor 50 List|website= [[CNBC]]|date= 17 June 2014|accessdate=2014-08-22}}</ref> founded by [[Andy Rachleff]] and Dan Carroll in 2008.<ref name="forbes">{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/ericsavitz/2012/03/01/wealthfront-asset-manager-targets-valleys-nouveau-riche/|title=WealthFront: Asset Manager Targets Valley's Nouveau Riche|date=2012-03-01|author=Eric Savitz|website=[[Forbes]]|accessdate=2014-08-22}}</ref><ref name="techcrunch2">{{cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2014/04/02/automated-investment-service-wealthfront-raises-35m-from-index-ribbit-capital/|title=Automated Investment Service Wealthfront Raises $35M From Index, Ribbit Capital|author=Leena Rao|date=2014-04-02|accessdate=2014-08-22}}</ref> As of December 2022, Wealthfront had $31 billion [[Assets under management|AUM]] across over 500,000 accounts.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-12-31 |title=Wealthfront Review (2023 Update) |url=https://www.bestroboadvisors.org/wealthfront-review/ |url-status=live |access-date=2023-01-01 |website=BestRoboAdvisors.org |language=en-US}}</ref>
'''Wealthfront Inc.''' is an [[Robo-advisor|automated investment service]] firm based in [[Palo Alto, California|Palo Alto]], [[California]],<ref name="techcrunch1">{{cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2014/01/13/automated-investment-services-company-wealthfront-now-manages-over-538m-in-assets-up-450-percent-over-past-year/|title=Automated Investment Services Company Wealthfront Now Manages Over $538M In Assets, Up 450 Percent Over The Past Year|date=2014-01-13|author=Leena Rao|accessdate=2014-08-22}}</ref><ref name="riabiz">{{cite web|url=http://www.riabiz.com/a/5022384834740224/andy-rachleff-is-out-as-ceo-of-wealthfront-as-former-linkedin-star-takes-his-plac|title=Andy Rachleff is out as CEO of Wealthfront as former LinkedIn star takes his place|date=2014-01-30|author=Brooke Southall|accessdate=2014-08-22}}</ref><ref name="bloomberg">{{cite news|last1=Saitto|first1=Serena|title=Wealthfront Said to Be Raising $30 Million Led by Index|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-03-24/wealthfront-said-to-be-raising-30-million-led-by-index.html|accessdate=22 August 2014|agency=Bloomberg L.P.|publisher=Bloomberg News|date=25 March 2014}}</ref><ref name="cnbc">{{cite web|url=https://www.cnbc.com/id/101714841|title= The 2014 CNBC Disruptor 50 List|website= [[CNBC]]|date= 17 June 2014|accessdate=2014-08-22}}</ref> founded by [[Andy Rachleff]] and Dan Carroll in 2008.<ref name="forbes">{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/ericsavitz/2012/03/01/wealthfront-asset-manager-targets-valleys-nouveau-riche/|title=WealthFront: Asset Manager Targets Valley's Nouveau Riche|date=2012-03-01|author=Eric Savitz|website=[[Forbes]]|accessdate=2014-08-22}}</ref><ref name="techcrunch2">{{cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2014/04/02/automated-investment-service-wealthfront-raises-35m-from-index-ribbit-capital/|title=Automated Investment Service Wealthfront Raises $35M From Index, Ribbit Capital|author=Leena Rao|date=2014-04-02|accessdate=2014-08-22}}</ref> As of September 2019, Wealthfront had $21 billion [[Assets under management|AUM]] across 400,000 accounts.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-10-02|title=2020 Robo-Advisors With the Most AUM - And the Winner Is....|url=https://www.roboadvisorpros.com/robo-advisors-with-most-aum-assets-under-management/|access-date=2021-02-14|website=Robo-Advisor Pros|language=en-US}}</ref>


==History==
==History==

Revision as of 00:39, 3 January 2023

Wealthfront Inc.
FormerlykaChing (2008–2010)
IndustryPersonal finance, Stock exchanges, Finance
Founded2008; 16 years ago (2008)
Redwood City, California
Founders
Key people
AUMDecrease $15.85 billion (2020) [1]
Number of employees
Increase 238 [2]
Websitewww.wealthfront.com Edit this at Wikidata

