US regulator urges transparency on robo-adviser algorithms
US regulator the Securities and Exchange Commission has updated its guidance on the use of robo-advisers, calling on companies to be "overtly clear with the public", and recommending investors treat digital advisory firms in the same way as their traditional counterparts. The guidance includes the use of "tool-tips or pop-up boxes" to clearly convey information to customers, making sure potential investors understand the full costs of using robo-advisers, as well as ensuring any human advice given as part of a robo service is germane to the client's needs.

Federal securities regulators warned robo-advisers to be overtly clear with the public about how their algorithms recommend portfolios and asked them to consider whether their questionnaires really ask for enough information to give advice that’s in clients’ best interests.

The Securities and Exchange Commission guidance update Thursday said robo-advisers operate under a broad range of business and service models, including those that provide some live advice, but all must follow investment adviser rules that include operating as a fiduciary.

In a second bulletin directed at consumers, the commission recommended investors research digital-advice providers like they would any other financial service firm, including asking whether they would have a person to speak with during a market event or downturn.

“This information is designed to help investors tap into the opportunities that fintech innovation can provide while ensuring fairness and investor protection,” said Michael Piwowar, SEC acting chairman, in a written statement.

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The SEC guidance to advisers comes three months after the commission hosted a forum of financial technology experts to discuss the impact digital-advice providers and other innovations are having on investment advice and other financial services. SEC staff said then they were considering whether further guidance, or even new rules, were needed to protect investors.

No additional rules were suggested in the documents Thursday, though the SEC staff wrote that it will continue to monitor fintech innovations and seek any needed safeguards for investors.

Last month, the SEC included robo-advisers on its annual list of adviser examination priorities, a first for the agency.

Digital-advice providers attracted about $83 billion in client assets through the end of 2016, according to Cerulli Associates. The researcher projects the market will grow to about $385 billion by the end of 2021.

In its 15-page guidance update, the SEC recommends several times that robo-advisers use design features, such as tool-tips or pop-up boxes to clearly convey information or warnings to clients, such as when information provided by the client is inconsistent with previous information they entered.

It also recommended describing any risk inherent in using algorithms to manage accounts and any conflicts of interests with third parties. Robos also should be careful not to mislead clients, such as by presenting a tax-loss-harvesting service as providing comprehensive tax advice, it said.

The SEC investor bulletin recommended paying close attention to whether any human advice offered as part of the robo-service is aimed at answering investing and portfolio questions or at providing technical support. It suggested asking whether the robo-platform’s investment strategy takes into consideration all the client’s assets and debts.

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In addition, it suggested making sure one understands the total costs of using robo-advisers, which generally offer cheaper service than traditional firms staffed with live advisers.

“A robo-adviser may offer lower-cost investment advice, but if the robo-adviser utilizes investment products with high costs, your total overall costs could still be high,” it said.

Kate Wauck, a spokeswoman for robo adviser Wealthfront, said the bulletin for consumers is a “step in the right direction to help consumers ask the right questions when evaluating not just robo-advisers, but any adviser.”

She notes that Wealthfront publishes all its white papers on its website to answer many of the questions the bulletin suggests clients should ask advisers.