Something that really grinds my gears?

Robots trying to do our job.

And even worse—people trusting them with the future they’ve worked their whole lives to build.

Look, I get the appeal. These platforms are slick. The dashboards look great. The fees seem low. They ask you a few quick questions:

• What’s your age?
  
  

• What’s your “risk tolerance”?
  
  

• What’s your “timeline”?
  
  

Then boom—you’re placed in a model portfolio and sold a plan based on automation and assumptions.

But let’s be real…

You’ve never actually talked to them.

There’s no conversation. No relationship. No strategic planning. Just a portfolio that’s supposed to “set and forget” your entire financial future.

And here’s the thing: these platforms don’t talk about market movement, opportunity, or life changes.

They talk about time horizon and risk score. That’s it.

If you’ve built any meaningful wealth—whether it’s $250k, $500k, or a few million—you’re not just investing anymore. You’re managing real complexity.

And the truth is: those low-cost platforms aren’t equipped to help you with any of it.

The Hidden Cost of “Low-Cost” Advice

Mass-market planning firms and robo-advisors sell the idea that all advice is the same. That cheap is smart. That an algorithm can replace a relationship.

But if you’re a wealth builder—or already in retirement—the cracks in that model show up fast.

Because these firms:

• Don’t give you tax strategy
  
  

• Don’t help you adapt your withdrawal plan in volatile markets
  
  

• Don’t coordinate with your CPA or estate attorney
  
  

• Don’t help with major transitions (retirement, inheritance, selling a business)
  
  

• Don’t hold you accountable to long-term goals when things get tough
  
  

They’re built to scale. Not to serve.

The Vanguard Stat Everyone Overlooks

Let’s talk about real value.

According to Vanguard’s Advisor Alpha study, working with a real financial advisor—not a robo or mass-market firm—can add about 3% per year in additional value.

That’s after fees.

This isn’t about “beating the market.”

It’s about:

• Tax-loss harvesting
  
  

• Managing investor behavior (not panic selling at the wrong time)
  
  

• Tax-efficient withdrawal strategies
  
  

• Asset location
  
  

• Rebalancing
  
  

• Coordinating accounts and cash flow
  
  

That’s not theory. That’s quantified by one of the largest and most trusted firms in our industry.

So when a platform charges you 0.25% and delivers only the basics—you have to ask…

What’s the other 2.75% worth to you?

For Wealth Builders: Every Dollar Matters

Let’s say you’ve saved $250,000 or $500,000. That’s not “ultra-rich,” but it’s a major accomplishment—and a foundation for financial freedom.

If you make $100,000 a year, that portfolio represents years of income. It matters.

And yet many wealth builders use services designed for beginners. These services may look cost-effective but fail to:

• Optimize your tax position
  
  

• Help you build toward early retirement or semi-retirement
  
  

• Prepare for changes in income or market cycles
  
  

• Identify better opportunities for growing your wealth faster
  
  

You wouldn’t trust the lowest bidder to build your home.

So why trust a $25/month robo to build your financial future?

Retirees: You May Be Giving Money Away

If you’re already retired, the risks are even greater.

Because retirement is not just about “staying invested.” It’s about:

• Knowing which accounts to draw from—and when
  
  

• Timing Roth conversions correctly
  
  

• Managing tax brackets year-to-year
  
  

• Holding a cash buffer so you don’t sell equities in a downturn
  
  

• Planning for Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs)
  
  

These platforms don’t do that. They run a script. Withdraw evenly. Ignore your life.

And if you’re relying on that strategy?

You’re likely overpaying in taxes and undershooting your potential income.

Ultra-High-Net-Worth Clients: Just Don’t

If you’re sitting on $5 million or more?

Using a robo-advisor or budget platform is like flying private and asking the intern to pilot the jet.

You need a team. And here’s why:

1. 

Estate Planning is Critical

You’ve got real legacy planning needs: GRATs, IDGTs, SLATs, QPRTs… None of which these platforms can help with.

They don’t coordinate with estate attorneys. They don’t create gifting strategies.

And they definitely don’t help you minimize estate taxes over generations.

2. 

Your Taxes Are Too Big to Ignore

Business interests. Multiple income streams. RSUs. Large charitable gifts.

You need forward-thinking tax management.

These platforms don’t plan proactively. They plug in your numbers and leave you alone.

We work with your CPA. We plan for the future—not just file your taxes when it’s over.

3. 

You’re Getting Commoditized Investments

Robo portfolios often use cheap funds the platform gets paid to include.

It’s pay-to-play under the hood.

You’re not getting access to the best ideas. You’re getting what’s scalable.

At Compound Advisory, we use investments for your situation. No commissions. No conflicts. Just good planning.

Our Fee: Fair, Transparent, and Client-First

Our advisory fee is 1% annually for portfolios under $1 million.

We believe that’s a fair rate for real, proactive, customized planning. Not a dashboard. Not a call center. Real strategy.

And here’s something most firms won’t say:

If you refer someone to us, we’ll discount your fee. Cumulatively.

So the more people you help connect with real advice, the more you benefit too.

That’s how trust should work.

What You’re Actually Paying For

You’re not just paying for “investment management.”

That’s easy.

You’re paying for:

• Custom financial planning
  
  

• Proactive tax optimization
  
  

• Behavior coaching
  
  

• Big-picture strategy
  
  

• Peace of mind that someone’s watching your blind spots
  
  

You’re paying for someone who’s vested in your success—not your data set.

Final Thought: Real Advice Compounds

If you’ve built wealth—no matter the size—you’ve done the hard part.

Don’t let a cheap, generic service put all of that at risk.

You deserve real planning. Real accountability. Real clarity.

Not just a model portfolio based on a quiz.

→ Ready to See the Difference?

Book a free 15-minute Clarity Call.

We’ll talk about where you are, where you want to go, and whether your current plan is helping—or quietly holding you back.

No pitch. No pressure. Just insight that actually compounds.