Wealthfront Inc. is an automated investment service firm based in Palo Alto, California,[3][4][5][6] founded by Andy Rachleff and Dan Carroll in 2008.[7][8] As of September 2019, Wealthfront had $21 billion AUM across 400,000 accounts.[9]

History

Wealthfront was founded by Benchmark co-founder Andy Rachleff and Dan Carroll in 2008 as kaChing, a mutual fund analysis company, before pivoting into wealth management.[10][7][5][11] Rachleff was the firm's founding CEO.[11] In December 2012, the firm started tax-loss harvesting for accounts of more than $100,000.[12][13]

The company started 2013 with $97 million in assets under management and grew by 450% in one year.[8] In 2013, Wealthfront introduced "direct indexing", a tax-loss harvesting platform that purchases the individual securities of an investment portfolio.[14] Between January 2014 and October 2016, Adam Nash was Wealthfront's CEO.[4] Founder Andy Rachleff retook the role in 2016.[15]

In 2016, Wealthfront launched a partnership with the state of Nevada to launch a 529 tax-advantaged college savings plan. In the previous year, Nevada passed approval on a new tax credit for employers who provide fund matching to employees participating in 529 savings programs.[16] Andy Rachleff is currently the executive chairman and chief executive officer. In January 2018, Wealthfront launched homeownership planning tool for Path.[17][18] In January 2020, Wealthfront was listed in Business Insider's Top 10 Best Robo Advisors in 2020.[19]

In January 2022, UBS agreed to acquire Wealthfront for $1.4 billion.[20] The acquisition was mutually terminated in September 2022 with both companies not providing a reason.[21][22] UBS announced that it would instead invest in a $69.7 million note convertible into Wealthfront shares, valuing the latter at its acquisition price.[22]

Cash account

In February 2019, Wealthfront introduced a cash account, a high interest savings account.[23] The cash account has an interest rate that tracks the federal funds rate, is FDIC insured up to $1 million, and has an account minimum of $1. Wealthfront is able to offer the $1 million FDIC insurance because it deposits its clients' cash account funds in a network of partner banks including Citibank, HSBC, and Wells Fargo.[24][25]

In June 2020, Wealthfront added checking features to this account including direct deposit, bill pay, and ATM access.[26]

The cash account was originally available only to clients with an existing investment account. In August 2020, Wealthfront made the cash account generally available.[27]

Fee structure

Wealthfront charges an advisory fee of 0.25% on funds it invests for its clients. Only investment accounts are charged this fee (cash accounts are not). Wealthfront periodically offers a fee waiver of $5,000 if clients sign-up from affiliate links. Additionally, clients can earn a $5,000 fee waiver for new client referrals; the new client must start using the service, and the fee waiver will be eliminated if the new client leaves the service. Both the referrer and the referee receive the $5,000 fee waiver.

Wealthfront's investment account minimum is $500.[28][29]

