Automate Your Wealth: These 5 Apps Are Must-Haves for Every Professional
Streamline your finances and build wealth effortlessly with these must-have tools.
Today's cutting-edge financial apps are executing complex wealth-building algorithms that once required an entire team of Wall Street analysts - and a growing cohort of tech-savvy professionals is leveraging this democratization of high-finance to automate their path to seven-figure portfolios.
In this post, you’re going to learn about five essential apps that every professional needs to automate their wealth-building process, making financial management effortless and effective.
Let's dive in.
Acorns
Photo: Acorns
Acorns makes investing effortless by rounding up your daily purchases and investing the difference into ETFs. It’s a micro-investing platform designed for simplicity and consistency.
Why it's cool: For the ambitious urban professional, building wealth isn’t just about big moves—it’s about leveraging small, consistent habits. Acorns democratizes investing, making it accessible even for those with packed schedules or minimal market knowledge.
What we found: Acorns has gained traction by blending financial technology with behavioral economics. Its "set it and forget it" model appeals to those who want to invest without overthinking.
What’s happening now: Acorns continues to grow its user base, offering features like recurring investments, retirement accounts (Acorns Later), and sustainable investment options (Acorns ESG).
Additional insight: Influential figures like Mark Cuban endorse micro-investing as a practical gateway to financial literacy and long-term growth.
Zoom in: Imagine buying your morning coffee for $3.50. Acorns rounds it up to $4 and invests the $0.50 into your portfolio. Over time, these small increments compound into significant gains. A recent Acorns study showed users can save thousands over a decade with consistent round-ups and modest contributions.
Yes, but: Critics argue that micro-investing alone won’t build substantial wealth quickly. For meaningful returns, supplemental strategies like higher contributions or additional investments are essential. The platform also charges a subscription fee, which could eat into returns for low-balance accounts.
Be Smart: Use Acorns as a foundation, not the entire strategy. Pair it with larger investments or financial tools that align with your broader goals. The app’s automated simplicity can help you build discipline, but scaling your efforts will ultimately yield greater rewards.
The bottom line: Acorns turns everyday spending into a practical, low-stress entry point to investing. It’s ideal for professionals who want to start building wealth with minimal effort, but think of it as a stepping stone, not the whole staircase.
Wealthfront
Photo: Wealthfront
Wealthfront combines automated investment management with high-interest savings, making it a one-stop solution for ambitious professionals who value efficiency in their financial planning.
Why it's cool: For the money-conscious urban man juggling career and personal growth, Wealthfront offers a streamlined way to manage both savings and investments. Its automation minimizes time spent on financial management while maximizing returns through advanced strategies like tax-loss harvesting.
What we found: Wealthfront excels in offering sophisticated financial tools typically reserved for wealthier individuals, democratizing access to features like intelligent portfolio rebalancing.
What’s happening now: Wealthfront continues to enhance its platform with innovative features such as direct deposit functionality and automatic transfers between its high-interest cash account and investment portfolios to optimize growth.
Additional insight: The platform’s tax-loss harvesting claims to improve after-tax returns by as much as 1.8%, making it a favorite among professionals looking to keep more of their hard-earned money.
Zoom in: Wealthfront’s high-interest cash account currently offers rates significantly higher than traditional banks, making it a compelling alternative for storing emergency funds or short-term savings. At the same time, its investment accounts ensure that your money works harder through automated strategies and diversified portfolios.
Yes, but: Wealthfront’s robo-advisor model lacks the personalized touch of a human financial planner. While its automation works for most, complex financial situations may require more hands-on advice. Additionally, some features, like tax-loss harvesting, may have limited benefits for lower-income users.
Be Smart: Wealthfront is an excellent choice if you value automation and low fees. Use the cash account for short-term needs and emergency savings while allowing its investment tools to handle your long-term goals. Pair Wealthfront with other financial tools or advisors to cover areas like estate planning or advanced tax strategies.
The bottom line: Wealthfront simplifies wealth-building by seamlessly integrating saving and investing into one intuitive platform. It’s perfect for busy professionals who want to maximize growth with minimal effort—but know when to call in the experts for personalized advice.
Stash
Stash merges banking with personalized investing, enabling users to start their investment journey with just $5. Its focus on financial education makes it an ideal gateway for those new to managing money.
Why it's cool: For the modern professional balancing ambition with financial growth, Stash offers an accessible platform to build wealth and knowledge simultaneously. By lowering the barriers to entry, it empowers users to take control of their financial future, one small step at a time.
What we found: Stash differentiates itself by combining financial tools with educational resources, making it more than just an app—it’s a financial coach.
What’s happening now: Stash’s banking and investing hybrid model includes features like a debit card that earns stock rewards (Stock-Back®), retirement accounts, and customizable portfolios.
Additional insight: The platform emphasizes financial literacy, offering tailored investment recommendations and lessons that help users understand the "why" behind their portfolio choices.
Zoom in: With Stash, you can start by investing in fractional shares of big companies like Amazon or Tesla. Pair this with its Stock-Back® debit card, which rewards you with shares of companies where you spend, and you’re building an investment portfolio passively through daily activities.
