Financial Advisors
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What’s new from Betterment Advisor Solutions
Discover the latest products and features launched in Q2 2025, designed to give advisors more ...
What’s new from Betterment Advisor Solutions Discover the latest products and features launched in Q2 2025, designed to give advisors more control, flexibility, and transparency. Table of Contents Portfolio management Billing SBLOCs Advisor experience New Advisor Exchange episode We’re continuously building out new tools and enhancements to help you work smarter not harder. In Q2, we introduced a wave of powerful updates—including a major acquisition and new portfolio management features designed to give you greater control and customization with less manual effort. Expanded support for legacy and concentrated positions Build custom models with ETFs, mutual funds, and now single stocks. Our latest update gives you more control without adding complexity and helps you: Bring legacy and held-away assets into a long-term strategy—powered by TLH, rebalancing, and smart withdrawals that minimize the tax impact. Use sell-only substitutes with ETFs, mutual funds, and single stocks to unwind concentrated positions gradually. You can leverage sell-only substitutes when incorporating your clients' legacy positions into your target model's asset allocation, without buying additional shares during rebalancing. Here’s what’s changed: More control over rebalancing: This functionality allows you to add additional tickers to your security groups for greater control over rebalancing behavior in your custom model portfolios. Tax-efficient exposure: Betterment will help reduce exposure over time according to your instructions with our tax-efficient algorithms. Read more about sell-only substitutes. The future of portfolio management Our recent acquisition of Rowboat Advisors, a portfolio optimization software, paves the way for direct indexing capabilities on the platform. Over the coming months, we’ll be introducing new features that deliver more customization, intelligent automation, and enhanced flexibility to support your firm’s unique needs. Be on the lookout for: Tools for more transparent trading: Run sophisticated simulations and use critical data to better understand trade impacts and make more informed decisions. Expanded portfolio options: Create and edit portfolios with a wider range of options that work seamlessly with rebalancing, tax-loss harvesting, tax-smart portfolio transitions, asset location and intelligent withdrawals. Watch our latest webinar to learn more about what’s to come in 2026, including UMAs and direct indexing. Reduced ACH payment timelines Big news: We’ve shortened our payment processing time from 12 days down to just 5 business days. You’ll get paid sooner, with more transparency. With billing and fee tracking fully integrated into the platform, it’s easy to see exactly what you’re owed each cycle—no spreadsheets, no guesswork. The result: a cleaner more efficient, billing experience that helps you stay compliant, minimize error, and save time. Upgraded mutual fund transactions Give your clients the clarity and confidence they expect when moving assets, with updates that: Eliminate withdrawal discrepancies due to fluctuating Net Asset Value (NAV). Improve fee-assessment precision, reducing the risk of over/undercharges and aligning with regulatory expectations. Simplify tax reporting for clients by ensuring the amount withdrawn matches the amount received. A faster lending solution Securities Backed Lines of Credit (SBLOCs) with Betterment Advisor Solutions give your clients access to the value of their Betterment assets as lines of credit without liquidating investments. Fast and flexible for your clients: It’s a simple, automated application process, giving your clients immediate access to their credit line after approval. Streamlined for your firm: Leverage an integrated borrowing solution that complements your investment management practice. Register for our webinar to learn more and explore how SBLOCs can become a valuable tool for serving high net-worth clients. Save your seat Securities-Backed Lines of Credit (SBLOCs) are offered by The Bancorp Bank, N.A., Member FDIC, to Betterment clients. Betterment is not a bank. See more in disclosures. Guided client tours for winning new plans Win prospects and onboard with confidence with our new Clients Tours tab. This highly requested update enables you to give plan sponsor clients a guided demo around our platform. Access client tours in the left rail of your advisor dashboard. Planning strategies for the equity-rich and cash-constrained In our latest episode of The Advisor Exchange, Natalie Taylor, CFP®, founder of the Goodland Group, discusses how she maximizes planning for an underserved segment: mid-career tech professionals with complex equity compensation packages. From navigating RSUs and AMT to rethinking the AUM model and scaling with values-based planning, Natalie shares the strategies, tech, and mindset that have shaped her fast-growing firm. Watch now. It’s been a busy year—see what we launched in Q1, or get in touch with our team to learn more. Book a demo. -
What's new from Betterment Advisor Solutions
Discover the latest products and features launched in Q1 2025, designed to enhance user ...
