Investing once seemed reserved for professionals. Today, many people invest from their phones. This guide covers what to consider before you start. All investing involves risk, including loss of principal.

Before You Begin

Setting clear goals, such as saving for a down payment or retirement, can help guide your decisions. A common approach is the SMART framework: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound.

Choose a platform carefully. Compare fees, investment options, educational resources, and security. Ask where your brokerage account is held and whether that firm is a SIPC member.

Understand how automation works. Some platforms assign a portfolio from your questionnaire answers and rebalance it automatically. Understand how the portfolio is chosen and how often it changes [1].

Mobile Investing With Alinea

Alinea Invest, Inc. offers a mobile investing app. Investment advisory services are provided by Alinea Advisory Services LLC, an SEC-registered investment adviser and a wholly owned subsidiary of Alinea Invest, Inc. SEC registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training.

• Model portfolios. Alinea asks about your risk tolerance and assigns you one of four risk-based model portfolios of ETFs by algorithm. Alinea rebalances it monthly. The portfolios are the same for every investor at a given risk level.
• Investing Playlists. Playlists are collections of stocks and ETFs organized around themes or interests. Some Playlists have their weights set by AI on a schedule, with no human review of the changes, and themed portfolios may be less diversified and more volatile.
• Recurring investing. You can set a fixed amount to invest on a schedule, including into individual stocks, an approach known as dollar cost averaging. It does not assure a profit or protect against loss in declining markets.
• Allie. Allie, Alinea’s AI assistant, is available in the Alinea app. It can explain your holdings, market news, and financial terms in plain language. At your request, Allie can also start a deposit, withdrawal, buy, or sell, and you confirm every transaction before it runs. Allie provides educational research and feedback only, does not provide investment advice or recommendations, and can make mistakes.

In the Alinea app, you can check your portfolio, make deposits, and chat with Allie. Portfolio access and Allie are in the app only.

Brokerage accounts are held at DriveWealth LLC, member FINRA/SIPC, which is not affiliated with Alinea. SIPC protects securities customers of its members up to $500,000 (including $250,000 for claims for cash) if the brokerage firm fails financially. It does not protect against a decline in the market value of your securities [3]. Bank accounts are linked through Plaid, Inc., a third party not affiliated with Alinea, and we do not store your online banking credentials. SSL and 256-bit encryption help protect your data.

Key Points to Remember

One advantage of mobile investing is convenience. It also makes it easy to react to short-term moves, which is not always helpful. Investing involves risk, and past performance does not guarantee future results. Spreading your money across different investments can reduce the impact of any one falling, but diversification can’t guarantee against loss [2].

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• No clear objective. Investing without a defined purpose can make it harder to stay on course.
• Concentration. Putting everything into one investment increases the risk of a large loss.
• Impulsive decisions. Reacting to every short-term swing can work against a long-term plan.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is mobile investing?

It is using a smartphone app to open an account, fund it, and invest. Convenience does not reduce risk.

How long does it take to see results?

There is no set timeline. Results depend on your investments, market conditions, and your time horizon, and returns are not guaranteed.

What makes mobile investing useful for beginners?

Many beginners look for simple interfaces, educational resources, and tools that match how involved they want to be. Whether an app is suitable depends on your goals, time horizon, and risk tolerance.

What mistakes should I avoid?

Avoid investing without clear objectives, putting everything in one investment, and making impulsive decisions based on short-term moves.

What are typical fees?

Fees vary by platform. Some charge a percentage of assets, some charge transaction fees, and some charge a subscription. Compare fee structures before you choose. Alinea charges a subscription fee for its advisory services; see Item 5 of Form ADV Part 2A.

Disclosure

Advisory services are provided by Alinea Advisory Services LLC, an SEC-registered investment adviser and a wholly owned subsidiary of Alinea Invest, Inc. SEC registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training. Brokerage and custody services are provided by DriveWealth LLC, an unaffiliated registered broker-dealer and member of FINRA/SIPC.

This content is for informational purposes only and is not an offer, solicitation, or recommendation to buy or sell any security. All investing involves risk, including loss of principal. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Allie is educational only, does not provide investment advice, and can make mistakes. Some Playlists have their weights set by AI on a schedule, with no human review of the changes, and can be wrong. Alinea oversees the algorithm and monitors it for anomalies. Themed portfolios may be less diversified and more volatile. Alinea is not affiliated with the sources listed below, and their inclusion is not an endorsement. Alinea charges a subscription fee for its advisory services; see Item 5 of Form ADV Part 2A. Alinea’s support team handles questions about using the service only and does not provide investment advice.

See our Form ADV Part 2A, Wrap Program Brochure, and Form CRS at www.alinea-invest.com/legal/home. For more on Allie, see AI Allie – Disclosures & Terms of Use at www.alinea-invest.com/legal/ai-allie-disclosures-terms-of-use.

Sources

[1] U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, Office of Investor Education and Advocacy, Investor Bulletin: Robo-Advisers, February 23, 2017 (investor.gov).

[2] U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, Investor.gov, “Diversify Your Investments.”

[3] Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC), What SIPC Protects (sipc.org).

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