Yes, but: Stash’s subscription fees, ranging from $3 to $9 per month, can be costly for users with small balances. Additionally, while the app simplifies investing, more experienced investors might find its offerings too basic for advanced portfolio strategies.
Be Smart: Stash is perfect for beginners who want to dip their toes into investing without feeling overwhelmed. Use the app’s educational content to build confidence and graduate to more sophisticated tools as your financial acumen grows. Be mindful of the subscription cost, ensuring it aligns with your investment goals.
The bottom line: Stash democratizes investing with an approachable platform that combines banking, investing, and education. It’s a great starting point for professionals looking to build financial literacy and a diversified portfolio—but keep an eye on fees as your portfolio grows.
Qapital
Qapital helps users achieve financial goals by automating savings through customizable rules. From rounding up purchases to saving based on specific triggers, it turns saving into a seamless, goal-oriented process.
Why it's cool: For the ambitious professional juggling multiple priorities, Qapital simplifies saving with a goal-focused approach. By tying savings to personalized rules, it makes the process more engaging and aligned with your lifestyle.
What we found: Qapital combines automation with behavioral psychology to encourage consistent saving, appealing to those who want more control over their financial habits.
What’s happening now: Qapital’s innovative rules include options like rounding up transactions, saving when you get paid, or even putting money aside when you achieve fitness goals through app integrations like Fitbit.
Additional insight: Its Goals feature allows users to create visual representations of what they’re saving for, from a vacation to a rainy-day fund, making financial planning tangible and motivating.
Zoom in: Qapital’s IFTTT (If This Then That) integration lets users create unique triggers for saving, such as transferring $5 every time they post on Instagram or hit 10,000 steps in a day. This personalization transforms saving into a reflection of your habits and aspirations.
Yes, but: While Qapital’s approach is creative, its monthly subscription fees ($3-$12) can erode returns for users with smaller balances. Additionally, its focus on saving rather than investing might limit long-term growth potential.
Be Smart: Use Qapital to build savings discipline and achieve short- to medium-term goals. Pair it with an investment platform to ensure your money grows over time. Focus on maximizing the app’s features to match your lifestyle and goals, but weigh its benefits against the subscription costs.
The bottom line: Qapital transforms saving into a personalized, automated experience that aligns with your habits and aspirations. It’s an excellent tool for achieving specific goals, but complement it with investment strategies for greater financial growth.
Plum
Plum uses AI to analyze your spending habits, automating savings and offering investment options. Its quirky features, like the 'Rainy Days' rule, make managing money both practical and engaging.
Why it's cool: For the modern professional seeking effortless financial growth, Plum’s automation and personalization take the guesswork out of saving and investing. By combining AI with clever, user-friendly features, it helps busy individuals grow their wealth without disrupting their routines.
What we found: Plum stands out by blending AI-driven insights with creative saving triggers, making financial discipline feel almost fun.
What’s happening now: Plum’s AI identifies small, affordable amounts to save based on your spending patterns, transferring them into a separate account. It also offers diversified investment portfolios and budgeting tools to give users a holistic financial solution.
Additional insight: The ‘Rainy Days’ rule, which saves whenever it rains, exemplifies Plum’s innovative approach to encouraging consistent saving with minimal effort.
Zoom in: Plum allows you to start investing from as little as £1 (or equivalent in your region), offering a variety of funds tailored to your goals and risk appetite. Meanwhile, its automated savings feature works quietly in the background, helping users build a financial cushion without even noticing.
Yes, but: Critics note that Plum’s features may not suit those with irregular incomes or tight budgets, as automated withdrawals could occasionally misalign with actual cash flow. Additionally, its premium tiers come with a monthly subscription fee that might not be justified for low-balance users.
Be Smart: Plum is ideal for those who struggle with saving consistently or want a low-pressure introduction to investing. Use its AI tools to build savings painlessly, but monitor your account to ensure withdrawals align with your financial situation. As your wealth grows, explore whether Plum’s investment options meet your evolving needs.
The bottom line: Plum makes saving and investing as easy as it is intelligent, using AI to automate good financial habits. It’s perfect for professionals who want a no-fuss approach to growing their wealth—just ensure the app’s automation and fees fit your lifestyle.
Fast Five
Read: The Automatic Millionaire by David Bach
This classic book breaks down how small, consistent actions—like automating savings and investments—can transform your financial future. A must-read for anyone looking to build wealth effortlessly.
Watch: Money Explained (Netflix) - Episode: "Credit Cards"
This insightful episode uncovers the psychology behind spending and the tools to stay in control. It’s a practical guide to leveraging credit wisely while automating payments to protect your financial health.
Listen: The Money Guy Show, Episode: "Wealth Multiplier Revealed: The Magic of Compound Interest!"
Learn the tried-and-true habits of millionaires, including how automation simplifies wealth-building. This episode provides actionable steps to get started today.
Think:"Don’t work for money; make it work for you." - Robert Kiyosaki
Reflect on how much of your financial life runs on autopilot. Are you setting up systems today that will serve you tomorrow?