Your complete guide to smarter, lower‑cost investing.

What is a robo-advisor and why is CleverAlpha more "robotic" than most?

CleverAlpha is a computer-driven, rules-based investment system that is more systematic than traditional managers who still use discretion. We scan the entire ETF universe for the lowest fees we can find so you keep more of your money and your money compounds harder. There is no discretionary stock-picking — the algorithm does the work.

At the core of CleverAlpha is a systematic portfolio allocation engine that maps two inputs — your investment time horizon and risk tolerance — to a diversified ETF portfolio spanning up to 35 asset classes across equities, fixed income, alternatives, and cash. The model is rules-based: every allocation decision is derived from a pre-defined matrix, not a fund manager's judgment call. As your horizon shortens or your risk profile changes, the engine automatically adjusts your holdings. No gut feelings. No discretion. Just math.

Is there a minimum to open an account?

Nope. There is no minimum deposit. Accounts under $5,000 pay a flat $1/month minimum fee.

How do I open an account?

Click "Open Account" on app.cleveralpha.com → complete 100% digital onboarding → get invested same or next day. No wet signatures, no snail mail. Identity is verified electronically per USA PATRIOT Act / KYC requirements.

Do I have to sell my existing investments to transfer?

Nope. Go through the quick onboarding process to transfer your account and we take care of the rest. There are no penalties or charges from us for incoming transfers.

How much does CleverAlpha charge?

0.25% per year (25 basis points) on the value of your portfolio. That is just $25 per year per $10,000 invested. Accounts under $5,000 pay a flat $1/month minimum. This fee covers everything — rebalancing, custody, trading, and AI-driven reporting. No hidden fees. No account opening fees. No account maintenance fees.

How does that compare to traditional advisors?

Typical traditional advisors charge 1–2% of assets under management — often $1,000–$2,000+ per $100,000 invested. At 0.25%, CleverAlpha charges a fraction of that. Over 10 years, the compounding impact of lower fees can translate to tens of thousands of dollars in additional portfolio value. Use our free Advisor Fee Comparison Tool to calculate your exact savings.

How do CleverAlpha's portfolios work?

Globally diversified across stocks, bonds, real estate, commodities, and optionally bitcoin. Daily monitoring and systematic rebalancing to your risk target and time horizon. We seek the lowest-fee ETF in each investment category. Your portfolio is built for your goals and comfort level with risk — then we seek to enhance and protect your returns daily.

Can I influence my investment choices?

Yes. CleverAlpha lets you dial up or dial down your portfolio's risk/return profile to better suit your appetite for risk and return goals. You set the direction; the algorithm optimizes the execution.

What types of investments will you make in my account?

We primarily invest in low-fee ETFs. We may also utilize low-expense-ratio mutual funds when appropriate.

What is a robo-advisor and why is CleverAlpha more "robotic" than most?

CleverAlpha is a computer-driven, rules-based investment system that is more systematic than traditional managers who still use discretion. We scan the entire ETF universe for the lowest fees we can find so you keep more of your money and your money compounds harder. There is no discretionary stock-picking — the algorithm does the work.

At the core of CleverAlpha is a systematic portfolio allocation engine that maps two inputs — your investment time horizon and risk tolerance — to a diversified ETF portfolio spanning up to 35 asset classes across equities, fixed income, alternatives, and cash. The model is rules-based: every allocation decision is derived from a pre-defined matrix, not a fund manager's judgment call. As your horizon shortens or your risk profile changes, the engine automatically adjusts your holdings. No gut feelings. No discretion. Just math.

How many asset classes does the model cover?

The allocation engine spans up to 35 distinct ETF asset classes organized into four ring categories:

• Equity — U.S. large/mid/small cap (value, blend, growth), international developed, emerging markets
• Fixed Income — Short/intermediate/long government, corporate, high yield, world bond, inflation-protected, municipal
• Alternatives & Real Assets — Domestic and global REITs, commodities, gold
• Cash — Strategic cash position that scales with shorter time horizons

What inputs drive the allocation?

Two variables: investment time horizon (1–25 years) and risk tolerance (Low / Low-Medium / Medium / Medium-High / High). Risk tolerance acts as a multiplier on your effective horizon — a High-risk investor with a 10-year horizon receives the allocation appropriate for a longer horizon, unlocking higher equity and diversification. Try it live →

What does the AI do for my portfolio every day?

CleverAlpha uses large language models to analyze your portfolio daily — breaking down individual holdings and your entire portfolio holistically. You receive:

• Daily deconstruction & insights — performance, risk exposure, and hidden opportunities explained in plain English
• Time-weighted returns (TWR) — so you understand how much alpha CleverAlpha is delivering via its proprietary algorithm versus benchmarks
• Current market event context — how today's events impact your specific holdings

All data is privacy-first — your personal information is anonymized.

Smart tax scoring & asset location

The two main headwinds to investing are volatility and taxes. Our AI automatically ranks your target portfolio holdings by tax efficiency and recommends placement across taxable, IRA, Roth, and other accounts to minimize your tax bill — without changing your overall allocation.

What does the AI Advisor do?

The AI Advisor is a guided conversational tool that asks about your age, marital status, dependents, state of residency, income, net worth, risk tolerance, time horizon, contributions, and withdrawal needs — then recommends exactly which accounts you should open and fund (Roth IRA, SEP, 529, Trump Account, taxable brokerage, etc.).

Three core capabilities

• Account performance reporting — breaks down holdings, analyzes risk, explains performance using LLMs, and delivers time-weighted returns for personalized benchmarking
• Intelligent tax scoring & asset location — evaluates every asset for tax efficiency and optimizes placement across account types
• Personalized account recommendations — guided interview that maps your full financial picture to the optimal set of account types

Result: Clearer portfolio understanding + lower taxes + the right accounts for your life.

