Depositing

We initiate your auto-deposit on the date you set. The funds will then generally invest on the next market day. You can modify or turn off an existing auto-deposit after logging in. You’ll be able to change the frequency and amount. We’ll email you the day before a scheduled auto-deposit so that you can make any necessary adjustments before the money is withdrawn from your bank account. The email will provide you with an option to skip the auto-deposit if you need to. If you turn off an ...

When you deposit money with Betterment, your money is transferred to Betterment Securities, a FINRA member broker-dealer, with instructions to buy ETFs based on your desired asset allocation between stocks and bonds (Betterment’s two investment baskets). You own shares in the stock and bond ETFs that Betterment recommends for these two baskets and Betterment manages buying and selling them for you. Your funds are automatically invested within 1-3 business days into Betterment’s portfolio, based ...

We only allow electronic transfers to and from your Betterment account and your checking account via the ACH network and do not accept personal checks. Electronic ACH transfers are easy, safe, and cost-effective. Wires and checks are cumbersome and can be expensive to process due to bank fees. Credit and debit cards are also expensive, and the banks/credit card companies take around 3% of your transaction. We do not accept credit or debit cards as funding sources. For transfers greater than ...

If your account is a retirement account, such as an IRA, 401(k), 403(b), or pension plan, you can start the transfer process by clicking "Transfer or roll over" or any goal's "Overview". Please note you must be logged in from a web browser to initiate a rollover. Betterment supports transfers of assets from outside brokerages using the Automated Customer Account Transfer Service (ACATS). This is also known as an “in-kind transfer." Read more about the ACATS process. For transfers to and from ...

Betterment does not offer check or wire transfers for withdrawals, but we do offer wire transfers for deposits into taxable goals. Choose the “wire transfer” option in your account. The primary method of moving money to and from Betterment is electronic transfers with your checking account using the ACH network. Transferring money electronically is fast, cost-effective, and safe. Checks and wires are cumbersome for you and expensive to process. Making deposits and withdrawals with Betterment is ...

There are two main types of IRA contributions that you can initiate on the Transfer page of your account when initiating a cash deposit from your bank: One-time deposit: This deposit type allows you to make a one-time tax year contribution to an IRA. The annual limit for 2018 is $5,500 as per IRS rules ($6,500 if age 50+). Roth IRAs have the same maximum contribution limits, but additional income limits may also apply. The total contribution in a given year to all types of IRAs cannot exceed ...

Deposits into investing goals generally complete in 1-3 business days.  Markets are generally open Monday through Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., but are closed for certain market holidays. Transactions can also be delayed by bank holidays. Betterment does not guarantee specific execution timelines. We avoid trading on or around market open or close, as markets have historically been more volatile during this time. Pending wait times are imposed by banking and market rules and cannot be sped up ...