Wealthfront’s new Nasdaq-100 Direct portfolio combines exposure to the Nasdaq-100 Index® with the added tax benefits of direct indexing and is available for just 0.12%
Wealthfront, a tech-driven financial platform for young professionals, today launched Nasdaq-100 Direct: the first ever product to offer retail investors the tax benefits of direct indexing in combination with the Nasdaq-100 Index®. The globally recognized index, which provides access to 100 of the most innovative large-cap companies listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market®, is a natural fit for direct indexing because of its concentration in growth-oriented companies and higher volatility compared to broader indexes. Wealthfront’s Nasdaq-100 Direct allows investors to turn market volatility into a tax-saving opportunity and is available for a 0.12% annual advisory fee.
Nasdaq-100 Direct offers more tax savings opportunities than investing in a single ETF that tracks the Nasdaq-100 Index® because it allows clients to directly hold shares of companies in the index, and uses automated Tax-Loss Harvesting to capture losses from daily price movements in those stocks even when the index is up overall. Investors can use harvested losses to offset an unlimited amount of capital gains, plus up to $3,000 in ordinary income for any excess losses, and unused losses carry over indefinitely to future years.
Nasdaq-100 Direct is particularly well-suited for long-term investors with stock compensation who wish to offset capital gains. Additionally, because it enables investors to exclude specific stocks, it’s especially valuable for those who want to avoid concentrated exposure to a company they may already have significant holdings in, such as their employer.
“Nasdaq-100 Direct is the latest example of our approach to make sophisticated strategies like direct indexing more accessible, allowing clients to benefit from the long-term growth of the innovative companies that make up the Nasdaq-100® and leverage volatility to unlock tax savings,” said Dave Myszewski, Wealthfront’s Vice President of Product. “We’re proud to continue expanding our suite of tax-efficient products by bringing direct indexing to another popular index following the enthusiastic response to our S&P 500 Direct portfolio.”
“We’re proud to partner with Wealthfront to bring this differentiated access to the Nasdaq-100®, helping investors participate in the long-term potential of the world’s most dynamic companies while optimizing for tax outcomes,” said Sean Wasserman, Head of Index Product Management at Nasdaq Global Indexes. “The Nasdaq-100® has long been a benchmark for innovation, growth, and market leadership. By pairing it with direct indexing, Wealthfront is unlocking a powerful combination of exposure and efficiency for the next generation of investors.”
Today’s expansion of the company’s direct indexing offerings builds on the success of its initial standalone direct indexing offering, which combines the tax benefits of tax-loss harvesting with exposure to the S&P 500®. By leveraging that core technology, Wealthfront was able to partner with Nasdaq to quickly bring this new Nasdaq-100 Direct offering to market. Nasdaq-100 Direct invests with fractional shares, allowing clients to have a diversified stake in the companies within the Nasdaq-100® with a smaller balance. Wealthfront is also exploring additional indices that might benefit from this tax-efficient strategy.
Wealthfront’s focus on building automated products for digital natives has helped the company grow to serve more than 1.3 million clients with over $90 billion in total assets (as of August 31, 2025). Recent product enhancements include bringing joint checking features and free instant withdrawals to the Wealthfront Cash Account, which offers a 3.75% APY and up to $8 million in FDIC insurance (and up to $16 million for joint accounts) on deposits, both provided through program banks. For more information on Wealthfront’s Nasdaq-100 Direct portfolio, visit Wealthfront’s website and blog.
