UBS giving SigFig-powered robo to certain clients

UBS Wealth Management USA is bringing the digital advice technology it developed with SigFig directly to consumers. The platform, dubbed UBS Advice Advantage, introduces a new hybrid robo-advice product that features many of the trappings of other digital advisers: online risk assessment, digital enrollment, an algorithmically constructed portfolio, automated rebalancing and tax loss harvesting. Clients can access a call center of advisers through UBS Wealth Advice Center, the firm's discount wealth management offering available for investors with less than $250,000. UBS Advice Advantage requires a minimum investment of $10,000 and charges an advisory fee of 75 basis points. The platform also introduces existing UBS Wealth Advice Center clients to new account aggregation capabilities, portfolio diagnostic tools and goal-tracking features. The new features will help clients make more informed decisions, and will be available for no added cost, the firm said. (More: Robos to make banks a bigger competitor in advice market) The firm wanted a product that would enhance the adviser-client relationship, deepen relationships with emerging affluent clients and maintain the critical elements of its existing discount offering, said Rich Steinmeier, UBS Wealth Management USA head of digital strategy and platforms, in a statement. UBS declined to provide additional comment. The firm initially announced an investment in SigFig in May 2016 as part of a deal to develop a robo-advice product that would be deployed to the firm's 7,000 advisers. SigFig also powers automated advice products for Wells Fargo and Citizens Bank.