The Global Robo-Advisor Landscape
Robo-advisors have transformed retail investing globally. In the United States, the category is dominated by household names — Betterment, Wealthfront, Schwab Intelligent Portfolios, Fidelity Go — managing collectively over US$700 billion in assets. Their performance is independently tracked by Condor Capital Wealth Management's widely-followed Robo Report, which is the de-facto industry benchmark.
How does SqSave — Singapore's home-grown digital advisor — compare? We've drawn on Condor Capital's latest Q1 2026 data covering 20 US robo-advisors and benchmarked SqSave's reference portfolios at equivalent risk levels. The findings deserve a clear-eyed reading.
Methodology notes before we begin
All SqSave returns are quoted in SGD and drawn from Pivot Fintech's verified reference-portfolio NAV series. US robo returns are quoted in USD as reported by Condor Capital. Returns at similar equity allocations are compared, though small differences in risk weighting exist. Calendar years 2023, 2024 and 2025 are directly comparable. Past performance is not indicative of future returns.
The Headline Result — SqSave Sweeps the Global Top Three
Before drilling into the risk-band-by-risk-band comparisons, one finding deserves to be stated up front. Ranked by 3-year cumulative return (2023–2025) across all 25 portfolios in this comparison — five SqSave reference portfolios and twenty US robo-advisors — SqSave sweeps positions #1, #2 and #3, and takes four of the top five spots overall.
| # | Portfolio | Equity | 3-Yr Cumulative |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | SqSave Balanced1 | 40% | 63.92% |
| 2 | SqSave Very Aggressive1 | 90% | 62.92% |
| 3 | SqSave Aggressive1 | 80% | 58.20% |
| 4 | SoFi | 65% | 52.98% |
| 5 | SqSave Growth1 | 60% | 51.09% |
Top 5 of 25 portfolios ranked by 3-year cumulative return, 2023–2025. SqSave: SGD, Pivot Fintech verified NAV. US robos: USD, Condor Capital Q1 2026 Robo Report.
Only one US robo (SoFi) breaks into the global top five. SqSave Conservative ranks #7 of 25 — meaning all five SqSave sleeves sit in the top seven globally. This is the strongest single empirical finding in this comparison, and it holds regardless of how the numbers are sliced.
Growth (60/40): The Most Common Risk Profile
The 60% equity / 40% fixed income allocation is the dominant retail risk profile globally. Most US robos cluster around this level (58–67% equity). It's the cleanest head-to-head comparison.
| Provider | Equity % | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SqSave Growth1 | 60% | 10.95% | 12.55% | 20.99% |
| Wealthfront (Risk 4.0, 2018 cohort) | 67% | 14.98% | 12.11% | 14.15% |
| Wealthfront (Risk 4.0, 2016 cohort) | 64% | 13.33% | 10.77% | 13.54% |
| Betterment | 65% | 13.40% | 10.08% | 16.19% |
| Schwab Intelligent Portfolios | 61% | 12.66% | 7.42% | 15.83% |
| Fidelity Go | 60% | 15.75% | 11.57% | 14.68% |
| SoFi | 65% | 16.32% | 13.18% | 16.20% |
| Vanguard Personal Advisor | 63% | 15.28% | 11.61% | 14.42% |
| US Peer Median | - | 14.21% | 10.77% | 14.69% |
All figures are calendar year total returns. SqSave: SGD, Pivot Fintech verified NAV. US robos: USD. Source: Condor Capital Q1 2026 Robo Report.
2023 — SqSave excelled in Balanced, not Growth. SqSave Growth returned 10.95% versus a US peer median of 14.21% at the 60% equity level — the weakest result of the year in this band. However, SqSave's Balanced (40/60) portfolio produced an exceptional 21.56% return that same year, outperforming every US robo-advisor across all risk categories. The year underscored that SqSave's 2023 allocation discipline favoured the Balanced cohort specifically.
2024 — a strong second place. SqSave Growth's 12.55% return trailed only SoFi (13.18%) among all providers compared at the 60% equity level, and beat the US peer median of 10.77% by 1.78 percentage points.
2025 — SqSave leads the field. SqSave Growth's 20.99% return was the single highest figure among all providers compared at this risk level that year — comfortably ahead of the strongest US peers, SoFi (16.20%) and Betterment (16.19%). This one standout year lifts SqSave Growth to #2 in its band on a 3-year cumulative basis, trailing only SoFi.
Aggressive (80/20): SqSave's Strongest Showing
At higher equity allocations, only three US robos tracked by Condor Capital reach the 73–78% equity band: Interactive Advisors, Axos Invest, and Empower (Personal Capital). Here SqSave's performance stands out.
| Provider | Equity % | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SqSave Aggressive1 | 80% | 15.32% | 12.09% | 22.39% |
| Interactive Advisors | 78% | 13.91% | 10.21% | 18.66% |
| Axos Invest | 75% | 15.76% | 10.44% | 14.94% |
| Empower (Personal Capital) | 73% | 13.51% | 10.49% | 16.17% |
| US Peer Median (73-78%) | - | 13.91% | 10.44% | 16.17% |
Source: Condor Capital Q1 2026 Robo Report; SqSave: Pivot Fintech verified NAV. Past performance is not indicative of future returns.
