The Offer
- Betterment is offering an investment bonus of up to $1,000. Bonus you receive depends on the amount you deposit within 45 days of account opening.
The Fine Print
- A non-taxable fee will apply to the applicable Eligible Account as payment for services from Betterment if, for any reason, you transfer or distribute some or all of your net Qualified Deposits or Betterment Investing Reward to an account that is not an Eligible Account, including internal transfers to a Betterment joint or trust investing account or a Betterment Cash Reserve account, at any time prior to the end of three (3) years after the Reward Date (the “Holding Period” and such fee, the “Early Removal Fee”).
- If you make one or more Qualified Deposits, Betterment will provide a Betterment Investing Reward that varies based on the value of your net Qualified Deposits to all Eligible Accounts during the Offer Period, less any withdrawals you make from any Eligible Account prior to the Reward Date, and subject to a 3 year holding period as discussed below. The minimum net Qualified Deposits to receive a Betterment Investing Reward is $1,000, and the following table shows the total amount of the Betterment Investing Reward you are eligible to receive relative to the total net Qualified Deposits that you make across all Eligible Accounts.
- Full terms here
Our Verdict
Unfortunately there is a three year hold period, this isn’t competitive with other brokerage bonuses due to that hold period.
Let’s do the (rough) math:
Bonus: $1k / $175k = +0.5%
Fees: 0.25% * 3 years = -0.75%
So, in the best case, you’re paying 0.25% for 3 years of Betterment’s robo-advisor services.
LOL
3 years for $50? 💀 What a sick joke!
I came close to doing this one a few months ago until I noticed the 3 year thing at the last minute
Chintzy in the extreme. Pass.
so i was trying to move my 401k a 2 weeks ago and they scheduled a call 5 days later with their analyst and never showed up the meeting, and they ask me for a feedback 😀
I clearly wrote if this is the company who doesn’t even bother to show up before business i am wondering what you do with your current customers.
Problem is no other company provides 401k Robo advisory.
3 years. That’s not BETTERment.
It’s Detriment!