This is our standing comparison. It is not a recommendation to use either route, and it is not investment advice. It is a map of how each model actually works, so you can read the one you are considering without taking its marketing at face value.
The mechanism, side by side
Both a robo-adviser and a human adviser take the same inputs — your goals, your horizon, your tolerance for loss — and both produce a portfolio. The difference is in the step between input and output.
| Dimension | Robo-adviser | Human adviser |
|---|---|---|
| How your situation is read | A risk questionnaire, mapped to a model portfolio | A conversation, plus documents you share |
| Portfolio construction | Pre-built model portfolios from low-cost funds | Selected for you, often from a similar low-cost shelf |
| Rebalancing | Automatic, on a schedule or by threshold bands | Scheduled, or triggered by life events and tax planning |
| Behavioural coaching | Limited to prompts and emails | Direct — most of the measured value sits here |
| Tax and account coordination | Limited; usually per-account | Often across multiple accounts and years |
| Typical cost (Taiwan) | Low percentage of assets, sometimes a flat tier | Flat fee, hourly, or a higher percentage |
| What it cannot see | Your real life: a pending sale, a dependent, a concentrated holding | The instant, automatic discipline of a rule set |
What neither model can promise you
No adviser and no algorithm can guarantee a return, remove market risk, or turn a short horizon into a long one. Any communication that implies otherwise — from either side — is a warning sign, not a feature. The honest comparison is about which trade-offs you are willing to accept, not about which route is superior.
Questions to ask before you choose either
- How is the person or platform paid, and does that payment change with what they recommend?
- What model portfolio or recommendation would I get, and what is it built from?
- What happens on a bad day — who contacts me, and what is the default action?
- What can this route see about my full situation, and what is it blind to?
- What recourse do I have if something goes wrong, and where is that written down?
Common questions we receive
Is a robo-adviser safer than a human adviser?
Can I use both at the same time?
Why do you not publish a "best robo-adviser" ranking?
Do you give advice if I send my details?
Where to read further
The detailed articles on each mechanism sit on the articles page. If your question is not answered there, send it to us — we answer editorial inquiries by email.