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# Methodology

### Advanced Features

- ##### [Smart Beta White Paper](https://research.wealthfront.com/whitepapers/smart-beta)

Learn more about our Smart Beta feature

- ##### [US Direct Indexing White Paper](https://research.wealthfront.com/whitepapers/stock-level-tax-loss-harvesting)

Learn more about our US Direct Indexing feature

- ##### [Tax-Loss Harvesting White Paper](https://research.wealthfront.com/whitepapers/tax-loss-harvesting)

Learn more about our Tax-Loss Harvesting feature

### Investment Methodology

- ##### [Automated Investing Methodology White Paper](https://research.wealthfront.com/whitepapers/investment-methodology)

For retirement and investment accounts, our methodology for building and managing your Classic portfolio

- ##### [529 Account White Paper](https://research.wealthfront.com/whitepapers/college-savings)

For 529 accounts, our methodology for building and managing your portfolio

- ##### [Historical returns](/content/historical-performance/index.html)

Average annual net-of-fees, pre-tax returns of Wealthfront’s investment portfolios.

- ##### [Socially Responsible Methodology White Paper](https://research.wealthfront.com/whitepapers/socially-responsible-portfolios)

For retirement and investment accounts, our methodology for building and managing your Socially Responsible portfolio.

- ##### [Automated Bond Portfolio Methodology White Paper](https://research.wealthfront.com/whitepapers/automated-bond-portfolio)

Our methodology for building and managing your Automated Bond portfolio.

- ##### [Automated Bond Ladder Methodology White Paper](https://research.wealthfront.com/whitepapers/automated-bond-ladder)

For tax-advantaged income and capital preservation, our methodology for building and managing your Automated Bond Ladder.

- ##### [S&P 500 Direct and Nasdaq-100 Direct Methodology White Paper](https://research.wealthfront.com/whitepapers/s-p-500-direct)

Our methodology for building and managing your S&P 500 Direct and Nasdaq-100 Direct portfolios.
