Robo Advisers and Private Bankers - what is in the tin?

The internet has already caused major changes to the business model of several industries - retail, music and travel come to mind. Do-it-yourself investing via online brokers is also growing rapidly.
Now it may be the turn of investment advice for the rich and not-so-rich private investors. Robo Advisers are on the march! They are claiming to offer a cheaper service, and maybe their investment choices are also superior to those made by humans in Private Banks. The history of Robo Advice is not going back long enough so a proper comparison of performance with traditional investment managers is not possible. And simulated historical performance is to be treated with caution. As this article explains, Robo Advice is also fraught with problems but to compare it with personalised advice has to be made by comparing apples with apples. Many providers of Private Banking services claim to offer a tailor-made service (and charge fees accordingly) but the adviser handling the account is often spoon-fed investment models that come out of - you guessed it! - some computerised model. Do you really think that the armies of account managers employed by the likes of UBS, JP Morgan etal can all be superior money managers in addition to being personable and skillful in holding client's hands or gathering more assets? You may be lucky and hit upon an investment genius but you are as likely to be allocated a dud picker of investments.

Online Advice - nice if you know how to use it

Robo Advisers - automated on line investment advisory based on questionnaires filled in by investors - may appeal at first sight. But do not be seduced by low cost and ease of access. If you would sit in the cockpit of an air plane you would also be able to push all the buttons in front of you - but the trick is in knowing which one and at what time. Robo Advisers may offer more safeguards and could be the right choice 80 per cent of the time but do not rely blindly on them.