Ellevest

Ellevest was founded in 2014 with a specific premise: the traditional financial industry was built by men for men, and its advice reflects that. The firm operates as an SEC-registered RIA serving women, their families, and the next generation through two managed wealth tiers. Personal Wealth Management starts at $500,000 and Private Wealth Management starts at $1 million, with the upper tier adding access to private investments and tax-efficient strategies. AUM fees range from 1.25% at the entry level down to 0.35% for accounts above $100 million.

The investment philosophy centers on what the firm describes as controllable factors: diversification, cost minimization, tax management, and values alignment. Portfolios span stocks, bonds, mutual funds, ETFs, and private alternatives. Advisors manage accounts with a total-portfolio lens, considering assets held outside Ellevest. Financial planning is bundled into both service tiers at no additional cost, or available as a standalone service for a flat $3,600 annual fee. The firm discontinued its automated digital investing product in April 2025, transferring those accounts to Betterment, and now operates exclusively in the human-advised wealth management space.

Key service features include:

• Values-aligned and impact-oriented portfolio construction across equities, fixed income, and private alternatives
• Donor-advised fund management integrated into the broader investment strategy
• Tax optimization and cost-basis-aware portfolio management
• Dedicated advisor relationships staffed by an all-women advisory team
• Standalone financial planning at a flat fee for clients without a managed portfolio

Ellevest is oriented toward individual high-net-worth women and families, not institutional family office structures. Principals considering this firm for a single-family office context will find strong values-integration capabilities but limited infrastructure for complex multi-entity reporting or institutional-grade alternatives access.