Simplified investing is a growing investment app that aims to make investing accessible for beginners. With its easy-to-use interface and educational tools, Simplified provides an approachable on-ramp for new investors to enter the stock market. This article will dive into the core features and user experience of Simplified to provide an in-depth review of this promising investment platform. We’ll look at account setup, portfolio options, fees, and educational resources to evaluate if Simplified succeeds at streamlining investing for the everyday person.
Straightforward account creation and management
Opening an account with Simplified investing is designed to be quick and hassle-free. The mobile app walks users through creating a taxable brokerage account or traditional IRA in just a few minutes. Funding accounts is easy through bank transfers or wire deposits. The dashboard provides clear visibility into account balances, performance, and holdings. Users can also seamlessly deposit more funds, withdraw money, and manage beneficiary info all through the mobile app.
Hands-off or customized portfolio options
Simplified offers two main pathways for new investors – choosing a pre-made portfolio or building a custom portfolio. The pre-made “hands-off” portfolios provide instant diversification based on your risk tolerance and goals. Options include conservative, moderate, and aggressive allocations across US stocks, international stocks, and bonds. For more control, users can opt to build a custom portfolio by selecting individual ETFs. Simplified offers exposure to domestic stocks, international stocks, bonds, gold, and more. The ability to choose between hands-off or DIY portfolios makes Simplified flexible for different types of first-time investors.
Low fees compared to traditional brokerages
Simplified aims to offer straightforward, affordable investing for beginners. They have no minimum balance requirements or account fees. The flagship pre-made portfolios have an expense ratio of just 0.15%, which is competitive with major robo-advisors. Custom portfolios incur a management fee of 0.25%. While not completely free, these fees are low compared to traditional brokerages. Simplified also doesn’t charge any commissions for trades within the app.
Intuitive educational resources for beginners
True to its name, Simplified recognizes that investing education is critical for first-timers. The app offers bite-sized lessons that cover investing basics, like how compound interest works, reading stock charts, and principles of diversification. Videos explain key terminology in a user-friendly way. Simplified also provides curated news articles and market updates tailored for beginners. While the education offerings still have room to grow, they form a solid starting point for new investors to pick up core concepts.
An easy-to-use platform, but still building out features
Overall, Simplified delivers on its goal of crafting an accessible investment platform for complete beginners. The mobile-first design, minimal paperwork, and low fees reduce common barriers to investing. Educational content helps new users build foundational investing literacy. However, more advanced investors may desire features like retirement planning, joint accounts, alternative investments, and tools for taxes. The limited stock and ETF selection also makes Simplified better suited for casual investors over active traders. As a newly launched app, Simplified still has room to expand. But for kickstarting a beginner’s investing journey, its straightforward approach shines.
In sum, Simplified investing makes taking the first step into the stock market uncomplicated for novices. While the app is still growing, its combination of easy account setup, portfolio options, low fees, and educational resources creates an approachable on-ramp for investing newbies. For hands-off or set-it-and-forget-it investing, Simplified provides a streamlined experience to help everyday people start building wealth.