Full list of supported accounts

• Taxable Brokerage Account — Individual, Joint, Corporate/Partnership. No contribution limits, flexible access, capital gains treatment.
• Traditional IRA / Rollover IRA / Spousal IRA — Pre-tax contributions up to $7,000 for 2026 ($8,000 with catch-up for age 50+). Tax-deferred growth.
• Roth IRA / Custodial Roth IRA — After-tax contributions; qualified withdrawals are tax-free. Same limits as Traditional IRA.
• SEP IRA — Up to 25% of net earnings, capped at $71,000 for 2026. Simple setup for self-employed.
• SIMPLE IRA — Employee deferrals up to $17,000; catch-up $3,500 (age 50+); super catch-up $5,250 (ages 60–63). Employer match or fixed contribution.
• 529 College Savings Plan — Tax-free growth, potential state deductions, for K–12 and higher education.
• Custodial Roth IRA / UGMA / Trump Accounts — Give minors a head start with tax-advantaged growth.
• HSA (Health Savings Account) — Triple-tax-advantaged healthcare savings.
• Trust Accounts — Revocable and irrevocable trusts.

What is the best investment account for my child?

• Trump Accounts — $1,000 seed from the U.S. Treasury for children born 2025–2028. Parents can add up to $5,000/year. Tax-deferred growth. Converts to Traditional IRA at age 18. No earned-income requirement.
• 529 College Savings Plan — Tax-free growth for qualified education expenses. Many states offer tax deductions/credits on contributions.
• Custodial Roth IRA — Tax-free growth and withdrawals if your child has earned income. 2026 limit: $7,500/year or total earned income, whichever is less.
• UGMA/UTMA — Flexible gifting, no income requirement, no contribution caps. Child gains control at age of majority (18–21).

Comparative matrix at a glance

What is a Trump Account?

A Trump Account is a new tax-advantaged savings account for children established under federal law. Every child born between January 1, 2025 and December 31, 2028 receives a $1,000 government seed investment. Accounts can also be opened for any child under 18. Funds grow tax-free, and qualified withdrawals are tax-free. You can contribute up to $5,000 per year from any source.

Who qualifies?

Any child under 18 can have an account opened in their name. The $1,000 government seed applies to children born between January 1, 2025 and December 31, 2028. The Michael & Susan Dell Foundation has also pledged $6.25 billion to fund a $250 contribution for eligible "gap" children (ages 10 and under, born before 2025) in ZIP codes with median household incomes under $150,000.

How does CleverAlpha handle Trump Accounts?

CleverAlpha will support Trump Account enrollment starting in May 2026 when IRS Form 4547 becomes available. We invest funds in low-fee ETFs at our standard 0.25%/year fee. The account is in your child's name; you are the sole custodian until they turn 18.

Five ways a Trump Account can receive contributions

• Starter Bonus — $1,000 from the federal government for eligible children
• Public Support — State, federal, tribal, or approved nonprofit contributions
• Employer Boost — Tax-free employer contributions up to $2,500
• Smart Transfers — Qualified rollovers from eligible accounts including 529s
• Personal Additions — Contributions from parents, grandparents, or anyone else

Learn more

Visit our full Trump Accounts page for the complete guide, interactive calculator, step-by-step setup instructions, and FAQ.

Six planning tools, instant answers

• Retirement Planning Assessment — See if your savings + contributions will last in retirement. Takes 2 minutes.
• Rollover Decision Support Tool — Should you roll your old 401(k) into an IRA? Step-by-step guidance.
• Child Investment Account Calculator — Compare Trump Account, 529, Custodial Roth, and UGMA with growth projections.
• 529 College Savings Plan Analyzer — Check your state's tax deduction/credit for 529 contributions.
• Social Security Calculator — Claim early or delay? See breakeven age, lifetime totals, and optimal strategy.
• Advisor Fee Comparison Tool — How much you save switching to 0.25% CleverAlpha fees. 10-year compounding view.

How does tax-optimized asset location work?

The AI tax-scores every holding and automatically recommends optimal placement:

• Tax-inefficient holdings (taxable bonds, REITs, high-turnover funds) → prioritized for tax-advantaged accounts (IRA, 401(k))
• Tax-efficient holdings (index ETFs, growth stocks) → placed in taxable brokerage accounts

This systematic approach improves long-term, after-tax returns with little to no change to risk level or investment mix — just smarter placement.

SEP IRA — Simplified Employee Pension

A powerful retirement vehicle for self-employed individuals and small employers. For 2026, employers can contribute up to 25% of compensation, capped at $71,000. Simple setup, low administrative burden, full employer deductibility. Set up with CleverAlpha in minutes.

SIMPLE IRA — Savings Incentive Match Plan for Employees

For 2026: employee deferrals up to $17,000; catch-up $3,500 (age 50+); super catch-up $5,250 (ages 60–63). Employers choose a 2% fixed contribution or 3% matching contribution.

Who holds my money?

Your account is held at Charles Schwab & Company, Inc. — one of the largest custodians in the industry. CleverAlpha manages; Schwab custodies.

Is my money insured?

Yes. Your account is insured up to $500,000 by SIPC. SIPC does not protect against market losses.

What if something happens to CleverAlpha?

You have complete control of your brokerage account at all times. All securities are owned by you — accessible regardless of CleverAlpha's operational status.

How can I view my account?

Log into app.cleveralpha.com to see balance, holdings, performance, monthly statements, and tax documentation.

What is CleverAlpha Securities?

CleverAlpha Securities is a FINRA-member broker-dealer offering self-directed trading via CDexplorer.com. CleverAlpha Asset Management is a managed robo-advisor. Two separate entities, shared ownership. Use one or both.

Public filings and verification links