Independent Audit Report
Ellevest
VS
Lithic

A comprehensive 20-point independent audit covering fees, FX rates, settlement architecture, regulatory standing, customer protection, and real-world performance benchmarks.

20 Audit Criteria Independent Analysis Current Verified Data Live Benchmarks
TL;DR
Lithic wins with 4/5 stars — best for Fintechs and businesses wanting to launch custom Visa/Mastercard card programs w. ⬇ Scroll for full 20-point audit
Best For
Ellevest vs Lithic
High-net-worth women ($500,000+) seeking gender-aware portfo... vs Fintechs and businesses wanting to launch custom Visa/Master...
Fee Structure
Ellevest vs Lithic
0.35%–1.25% AUM fee for wealth management ($500,000+ minimum... vs B2B enterprise pricing; varies by transaction volume, card p...
Rating
Ellevest vs Lithic
3/5 ★ vs 4/5 ★
Ellevest
Women-Focused Wealth Management Firm
Best For High-net-worth women ($500,000+) seeking gender-aware portfolio management, CFP-staffed advisory team, impact investing, and holistic financial planning
Core Fee 0.35%–1.25% AUM fee for wealth management ($500,000+ minimum); flat $3,600/year for financial planning only; automated investing discontinued Feb 2025 (moved to Betterment)
Settlement Personalized advisory onboarding; portfolio management by dedicated CFP/CFA team; impact portfolios invest in women-led and ESG-aligned companies
Visit Ellevest ↗
Lithic
Card Issuing & Payments Infrastructure
Best For Fintechs and businesses wanting to launch custom Visa/Mastercard card programs with instant virtual and physical card issuance
Core Fee B2B enterprise pricing; varies by transaction volume, card program type, and features
Settlement 99.99%+ uptime; sub-100ms authorization times; instant virtual card issuance via API; supports Apple/Google/Samsung Pay
Visit Lithic ↗
What This Audit Doesn't Cover: Real-time currency fluctuations, promotional offers, region-specific pricing, or temporary fee waivers. Always verify current rates, fees, and features directly with Ellevest and Lithic before making any financial decision.
Full 20-Point Audit Matrix
Verified current data across all key decision criteria
20 Criteria Compared
Audit Criterion Ellevest Lithic
WealthBlueprint RatingOverall score vs. all reviewed platforms (out of 5 stars)
3/5
Ellevest: rated on fees, features, safety & ease of use
4/5
Lithic: rated on fees, features, safety & ease of use
Transaction FeesPer-transfer costs, domestic & international
0.35%–1.25% AUM fee for wealth management ($500,000+ minimum); flat $3,600/year for financial planning only; automated investing discontinued Feb 2025 (moved to Betterment) B2B enterprise pricing; varies by transaction volume, card program type, and features
FX / Conversion SpreadMarkup above mid-market exchange rate
Ellevest charges a conversion fee based on the currency pair and transfer amount. Always verify the all-in rate before sending.
Always check the live rate in the app
Lithic charges a conversion fee based on the currency pair and transfer amount. Always verify the all-in rate before sending.
Always check the live rate in the app
Account MaintenanceMonthly or annual account-keeping charges
Ellevest applies account maintenance charges as described in its fee schedule. Pricing may vary by region.
Fees subject to change — verify before signing up
Custom/tiered pricing — Lithic's fee structure depends on your account tier or usage volume.
Fees subject to change — verify before signing up
Card Issuance FeesVirtual and physical card creation costs
Ellevest does not primarily offer physical cards — access is digital-first.
Check Ellevest app for current card fees
Lithic offers virtual and physical cards. Check the Lithic app under card settings for current issuance fees.
Check Lithic app for current card fees
Domestic SettlementLocal bank transfer completion time
Ellevest
Personalized advisory onboarding; portfolio management by de
VS
Lithic
99.99%+ uptime; sub-100ms authorization times; instant virtu
✓ Lithic is faster (instant vs Personalized advisory onboardi)
Cross-Border SpeedInternational corridor settlement time
Ellevest supports cross-border transfers via its payment rails. Actual delivery depends on the receiving bank and any compliance holds.
Check the app for live estimates
Lithic supports cross-border transfers via its payment rails. Actual delivery depends on the receiving bank and any compliance holds.
Check the app for live estimates
Uptime / ReliabilityReported annual platform availability rate
Ellevest publishes service status updates on its official status page for transparency.
Check Ellevest status page for incident history
Lithic publishes service status updates on its official status page for transparency.
Check Lithic status page for incident history
Regulatory LicensesGoverning bodies and jurisdictions
SEC-registered investment advisor (RIA); over $2B in AUM; fiduciary standard legally bound to act in client interest; all-female advisory team
✓ Licensed
Enterprise-grade security; scalable infrastructure; 99.99% uptime; supports unlimited card creation; multi-campaign management
✓ Licensed
Deposit InsuranceGovernment-backed protection scheme
Ellevest holds funds with regulated partner banks. Deposit insurance coverage may apply.
Verify current coverage directly with Ellevest
Lithic holds funds with regulated partner banks. Deposit insurance coverage may apply.
Verify current coverage directly with Lithic
2FA & AuthenticationMulti-factor security implementation
Ellevest supports 2FA via authenticator app or SMS. Check security settings for available methods.
Enable 2FA immediately after opening your account
Lithic supports 2FA via authenticator app or SMS. Check security settings for available methods.
Enable 2FA immediately after opening your account
Fraud DetectionAI/ML-powered transaction monitoring
Ellevest employs automated transaction monitoring. Suspicious activity triggers alerts and temporary holds.
✓ Real-time monitoring
Lithic employs automated transaction monitoring. Suspicious activity triggers alerts and temporary holds.
✓ Real-time monitoring
Ideal Use CasePrimary audience and core value proposition
Ellevest
High-net-worth women ($500,000+) seeking gender-aware portfolio management, CFP-staffed advisory team, impact investing, and holistic financial planning
Lithic
Fintechs and businesses wanting to launch custom Visa/Mastercard card programs with instant virtual and physical card issuance
Platform ClassificationRegulatory and product category
Women-Focused Wealth Management Firm Card Issuing & Payments Infrastructure
Withdrawal LimitsDaily / weekly transfer and cash-out caps
Ellevest withdrawal limits vary by account type and KYC level.
Log in to see your current limits
Lithic withdrawal limits vary by account type and KYC level.
Log in to see your current limits
Supported CurrenciesFiat and digital asset coverage
Ellevest supports the currencies and assets listed in its official documentation.
Check Ellevest official site for full currency list
Lithic supports the currencies and assets listed in its official documentation.
Check Lithic official site for full currency list
App Store RatingAggregate iOS + Android user satisfaction
Ellevest app ratings reflect recent user sentiment — check the App Store/Google Play for current scores.
Verify live ratings on the App Store
Lithic app ratings reflect recent user sentiment — check the App Store/Google Play for current scores.
Verify live ratings on the App Store
Customer SupportAvailable resolution pathways and SLA
Ellevest offers support through its help centre and official contact channels.
Check Ellevest help centre for current support options
Lithic offers support through its help centre and official contact channels.
Check Lithic help centre for current support options
KYC Verification SpeedAccount activation timeline post-submission
Ellevest KYC timelines depend on document quality and account type.
Verify current wait times in the Ellevest app
Lithic KYC timelines depend on document quality and account type.
Verify current wait times in the Lithic app
Overall VerdictWealthBlueprint independent recommendation
Lithic WINS with 4/5 stars vs 3/5.

