The downside of robos.

The explosion of robo-advisers into the marketplace starting early this decade changed the industry. The bevy of easy-to-use, low-cost apps brought millions of new low-dollar retail investors into the market. And it forced the established players to start offering no-fee, digital services themselves.

However, some now say these apps’ ease of use and convenience isn’t necessarily all good. The Wall Street Journal (SUBSCRIPTION) reports that there is a growing feeling that the rise of robos has given “the ability to make foolish decisions to an ever-broader swath of people.” In fact, the Journal continues, such apps can encourage people to become stock pickers who aren’t building wealth and aren’t properly diversified.

Like any technology, as robo-investing has become more mature and widespread, it has now reached a point where people are also casting a more critical eye. It will be interesting to see if these fintech apps are still as popular five years from now as they are today.

This article was published as part of Weekly Briefing No. 158