Edward Jones launches hybrid robo-advisor for next-gen investors

Edward Jones has introduced Digital Managed Solutions, a hybrid robo-advisor that combines automated portfolio management with access to human planners. The firm set a $5,000 minimum and anticipates charging about 0.65% of assets; that fee could change. The offering will be tested by about 100 employees in St. Louis and Tempe this year.

The company announced the internal pilot last week and plans to roll the service out to clients through branch advisors next year if the trial succeeds. The pilot will collect employee feedback to refine the product before public availability.

Edward Jones designed the service for younger earners and savers who are beginning to build retirement and other investment accounts but do not yet meet asset thresholds for full in-person advisory relationships. The product is intended to provide automated investing with human planner support and a path into local advisory services as balances grow.

Digital Managed Solutions uses algorithm-driven portfolios supported by human planners. The firm is not offering a true self-directed platform with tools for building portfolios without guidance; the emphasis is on advice and hands-on support alongside automation.

The $5,000 minimum is lower than many comparable hybrid services, which commonly set higher entry thresholds. Edward Jones described its pricing as positioned between full-service wirehouses and lower-cost digital providers. The firm noted the fee is subject to change as the product is refined.

Ryan Robson, who oversees the New to Wealth Business Segment at Edward Jones, noted, “We are very successful with our traditional branch model,” and added the initiative is aimed at attracting next‑generation clients who may later need comprehensive planning.

Will Trout, director of securities and investments at Datos Insights, observed, “Edward Jones has one of the largest branch networks in the industry,” and said a local branch presence can allow a client who starts digitally to later move into an in-person relationship with a familiar advisor.

Digital Managed Solutions arrives as Edward Jones adapts its business model in several ways. The firm has encouraged advisors to work in teams rather than as solo practitioners, expanded access for wealthy clients to alternative investments such as private equity and private credit, and announced structural changes to allow more employees to become partners with ownership stakes. The firm also received approval to form a state-chartered industrial bank capable of accepting deposits and offering certificates of deposit.

If the pilot produces favorable feedback, Edward Jones plans to offer Digital Managed Solutions to clients through its branch network next year, providing a route for digital accounts to transition into local advisory relationships without changing firms.