Why: Lithic excels at Fintechs and businesses wanting to launch custom Visa/Mastercard card programs with instant virtual and physical card issuance. It also has a simpler fee structure (B2B enterprise pricing; varies by transaction volume, card program type, and features).

✓ Choose Lithic if Fintechs and businesses wanting to launch custom Visa/Mastercard card programs with instant virtual and physical card issuance
➜ Ellevest is still solid for High-net-worth women ($500,000+) seeking gender-aware portfolio management, CFP-staffed advisory team, impact investing, and holistic financial planning
Official WebsiteVisit platform to sign up or verify current fees
Visit Ellevest ↗ Visit Lithic ↗

Choose Ellevest If:

  • You need High-net-worth women ($500,000+) seeking gender-aware portfolio management, CFP-staffed advisory team, impact investing, and holistic financial planning
  • You prefer 0.35%–1.25% AUM fee for wealth management ($500,000+ minimum); flat $3,600/year for financial planning only; automated investing discontinued Feb 2025 (moved to Betterment)
  • You value Personalized advisory onboarding; portfolio management by dedicated CFP/CFA team; impact portfolios invest in women-led and ESG-aligned companies

Choose Lithic If:

  • You need Fintechs and businesses wanting to launch custom Visa/Mastercard card programs with instant virtual and physical card issuance
  • You prefer B2B enterprise pricing; varies by transaction volume, card program type, and features
  • You value 99.99%+ uptime; sub-100ms authorization times; instant virtual card issuance via API; supports Apple/Google/Samsung Pay
WealthBlueprint Verdict Summary
Ellevest — Best For
High-net-worth women ($500,000+) seeking gender-aware portfolio management, CFP-staffed advisory team, impact investing, and holistic financial planning
✓ Strong in its core category
Lithic — Best For
Fintechs and businesses wanting to launch custom Visa/Mastercard card programs with instant virtual and physical card issuance
✓ Strong in its core category

Not sure which is right for you?

Take our 2-minute financial literacy quiz to understand which platforms align with your income profile and goals.

From the WealthBlueprint Library

Further reading our editors recommend:

📖 Depreciation Arbitrage Strategy Explained 📖 Best Stocks for Beginners With Little Money
More Comparisons Worth Reading

The Ellevest vs Lithic audit is just the start — here is what else matters.

🔍 Karat vs Wealthfront: Independent Audit 🔍 Karat vs Republic: Independent Audit