What's new from Betterment Advisor Solutions Discover the latest products and features launched in Q1 2025, designed to enhance user experience, drive innovation, and meet the needs of financial advisors. Table of Contents Solo 401(k)s Billing Plan advisor improvements Account aggregation Advisor Exchange We’re excited to share a range of powerful platform updates, designed to help improve and streamline your client-management tasks. From a new solo 401(k) built for the self-employed to flexible billing options and improved account aggregation, check out all the latest upgrades. And, don’t miss our new video series Advisor Exchange, hosted by Tom Moore (more on that below). A better solo 401(k) is here We’re excited to share that solo 401(k)s are now available on our platform. With higher contribution limits (compared to SEP and SIMPLE IRAs) and no income restrictions, solo 401(k)s can help you maximize retirement savings for your self-employed clients. Offering solos can help you: Expand your service offering. Attract clients with self-employment income and solo business owners. Streamline wealth management. Consolidate clients’ accounts in one place, fostering more holistic planning. Strengthen client relationships. Provide diverse, tax-efficient retirement solutions and long-term planning. The Betterment solo 401(k) features: Fast, paperless account opening and e-Signature on plan agreements Digital funding for both employer and employee contributions (ACH or bank deposit) Spouse participation at no additional cost Roth and traditional tax strategies Record-keeping services provided by Betterment. –See the new solo 401(k)– Easy fee billing from Cash Reserve We’ve expanded our billing options. Now, you can assess fees directly from clients’ Cash Reserve accounts, increasing flexibility and efficiency in fee management. This can help: Improve cash flow management: You can help clients avoid liquidating investments to cover advisory fees, reducing potential tax implications. Create a seamless client experience: Ensure fee payments are handled smoothly from available Cash Reserve balances, which lets clients maintain their investment strategy without interruption. Customize billing plans: Tailor the fee structures to client preferences, and provide a more personalized approach to portfolio management. Cash Reserve offered by Betterment LLC and requires a Betterment Securities brokerage account. Betterment is not a bank. FDIC insurance provided by Program Banks, subject to certain conditions. Learn more. Get greater visibility into plan-level information We understand that every advisor has a unique approach to plan management. Whether you manage investments yourself or rely on Betterment’s 3(38) services, our 401(k) solution gives you the flexibility you need. With our latest unlock—the “Investment Options” tab—you’ll get access to different investment details depending on who holds the 3(38) role. 3(38) advisors: View the active fund menu for each plan, select fund details and view more information like expense ratios, fund performance, benchmark performance and prospectuses. You can download your active fund menu and aforementioned details to a .CSV file as well. Betterment 3(38) / sub-advisory role: See all available model portfolio strategies (with Core as the default QDIA investment), and select a portfolio to view its performance history, projections and holdings based on an example allocation or risk. This clear, centralized view of fund menus and portfolio options helps improve decision-making and streamline plan management. Unlock faster, actionable data with 20 new reports We know you often need to access plan data quickly ahead of client meetings. That’s why we’ve added 20 new reports—now available directly in the advisor experience on the Betterment platform. These include both participant-level details, like deferral rate history and inactive participants, and plan-level insights, such as unallocated funds and investment activity over time. With time-based metrics and a deeper view into plan performance, these reports equip you to lead more informed, impactful client conversations. –Explore our 401(k) solution– Link external accounts to joint and trust accounts We’re happy to announce this once sought-after feature is now a reality: Clients can now connect external accounts with their joint and trust accounts. Using Betterment’s advanced aggregation features, you can: Get visibility into your clients’ held-away assets so you can craft more informed investment strategies. Move money faster, now that clients have even more ways to fund their investments and manage trust distributions without the hassle of manual transfers. Tune into our brand new video series Hosted by Tom Moore, Head of Betterment Advisor Solutions, Advisor Exchange will feature financial advisors and innovators across the industry, unpacking their success stories: highs, lows, and lessons learned along the way. Because no one understands the unique challenges and opportunities of financial advising as those living it. –Tune in– And, you can always suggest a topic or nominate an advisor who has inspired you. We’ve had a jam-packed quarter, and there are even more upgrades planned for Q2. Stay tuned. If you’d like to learn more about Betterment Advisor Solutions, book a demo. -
What’s new from Betterment Advisor Solutions
Discover the latest products and features launched in Q3 2025, designed to give advisors more ...
