Wealthfront

In order to gain another update to ensure something was being done, I've called two times in the three weeks all with the responses "there's nothing to be done now" and "there isn't any updates." I understand that it takes around 10 business days to have the funds returned to me, but it has been greater than 10, with no update by Wealthfront. I asked to speak to a manager but they said to email. Wealthfront does not necessarily handle customer service over the phone (this has major negative aspects alone, as you cannot speak to a manager over the phone if the representative can't handle the issue himself).

I need Wealthfront to communicate a plan of action and email updates to me as to how this issue is being handled. To benefit the customer, Wealthfront needs to have far better customer service. In my perspective, I can only assume nothing is being done as evidenced by having "no updates" for the past three weeks. I want Wealthfront to handle the situation and resolve the check issue and return the money ($$$) that was withdrawn from my account. It is not enough to tell a customer there is "no update" for three weeks. I never leave reviews because I'm not that type of individual but, In all due respect, I love everything else about the company and its product. However, this is a major issue for which I might consider a different company to handle my hard-earned money.

Danny, I guess the only person who works there, stated they had sent my funds back to an account at another financial institution, the one I left to move to Wealthfront, which has been closed for over three months. No notice, no options and just a generic response stating that I should reference their terms of service. All of this on Christmas Eve and while I’ve been battling against identity theft for the last 6 months! Fair warning, read the fine print and don’t expect any type of customer service or support.

I called the customer service, and I have countable number of times in my life received such a horrible customer service. I asked the banker/rep for the reason my transfer was being denied, and they would not answer. I asked them when I can access my money (it's savings account FDIC insured), and they had no answer. They said it was being done for security reasons. I asked them to verify my identity and schedule a transfer. At this point, I was pretty sure that Wealthfront did something with my money, and the bank was down. In a panic mode, I asked the lady if I could also record her stating that the bank is unwilling to transfer my money. She hung up the phone (expected that). Spoke to another customer service rep, and he did not have an answer. He did however ask me to convert my savings into cash (checking) and that would make the process easier. I did so, and it got approved.

Later that day, I received an email from Iori and he told me that the bank has terminated my agreement and will be transferring my funds into the bank it came from, and not to call the bank anymore (it was evening). Having told several people at Wealthfront that I had closed my other bank (and was trying to consolidate my finances), Iori kept on trying to transfer the funds into a closed account and told me to contact the other bank. When the email was sent, it was late in the evening, and I asked Iori not to initiate the transfer, and that I had cancelled the transfer. He then goes and blocks my online access, and told me not to call the bank. Exact words were "We see that you called in this morning as well. As mentioned previously, do not attempt to call us again. Doing so will result in an immediate end of the call".

A bank, that has my money (1 year worth of saved salary to be precise), wants to transfer my funds into an account that I told them is closed, and have repeatedly asked me not to. I am soon in the process of filing an official complaint with anyone I can, including with Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and Security and Exchange Commission (SEC). I see that several of you had similar experiences as mine, and I will be happy to collaborate. The name of the customer service rep is Iori Omura, and seems to have CFP Board (CFP) certification, FINRA Series 7, 63, 65, and 24 certificates, and I will be filing a complaint about his "manhandling of my finances" and not giving access to my own funds. If he had no trouble breaking the law, I can only imagine the kind of access (identity) he has about his customers, and what his ethics are.

I spoke on the phone with a very courteous woman. She maintained that they can’t mail it, but when I pointed out that they have an obligation to fulfill their end of the agreement, she said that she would reach out to another department to see what they could do. After reading other complaints, I am not hopeful. If they can’t resolve this, I have no faith in them and will withdraw my money. If I get the same problems getting my money as others have, they’ll be sued and need to pay my legal fees.

I initiated a liquidation, and a risk score reduction order on Friday March 16, 2020 before the market close since it was a day when markets finally increased. I called them to confirm, and they told me that they executed neither. Then I asked them to cancel the orders (because I thought Monday would not be favorable). They said they cannot do it, the orders would go on Monday. How come they cannot stop an internal order? On Monday (the worst day in financial history since October 19, 1987), they liquidated my portfolio at super depressed prices. I checked each individual transaction: They sold everything almost at the bottom intraday. About 90% of the time during March 16, the security prices were above their sale price. How can this be? What determines their liquidation algorithm?

I ask about these on several emails since March 16; they never answered me. I called them about my emails, they never answered me properly: they never gave me details when and how my portfolio would be liquidated, what determines the timing and amount etc. They were indifferent to hostile in general. They kept saying "send us an email" as if anyone answers those emails. In my latest call today, they simply hang up on my face.

Since Friday I am trying to get my money back. They do not say when they will return my savings. Nothing is certain at that company, everything is “it depends, ago decides that etc…” Since then I warned all my friends who have accounts with Wealthfront, and all started to liquidate. My worry right now is whether they actually have the money to pay us, or they are just a nice User Interface that shows financial graphs. I will write here again if I am able get the money back.

My point is this- Wealthfront was paying nearly the highest rates in the industry, and a couple of months later, they are paying some of the lowest rates in this market. Save me the discussion of the Fed reducing their rates, yada, yada, yada. If you are going to lead, you better LEAD. If not, you look a lot like a bait and switch company, which leaves a bad taste in the customer's mouth.

Final thought: Be wary of your ability to take money out of Wealthfront. They limit you to $250K per day, so if you have a large deposit of cash in that account, it may take you weeks to remove it. I never really understood WHY they have this restriction, unless it is to make it very hard for customers to remove their money. They accepted my incoming wire transfer for millions with no problem, yet upon removal, they want to limit you to a small amount. Buyer beware!