Finances

The company has received funding from Benchmark Capital, DAG Ventures, Index Ventures, The Social+Capital Partnership and individuals, including Marc Andreessen and Jeff Jordan.[11] In April 2014, Wealthfront raised $35 million in a funding round led by Index Ventures, Ribbit Capital and Benchmark Capital.[30] The funding round brought the firm's total funding to $65.5 million.[31]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Top 5 largest robo-advisers by AUM". 22 March 2021.
  2. ^ https://craft.co/wealthfront
  3. ^ Leena Rao (2014-01-13). "Automated Investment Services Company Wealthfront Now Manages Over $538M In Assets, Up 450 Percent Over The Past Year". Retrieved 2014-08-22.
  4. ^ a b Brooke Southall (2014-01-30). "Andy Rachleff is out as CEO of Wealthfront as former LinkedIn star takes his place". Retrieved 2014-08-22.
  5. ^ a b Saitto, Serena (25 March 2014). "Wealthfront Said to Be Raising $30 Million Led by Index". Bloomberg News. Bloomberg L.P. Retrieved 22 August 2014.
  6. ^ "The 2014 CNBC Disruptor 50 List". CNBC. 17 June 2014. Retrieved 2014-08-22.
  7. ^ a b Eric Savitz (2012-03-01). "WealthFront: Asset Manager Targets Valley's Nouveau Riche". Forbes. Retrieved 2014-08-22.
  8. ^ a b Leena Rao (2014-04-02). "Automated Investment Service Wealthfront Raises $35M From Index, Ribbit Capital". Retrieved 2014-08-22.
  9. ^ "2020 Robo-Advisors With the Most AUM - And the Winner Is..." Robo-Advisor Pros. 2020-10-02. Retrieved 2021-02-14.
  10. ^ Jason Kincaid (2009-12-15). "kaChing Raises $7.5 Million To Turn Mutual Funds On Their Heads". Retrieved 2015-03-19.
  11. ^ a b c Tom Taulli (2012-02-07). "Interview: Wealthfront CEO and Founder Andy Rachleff". Retrieved 2014-08-22.
  12. ^ Marcus Wohlsen (2012-10-09). "Now Tech Plebes Can Dodge Taxes Like a Former Governor". Wired. Retrieved 2014-08-22.
  13. ^ Kim-Mai Cutler (2012-10-09). "Financial Planning Startup Wealthfront Woos Silicon Valley Workers With A Once-Secret Investment Trick". Retrieved 2014-08-22.
  14. ^ Wommack, Sanders (19 December 2014). "Wealthfront's high-net-worth cat leaps out of the bag -- keeping it one robo 'pivot' ahead of Schwab". RIA Biz. Retrieved 27 January 2015.
  15. ^ "Exclusive: Wealthfront's Founder Reclaims CEO Role as Current Chief Steps Down". Fortune. Retrieved 2020-05-10.
  16. ^ Andrea Davis (2016-06-03). "Wealthfront leads robo expansion into college savings plans". Retrieved 2016-07-14.
  17. ^ Neal, Ryan W. (29 January 2018). "Wealthfront app to help millennials with this lofty goal". www.investmentnews.com. Retrieved 2018-05-17.
  18. ^ "Wealthfront Launches Homeownership Planning Tool - Finovate". Finovate. 2018-01-30. Retrieved 2018-05-17.
  19. ^ Meola, Andrew. "Top robo advisors in 2020: Performance reviews, returns, and comparisons". Business Insider. Retrieved 2020-03-17.
  20. ^ "UBS buys Wealthfront in $1.4 bln deal to widen U.S. reach". Financial Post. 2022-01-26. Retrieved 2022-01-26.
  21. ^ Balezou, Myriam (2022-09-05). "UBS Growth Plans in US Dented After Wealthfront Deal Fails". Bloomberg News.
  22. ^ a b Snel, Ross (2022-09-02). "UBS Planned to Buy Robo-Advisor Wealthfront. Now the Deal's off". Barron's.
  23. ^ "Introducing the Wealthfront Cash Account". Wealthfront Blog. 2019-02-14. Retrieved 2021-02-16.
  24. ^ "Enjoy high-interest checking with no account fees | Wealthfront". www.wealthfront.com. Retrieved 2021-02-16.
  25. ^ "Wealthfront's Cash Account: What It is & How to Use It". www.moneyunder30.com. Retrieved 2021-02-16.
  26. ^ "The Wealthfront Cash Account Now Comes With Checking Features". Wealthfront Blog. 2020-06-29. Retrieved 2021-02-16.
  27. ^ "Start Earning 2.24% APY on Your Cash Today". Wealthfront Blog. 2019-03-19. Retrieved 2021-02-16.
  28. ^ Carey, Theresa W. "Wealthfront Review". Investopedia. Retrieved 2021-02-15.
  29. ^ "Referrals: What's the Wealthfront Invite Program?". Wealthfront Support. Retrieved 2021-02-15.
  30. ^ "Funding Roundup: Wealthfront Raises $35 Million, Reports 450% Growth". Daily News. 2014-04-04. Retrieved 2014-08-22.
  31. ^ Gabrielle Karol (2014-06-13). "High-Tech Investing Startup for Millennials Hits $1 Billion in Assets". Retrieved 2014-08-22.
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