Both Personal Capital Wealth Management and Schwab Intelligent Portfolios Premium offer comprehensive wealth management services, but they cater to different investor profiles. Personal Capital is suitable for high-net-worth individuals seeking personalized advice and comprehensive financial planning, while Schwab Intelligent Portfolios Premium is a more accessible option for investors with lower minimum investment requirements who value unlimited access to financial planners and 24/7 customer support.
| Attribute | Personal Capital Wealth Management | Schwab Intelligent Portfolios Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Account Management Fees | Tiered based on AUM: 0.89%/yr (up to $1M), 0.79%/yr ($1M-$3M), 0.69%/yr ($3M-$5M), 0.59%/yr ($5M-$10M), 0.49%/yr (above $10M). Fees include trade commissions and custody fees. | A one-time planning fee of $300 and a $30 monthly advisory fee, billed quarterly. |
| Minimum Investment Required | $100,000 | $25,000 to enroll. The minimum per account is $5,000. |
| Investment Strategy Customization | Customized, risk-adjusted portfolios based on financial goals, risk tolerance, time horizon, and personal preferences. Uses Modern Portfolio Theory (MPT) for diversification. | You answer questions about your risk tolerance, age, timeline, and goals, and Schwab recommends a portfolio. You can tweak Schwab's recommended model by removing up to three ETFs, which Schwab will replace with alternatives. |
| Tax Optimization Strategies | ETFs and individual U.S. stocks for tax-loss harvesting. Tax location strategies to minimize taxes. | Tax-loss harvesting is available for taxable accounts with a minimum balance of $50,000. Clients must opt-in to this feature. The platform monitors portfolios for tax-loss harvesting opportunities, selling securities at a loss to offset capital gains. It uses an algorithm to incorporate tax-loss harvesting and rebalancing strategies. |
| Financial Planning Services Offered | Retirement planning, investment review, financial advice, home buying advice, 401(k) guidance, estate planning, insurance, and stock options advice. | Comprehensive financial planning with guidance from a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER professional, access to online planning tools, and a customized financial roadmap. |
| Access to Financial Advisors | Dedicated advisor for clients with $200,000-$1M AUM; team of advisors for clients with $100,000-$200,000. Advisors reachable via phone, web conference, or email. | Unlimited 1:1 guidance from a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER professional. Clients can schedule appointments online for phone or video conference meetings. |
| Portfolio Diversification | Invests across different asset classes. 'Smart Weighting' strategy aims for better diversification than capitalization-weighted styles. | Portfolios consist of a diversified mix of ETFs spanning stocks, fixed income, and commodities. Schwab selects ETFs for the portfolios. |
| Automated Rebalancing Frequency | Portfolios rebalanced periodically to maintain target asset allocations. | Portfolios are monitored daily and automatically rebalanced as needed to stay consistent with the client's selected risk profile. |
| Available Account Types (e.g., IRA, Roth IRA, taxable) | Taxable, joint investment accounts, Traditional, Roth, Rollover IRAs, SEP IRAs, Trusts. Advice for 529 plans and 401(k) plans. | Taxable accounts (individual, joint, trust, custodial) and tax-advantaged accounts (IRAs) are offered. |
| Mobile App Availability and Features | Award-winning mobile apps for iOS and Android. View net worth, asset allocation, portfolio holdings, and use the Retirement Planner. | The platform is accessible through a mobile app. |
| Customer Support Channels and Responsiveness | Advisors can be reached by phone, web conference, or email. | 24/7 customer service via phone and live chat. You can also visit a local branch for in-person help. |
| Transparency of Investment Methodology | Provides insights into investment allocation and personalized portfolio construction. Applies MPT. | Schwab provides information on its investment methodology. |