UBS IRA Review
UBS Roth IRA and Traditional IRA Review. UBS IRA
fees and rates for 2025. Is UBS IRA a good and safe way to invest?
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UBS Wealth Management Review Highlights
• UBS Wealth Management offers many investing and planning services, but fees and minimums are high.
• Clients also get useful banking features alongside investment services.
• Certain Wealth Management accounts let you access a wide range of investment products.
Overview of UBS Wealth Management
UBS’s Wealth Management program provides far more than investing alone. As a global Swiss bank, it offers a broad set of services. This review focuses on UBS in the U.S., though Wealth Management is available worldwide.
Financial Planning
UBS places strong emphasis on financial planning. Clients can work with advisors on services like:
- Retirement planning
- Cash-flow analysis
- Estate and legacy planning
- Goal setting
- Insurance advice
- Resource reviews
- Employee equity benefit planning
- Philanthropy guidance
- Tax issue reviews
- Customized advice
- Portfolio management
- Estate execution
Advisors serve institutions, families, and individuals. UBS also works with employers to provide retirement services to their staff.
UBS focuses on very wealthy clients. A major drawback is the $1 million minimum, though it can be negotiated.
Another issue is limited U.S. branch locations. UBS has offices in big cities, but many areas lack local support.
Investing
UBS U.S. Wealth Management offers both advisory and brokerage accounts. You can hold stocks, bonds, options, funds, hedge funds, precious metals, and managed futures—though not every account includes every asset.
Accounts must be opened through a UBS advisor, and branches are limited in many regions.
If you can’t visit a branch, the Wealth Advice Center provides brokerage and managed accounts (including robo options) without a dedicated advisor. You connect via phone or email.
Note: Individual brokerage accounts at the Wealth Advice Center cannot trade precious metals, many options strategies, forex, managed futures, or commodities. Advisory and other brokerage accounts can.
UBS also offers tax-efficient products like 529 plans, Coverdell ESAs, 401(k)s, IRAs, and more.
Banking
UBS Bank USA offers savings accounts yielding 4.50%–5.40%, depending on balance and account type (new accounts can earn 5.40%).
UBS’s FDIC sweep moves idle cash from a securities account into partner banks, such as UBS Bank USA, where it is FDIC-insured.
The Resource Management Account combines banking and brokerage. It supports direct deposit, bill pay, debit cards, check writing, real-estate financing, and UBS credit cards.
Pricing Schedule
Fees and minimums at UBS are high. The general minimum for Wealth Management is $1 million (negotiable). Financial planning fees range from $1,000 to $10,000 per engagement (also negotiable).
Advisory accounts charge around 2.50% of assets under management as a standard fee (negotiable and variable by program).
Brokerage accounts have no asset minimums, but stock commissions run 0.7%–5.0% of trade value, plus flat annual fees.
Find a Financial Advisor
If you are looking for a professional money management service in your area, you can
find a Financial Advisor on the Wiser Advisor.
Try Wiser Advisor
Margin Service
UBS brokerage accounts can use margin. Advisory accounts generally cannot, with limited exceptions.
Software
UBS’s website and mobile app let you view all UBS accounts under one login. You see your advisor’s contact info, deposit checks via mobile, and track activity, holdings, orders, gains, and goals. The Insights tab offers educational content.
Additional Services
Fractional Shares: Not available.
IRA Lineup: Personal and business IRAs available (with a $100 annual fee).
Extended Hours: Institutional clients can trade pre-market and post-market.
IPOs: Brokerage clients can access IPOs (advisory accounts cannot).
Recommendations
Small Accounts: UBS is not suited for small balances; consider
Charles Schwab instead (no minimums).
Retirement Planning & Long-Term Investing: A traditional UBS account with a dedicated advisor is valuable here.
Active Stock Trading: High commissions and basic software mean a platform like
Thinkorswim is a better choice.
Beginners: Novice investors receive strong guidance at UBS.
Mutual Funds: UBS funds carry high fees; look at commission-free
Firstrade instead.
UBS Wealth Management Review Judgement
UBS Wealth Management offers comprehensive services at a high cost and requires large balances. Well-funded clients gain a full money-management solution with integrated banking and investing.
Updated on 4/29/2025.
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