SqSave Aggressive outperformed the US peer median in 2024 by 1.65 percentage points (12.09% vs 10.44%) and pulled decisively ahead in 2025, posting 22.39% against a peer median of 16.17% — the strongest result of any tracked provider at this risk level that year. 2023 was closer: Axos Invest's 15.76% narrowly led SqSave Aggressive's 15.32%, with both comfortably ahead of the peer median. On a three-year cumulative basis, SqSave Aggressive leads its band by 9.2 percentage points over the next-best result.
Balanced (40/60): The 2023 and 2025 Standout
Only Vanguard Digital Advisor among the tracked US robos sits at a comparable equity allocation (50% equity) to SqSave's Balanced (40% equity).
| Provider | Equity % | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SqSave Balanced1 | 40% | 21.56% | 11.29% | 21.17% |
| Vanguard Digital Advisor | 50% | 15.04% | 9.83% | 13.53% |
Source: Condor Capital Q1 2026 Robo Report; SqSave: Pivot Fintech verified NAV.
SqSave Balanced's 2023 return of 21.56% deserves special note. It exceeded every single US robo-advisor at every risk level that year — including aggressive portfolios with nearly double the equity weighting. SqSave Balanced continued to outperform Vanguard Digital Advisor in every subsequent year, with its widest margin in 2025 (21.17% vs 13.53%, a 7.64 percentage point lead). 2024 was the narrowest gap of the period (11.29% vs 9.83%, a 1.46 percentage point lead) — still a win, but a reminder that outperformance is not uniform year to year.
The Currency Layer Most Comparisons Miss
Direct comparison of SqSave (SGD) and US robo (USD) returns is only the surface story. For a Singapore-resident investor — whether Singaporean or expatriate — the relevant return is in SGD terms, because that's what funds Singapore living expenses, mortgages, and retirement.
From January 2024 through June 2026, the US dollar weakened materially against the Singapore dollar. A US robo-advisor's reported USD return, when realised by converting back to SGD, would have been reduced by an additional several percentage points annually over this period due to currency drag. This is on top of the headline return gap we've already shown.
The currency effect is not a footnote
For a Singapore resident, investing in USD-denominated assets without hedging exposes you to currency risk that has, over the past two-plus years, been significantly negative. SqSave's SGD denomination removes this layer of friction entirely.
The Honest Verdict
Here is what the data actually shows, said plainly:
2025 was a clear win across the board. SqSave's Growth, Aggressive and Balanced sleeves each posted their strongest relative result of the three-year period in 2025 — Growth led all tracked providers in its band outright, Aggressive led its band by the widest margin of the period, and Balanced extended its lead over Vanguard Digital Advisor to 7.64 percentage points.
2023 was a mixed year, honestly told. SqSave Balanced's 21.56% return that year beat every US robo at every risk level. But SqSave Growth's 10.95% was the weakest result in its band that year — the algorithm's risk-managed posture coming out of the 2022 bear market cost the 60%-equity sleeve some upside in a sharp recovery year. The 40% and 80% equity sleeves did not show the same effect.
2024 was a solid year, not a dominant one. SqSave Growth trailed only SoFi in its band and beat the peer median by 1.78pp. SqSave Aggressive beat its peer median by 1.65pp. SqSave Balanced narrowly outperformed Vanguard Digital Advisor. A win on aggregate, but by narrower margins than 2023 or 2025.
Where to Go From Here
If you're already a SqSave investor, the data here should reinforce that you're with a manager that holds its own — and often exceeds — the world's most prominent robo-advisors. If you're not yet invested, the comparison above gives you a global yardstick by which to judge your options.
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Important Disclaimer & Sources
Sources: SqSave performance data is provided by Pivot Fintech Pte. Ltd., denominated in SGD, and reflects the reference-portfolio NAV series. US robo-advisor performance data is sourced from Condor Capital Wealth Management's Q1 2026 Robo Report (condorcapital.com/the-robo-report) and is denominated in USD. Calendar year returns are total returns at the portfolio level for representative model portfolios at the equity allocations indicated. US robo equity allocations are taken from Condor Capital's published data and may not match SqSave's risk class definitions exactly. Comparisons between SGD-denominated and USD-denominated returns do not adjust for FX movements; investors should consider currency effects in their own evaluation. Past performance is not indicative of future results. All investments carry risk including the possible loss of principal. This commentary is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice, tax advice, or a recommendation to buy or sell any investment product. Investors should consider their own circumstances and seek independent advice where appropriate. Tax statements regarding the US and Singapore are general in nature and may not apply to specific personal circumstances; readers should consult a qualified tax advisor.
Footnote:
1. Portfolio returns are inclusive of ETF expense ratios and net of SqSave management fees. SqSave uses AI to design and manage diversified investment portfolios for each investor. Because SqSave is not an investment fund, there is no single return measure. Instead, every SqSave investor has his/her own investment performance as each investor is managed separately by our SqSave AI. As investors can withdraw and top-up any time, investment returns will be affected by individual investor decisions. Hence, SqSave uses reference portfolios which are actual portfolios managed on an ongoing basis, without any interference with withdrawals or top-ups, to measure investment performance.