What’s new from Betterment Advisor Solutions Discover the latest products and features launched in Q3 2025, designed to give advisors more control, flexibility, and transparency. Table of Contents Rebalancing Billing Integrations Advisor experience Retirement Explore our newest updates, featuring enhanced portfolio management, smarter billing, and a smoother experience. This upgrade is designed to help you gain more control and transparency for delivering efficient, tax-smart outcomes to your clients. Preview the tax impact before you rebalance No surprises. No blind spots. Just a clear view into the expected tax impact–down to the position level and how it factors into each client’s capital gains allowance. Now you can see what happens when you trigger an immediate portfolio rebalance. And soon, you’ll be able to preview the tax impact when you: Turn on/off rebalancing or change the drift threshold Initiate a portfolio migration The preview screen also provides insights into wash sale warnings, short- and long-term gains and losses, post-trade weights, and more. We're making it easier to evaluate tax implications and make more informed decisions aligned with your clients’ goals. Take an interactive tour Streamline fees with cash-first billing Now when you choose cash-first billing, you can opt into a strategic fee structure that draws funds from Cash Reserve, then taxable investing accounts, and lastly, retirement accounts to better preserve tax-advantaged dollars. With cash-first billing, you can: Improve cash flow management: Avoid liquidating investments to cover advisory fees, reducing potential tax implications. Create a seamless client experience: Ensure fee payments are handled smoothly from Cash Reserve balances, so clients can stay fully invested without interruption. Tailor your approach: Choose a fee structure that suits your needs, and lets you provide a more personalized approach to portfolio management. Cash Reserve offered by Betterment LLC and requires a Betterment Securities brokerage account. Betterment is not a bank. FDIC insurance provided by Program Banks, subject to certain conditions. Learn more. Adjust fees with flexible sharing Now you can fully cover (or share) Betterment fees out of the overall fee you charge clients, giving you greater flexibility in how platform costs are managed. This option lets you absorb, share, or pass along fees based on your business model, creating a more transparent experience that aligns with your practice. Learn more Streamline reporting with the Capitect integration Now you can view Betterment accounts alongside other custodians in Capitect, a robust reporting and billing platform. Our latest integration lets you access client data and run performance reports—all in one place—so you can manage more with less effort. Learn more Access robust transaction reporting faster With our refreshed Client Activity Page, you can see recent transactions, trade-level details, and allocation changes all in one place. With easier access to client data, you can respond to clients quicker, with clearer information. Gain more flexibility in account setup You now have greater control over how you plan and organize client accounts. Instead of being required to assign a goal, you can set up accounts with or without them—giving you the flexibility to structure accounts that align with your workflow. Make solo 401(k)s simpler and more rewarding Your self-employed clients may now be eligible for up to $1,500 in tax credits—$500 per year for three years—when they open a solo 401(k) with auto-enrollment. As part of our fully digital solo 401(k) solution, auto-enrollment helps further maximize client savings by streamlining contribution setup and eliminating manual steps. Accounts default to a 3% contribution rate to ensure eligibility, with the flexibility to adjust and integrate seamlessly with our tax-smart tools to maximize efficiency. You and your clients can also choose the funding approach that works best for you, lowering barriers to entry so clients can start saving sooner and stay on track. And with upcoming Roth enhancements, including mega backdoor Roth conversions, your clients will have even more ways to boost retirement savings. Learn more Unlock greater plan onboarding oversight Plan advisors can now view detailed onboarding progress with estimated launch dates and key details for every plan: Onboarding tasks: Review what’s in progress, not ready, or complete, so you always know where each plan stands. Launch milestones: Stay on top of key dates like document signing, employee setup, and payroll approval to ensure a smooth plan launch. Plan details: Quickly access plan type, payroll provider, and your Betterment onboarding contact to manage every plan with confidence. If you missed the last update, see all the new features in Q2 of 2025. And, if you’re ready to talk to someone on our team, book a demo today.
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Middle East conflict is moving markets: What investors should know
Middle East conflict is moving markets: What investors should know Mar 10, 2026 7:00:44 PM Nearly a year after sweeping tariffs sent global stocks into a tailspin, financial markets are again navigating a period of heightened uncertainty. Escalating geopolitical tension, including the conflict in Iran and concerns over protracted oil supply disruptions at the Strait of Hormuz, have pushed energy costs higher for businesses and households. As shown in the chart below, oil prices rose to $120 per barrel on March 9—which is double the level at the beginning of the year—before pulling back following President Trump’s comments that the war would be resolved “very soon” and that he would waive “certain oil-related sanctions to reduce prices.” Despite the pullback, the timeline for resolution remains unclear, and uncertainty around the conflict is likely to keep commodity markets volatile in the near term. The hostilities primarily impact U.S. companies and consumers through inflation. Rising oil costs push gasoline prices higher at the pump, reducing household spending on other goods and services. Firming inflation also complicates the Federal Reserve’s path forward, potentially delaying or reducing rate cuts. This, in turn, could push longer-term rates higher, raising borrowing costs for businesses and weighing on their stock valuations. Yet