Broker vs. Robo-Advisor
They solve different problems — how much control you want versus how much is managed for you — and the cost trade-off follows directly from that choice.
What's the core difference?
A self-directed broker gives you full control over what you buy and sell, at your own decision speed. A robo-advisor automates that decision-making for a fee, based on a risk profile you set once.
Which one costs more?
Robo-advisors typically charge an ongoing management fee (often a percentage of assets) on top of underlying fund costs, while a self-directed broker charges per trade — the cheaper option depends entirely on how much you trade and how large your balance is.
Do brokers on this site offer robo-advisory features too?
Some do, as an add-on alongside self-directed trading — availability varies by broker, which is why product range is checked and shown per broker rather than assumed.
