System 4 — Robo Plus On-Ramp
Wealthfront, Acorns, and Coinbase. Two robo-tier venues paired with one regulated crypto on-ramp.
Who this is for
Readers who want a hands-off managed-investing core with a small crypto allocation.
System layers
- On-ramp: Coinbase. Regulated US exchange used for the crypto sleeve.
- Yield venue (managed investing + cash): Wealthfront, Acorns. Wealthfront for cash sweep and managed portfolios; Acorns for round-up automation. Two SEC-registered advisers with different fee structures.
Cadence
Quarterly review of both robo accounts; annual review of subscription and advisory fees against balances.
Why it works
The robo layer carries the system; the on-ramp adds optionality without changing the core risk profile.
What breaks it
Letting Acorns subscription fees eat into small balances. The subscription model becomes punitive below a certain account size.