Fidelity Go vs Schwab Intelligent Portfolios

Fidelity Go

• ✓No advisory fee on accounts under $25,000
• ✓Zero expense ratio Fidelity Flex funds for truly free investing at small balances
• ✓No account minimum to get started investing
• ✓Access to one-on-one coaching included at 0.35% fee tier
• ✓Seamless integration with existing Fidelity accounts and services

Schwab Intelligent Portfolios

• ✓Zero advisory fees — no management fee or commissions charged
• ✓Tax-loss harvesting available on accounts with $50,000 or more
• ✓Premium tier provides unlimited access to certified financial planners
• ✓Backed by the strength and reputation of Charles Schwab
• ✓Automatic rebalancing keeps your portfolio on target

Fidelity Go

• !Advisory fee of 0.35% above $25K is higher than Wealthfront or Vanguard
• !Limited to Fidelity Flex mutual funds only, no ETF options
• !No tax-loss harvesting feature available
• !Fewer customization options than some competitors

Schwab Intelligent Portfolios

• !$5,000 minimum investment is higher than most robo-advisors
• !Mandatory cash allocation of 6-30% may drag on long-term returns
• !Tax-loss harvesting only available at the $50,000 account threshold
• !Cash allocation generates hidden revenue for Schwab through interest spreads

Fidelity Go

• →Beginning investor with a small balance wanting a free robo-advisor
• →Fidelity customer wanting simple automated investing alongside existing accounts
• →Young professional starting to invest with no minimum balance requirement

Schwab Intelligent Portfolios

• →Investor wanting completely free automated portfolio management
• →Schwab customer looking to add robo-advisory within their existing account
• →Fee-sensitive investor comfortable with a higher cash allocation tradeoff

Fidelity Go

Fidelity Go offers a straightforward robo-advisory experience with no advisory fee on accounts under $25,000, making it one of the most accessible options for beginning investors. Above $25,000, the fee is a competitive 0.35% annually which includes access to one-on-one coaching sessions with Fidelity advisors. The platform invests in Fidelity Flex mutual funds with zero expense ratios, creating a potentially zero-cost investing experience for smaller accounts. Fidelity Go integrates seamlessly with other Fidelity accounts and the broader Fidelity ecosystem.

Schwab Intelligent Portfolios

Schwab Intelligent Portfolios is unique among robo-advisors in charging zero advisory fees — no management fee, no commissions, and no account service fees. The platform builds diversified portfolios from Schwab ETFs and third-party ETFs, automatically rebalances, and provides tax-loss harvesting for accounts over $50,000. The catch is a $5,000 minimum and a mandatory cash allocation that some critics argue generates revenue for Schwab through the interest rate spread. The Premium tier at $30/month adds unlimited access to certified financial planners.