we’ve also seen a stronger market reaction outside the U.S. The chart below illustrates the heavier selling in stock markets such as Japan and South Korea relative to the S&P 500 since the conflict began—though both indices had jumped ahead of the American market earlier in the year. The steeper declines in Japanese and Korean equities can be attributed to: Japan and Korea’s oil import dependency on the Middle East. Both countries source the vast majority of their imports from the region, while the U.S. stands as a net exporter of oil. Their markets have a heavy weighting to energy-intensive industries such as semiconductor manufacturing and hardware production. Demand for a currency safe haven has strengthened the dollar, amplifying losses for dollar-based investors in international exposures denominated in local Asian currencies, including the yen. A knee-jerk reversal in what had become an overcrowded trade in Asian tech stocks, buoyed by AI demand. As an example of investor exposure to these markets, the Betterment Core portfolio primarily allocates to Japanese and Korean stocks via the Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF (Ticker: VEA), which is 20% Japanese stocks and 7% Korean. A 90% stock 10% bond Core portfolio holds a 25.5% target weight to VEA, indicating the overall portfolio’s exposure to Japanese and Korean equities approximates 5% and 2%, respectively. How investors might think about managing their portfolios during market volatility Diversify across not just geographies but asset classes. Even as rates have recently ticked up, bonds have provided ballast to portfolios as stocks gyrate. Treasury Inflation Protected Securities have performed particularly well relative to other common portfolio allocations in the midst of this inflation scare. Where possible, make use of automated tax-loss harvesting. Dramatic swings in asset prices intraday like we saw on March 9th provide an opportunity to tax loss harvest before the market snaps back. -
See How Top Independent RIAs Embrace Tech in an Ever-Changing Market
See How Top Independent RIAs Embrace Tech in an Ever-Changing Market Sep 12, 2024 9:00:00 AM In the first installment of our Betterment Advisor Solutions Survey, we asked 500 growing independent advisors with AUM of $10-$250 million, to tell us how they’re harnessing technology to better serve clients—and to scale. The big takeaways? The RIA’s tech stack is evolving to better meet their needs, and the adoption of AI is way ahead of schedule. Other trends that surfaced include: The evolution of the Millennial advisor How tech and AI fuels the fastest-growing advisors A rise in retirement planning Keep reading or download the survey now to dig into the top trends, expert analysis, and insights on how to grow your business today. What inspires financial advisors to break out on their own in the first place? While accessing better technology and maximizing earning potential both ranked highly, the primary reasons RIAs chose to go independent was for more freedom and flexibility. This suggests that today’s RIAs value the ability to make their own decisions, customize their investment strategies to suit their clients’ needs, and have more control over business operations without being constrained by a larger firm. Let’s see how they’ve gotten on… Navigating a shifting landscape As you might expect, advisors’ assets under management have grown this year, with more than 40% of them increasing AUM by 10% to 24%. Impressively, 36% of financial advisors experienced growth of 25% or more—with 14% seeing growth of 50% or more! What advisors look for in a custodian The custodial platform is at the core of an RIA’s tech stack. Digital account onboarding, risk analysis, and CRM all rank as at least somewhat important to daily operations. Notably, billing (52%), financial planning software (51%), and performance reporting software (51%) emerged as the top three essential tools, highlighting their critical role in maintaining efficient and effective business operations. All of which underscores the crucial role technology plays for independent RIAs. By offloading some admin tasks and streamlining processes, financial advisors can deliver more value to clients through increased one-on-one time and more personalized advice and financial planning. When asked what would they do with more time, these were the top five responses: 43% investment management and financial planning 43% serving and meeting with current clients 42% professional development 40% meeting with prospective clients 39% marketing my business “Independent advisors have very little time to do anything other than financial planning and communicating with clients. That’s especially troublesome to hear when we know independent advisors are seeking better work-life balance, but they likely have very little time outside of work, not to mention all of the other tasks they may have to take on as an independent advisor like marketing or HR administration.” —Devon Klumb Head of Sales at Betterment Advisor Solutions Financial advisors who are unable to harness the full power of technology and automation may find themselves spending more time on the nitty-gritty details of running a business, instead of focusing on high-value tasks that truly drive growth. The rise of AI Despite numerous hot takes on the takeover of AI, we found that independent advisors are embracing—and integrating—the technology into their business practices. Four out of five advisors surveyed are using AI at their firms today, and of the 20% who aren’t yet, nearly two-thirds say they have plans to integrate AI at their firms in the future. Interestingly, financial advisors who experienced the most growth (25% or more growth in the last year), are also the most likely to be using AI. This shows that advisors understand the benefit of offloading admin tasks in order to devote more time to clients. The biggest deterrent? Poor customer service and training were said to be the main factories preventing advisors from weaving more tech into their practices. “There has been so much discourse around how artificial intelligence could put advisors out of jobs, but we prefer to think that advisors who learn to use AI at their practice will be that much more powerful and future-proofed.” —John Mileham CTO of Betterment Learn more in our latest Betterment Advisor Solutions Survey.
