Ameriprise vs Edward Jones: which is right for you?
Ameriprise and Edward Jones both offer advisor-led financial advice, but have several key differences.
Ameriprise vs Edward Jones: What’s the difference?
Feature | Ameriprise | Edward Jones |
|---|---|---|
Service type | Advisor-led financial planning and managed account advisory service | Advisor-led brokerage, advisory programs and financial planning |
Fees | Layered and program-specific; advisory fee up to 2%, platform, manager and planning | Brokerage transaction costs, program fee up to 1.35%, platform fees, and planning fees |
Minimum account size | $2,000–$500,000+ depending on program | No minimum for the select account; advisory program minimums vary by account type |
Best for | Investors who want broad planning and account/program choice | Investors who want clearer service paths and easier account comparison |
Ameriprise vs. Edward Jones: Key services
Ameriprise offers a broader range of advisory programs, while Edward Jones is clearer in separating brokerage, planning, and managed advisory services.
Ameriprise:
- Retirement planning solutions.
- Investment management services
- Wealth management solutions
- Insurance and protection products
- Charitable giving strategies
- Banking and cash management solutions
- Ongoing financial advice tailored to the client’s goals, risk tolerance, and life stage
Edward Jones:
- Brokerage/select account
- Guided solutions
- Advisory program
- Financial planning
Ameriprise vs. Edward Jones: Fees
Ameriprise fees:
Fee type | Ameriprise fee detail |
|---|---|
Maximum advisory fee | Up to 2.0% annually |
Platform fee | Range from 0.02% to 0.17%, depending on the account |
Manager fee | 0.10%–0.80% for applicable SMA and manager-directed programs |
SPS advisor support fee | 0.03% Investments and Infrastructure Support Fee |
Financial planning fee | $750 |
Edward Jones fees:
Edward Jones account type | Fees |
|---|---|
Select account | Range from 0.75% to 5.75% |
Edward Jones advisory solutions/guided solutions | Annual program fee begins at 1.35%, and the annual platform fee starts at 0.05% |
Unified Managed Account (UMA) models' schedule of fees
Value of assets in the account | Program fee | Platform fee |
|---|---|---|
First $250,000 | 1.35% | 0.05% |
Next $250,000 | 1.30% | 0.05% |
Next $500,000 | 1.20% | 0.04% |
Next $1,500,000 | 1.00% | 0.03% |
Next $2,500,000 | 0.80% | 0.02% |
Next $5,000,000 | 0.60% | 0.01% |
Over $10,000,000 | 0.50% | 0.00% |
- SMA Manager Fees generally range from 0.00% to 0.40%, depending on the SMA strategy.
- Generations Financial Planning: The first-year annual fee typically ranges from $5,000 to $45,000 and can rise to $100,000 based on complexity. Business-interest planning can add up to $25,000.
Ameriprise vs. Edward Jones: Minimum account sizes
Ameriprise minimums vary more widely across managed account programs, while Edward Jones offers a simpler low-entry path through its no-minimum Select Account.
Program or service | Minimum account size |
|---|---|
SPS Advantage | $25,000 household minimum, Initial investment |
SPS advisor | $100,000 household minimum |
Signature wealth | Varies by the investments selected; mutual fund/ETF model portfolios generally range from $5,000 to $50,000 |
Active portfolios | $25,000 initial minimum |
Active growth builder portfolios | $5,000 initial minimum |
Select separate account | $100,000–$500,000 |
Select ETF portfolios | $50,000 initial minimum |
Vista separate account | $100,000 program minimum |
Investor unified account | $250,000 program minimum |
Access account | $25,000–$50,000, depending on portfolio |
Edward Jones’s account-level requirements:
Edward Jones service | Minimum account size |
|---|---|
Select account | $0 minimum investment |
Select account annuities | May require at least $10,000 |
Guided solutions fund | $5,000 |
Guided solutions flex | $25,000- $50,000 |
Advisory solutions fund models | $25,000 minimum |
Advisory solutions UMA models | $300,000 minimum; $500,000 and $1 million for additional options |
Ameriprise vs. Edward Jones: Pros and cons
Here is a look at some of the pros and cons of Ameriprise and Edward Jones.
Pros of Ameriprise:
- Ongoing one-to-one advisor relationship
- Broad financial advice based on goals and needs
- Multiple managed account programs to choose from
- Access to investments, insurance, annuities, and cash management solutions
Cons of Ameriprise:
- Multiple fee layers can make the total cost harder to compare
- Higher-balance programs may limit access for smaller investors
- Program choice requires careful review of account rules and discretion
Pros of Edward Jones:
- Clearer brokerage, planning, and advisory account paths
- No-minimum Select Account brokerage option
- Broad planning support for eligible clients
- More visible fee and minimum disclosures
Cons of Edward Jones:
- Layered costs across brokerage, advisory, planning, fund, and account fees
- Higher threshold for ongoing financial planning
- Multiple account types require careful comparison
- Primarily advisor-led rather than digital-first
Ameriprise vs Edward Jones: Technology and security
Category | Ameriprise | Edward Jones |
|---|---|---|
Client access | App supports account views, portfolio allocation, performance, total asset value, and goal tracking | Online Access and mobile app support holdings, performance, activity, goals, and money movement |
Reporting | Including accounts, goals, balances, allocations, investments, documents, and market data. | Focuses on holdings, performance, activity, statements, and goals |
Client communication | Advisor contact, phone/email/mail support, Teams meeting instructions, and forms | Advisor/team contact, online support, contact forms, and branch locations |
Asset custody | Managed Account assets are generally custodied through American Enterprise Investment Services Inc. (AEIS) | Holds advisory assets through Edward Jones as a broker-dealer |
Security disclosure | Online Security Guarantee, SSL sessions, 2-step verification, limited access, and layered safeguards | 24/7 monitoring, firewalls, intrusion detection, encryption, MFA, access controls, employee training, and physical security controls. |
Final verdict: Ameriprise vs Edward Jones
Ameriprise offers a broad, customizable advisor-led relationship, with a wide range of planning areas, product access, and managed account options.
Edward Jones' services are organized into brokerage guidance, managed advisory service, and financial planning.
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