Clear Money Guide
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Open the inputs first, then use the guide outline to check assumptions and sources.
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Updated: July 1, 2026
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You likely do not need a full-time advisor if your situation is simple and you are comfortable executing a plan. You probably do benefit if you have tax, equity-comp, retirement-income, inheritance, business-sale, or high-balance complexity. Start small: compare the fee in dollars, confirm fiduciary scope in writing, and use a 2-3 hour second opinion with an NTE cap before committing to an AUM or flat annual relationship.
Quick self-assessment
Check each item that applies:
- I have equity comp (RSUs/ISOs/ESPP) or concentrated employer stock
- I’m unsure about Roth vs Traditional, backdoor/mega-backdoor, or tax-efficient withdrawals
- I have $500k+ investable assets or multiple accounts/custodians
- I want help writing and executing a plan with deadlines/SLAs
- I prefer to delegate portfolio management and monitoring
- I’m approaching major events (retirement, liquidity, inheritance, business sale)
Score: 0-1 = DIY likely fine. 2-3 = try hourly/project with a 2-3 hr NTE after using the financial advisor fee calculator. 4+ = compare flat annual, AUM, and fee-only options with the financial advisor fees comparison before choosing a model.
When you probably don’t need an advisor
- Single W-2 income, 3–4 index funds, auto contributions, no equity comp
- Comfortable rebalancing annually and following a written IPS
- Tax situation is straightforward; willing to use a checklist
Still want a gut-check? Book a 2–3 hour second-opinion with an NTE cap.
When you likely benefit from an advisor
- Equity comp decisions (vesting, 83(b), AMT, blackout windows, 10b5-1)
- Tax-aware withdrawals, Roth conversions, multi-account asset location
- Retirement income design (sequence risk, guardrails), Social Security timing
- Large balances where AUM dollars vs flat can be optimized
- Accountability: you want a plan, deadlines, and follow-through
Start with an hourly second-opinion, then compare flat/hourly/AUM in dollars.
Try before you commit (low-risk path)
- Define a small scope (e.g., “RSU vesting + tax plan”) with deliverables and 2–3 hr NTE.
- Get a written summary + checklist; implement yourself.
- If valuable, consider a flat annual for broader planning or compare to AUM using dollars.
Use these negotiation scripts to request NTE caps, breakpoints, or a flat quote.
Cost expectations
| Model | Typical pricing | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Hourly / project | $150–$400+ /hr; 2–3 hr NTE for second-opinion | Targeted questions, DIY implementers |
| Flat annual | $2,000–$7,500/yr (scope + SLAs in writing) | Planning-first, predictable budget |
| AUM | ~0.25%–1.00% by-slice | Bundled planning + portfolio management |
Convert everything to annual dollars for the same scope: Fee Model Comparison · AUM Tier Calculator · Hourly rates (2026).
What to do next
- Take the 60-sec fee-model quiz to get a starting point.
- Compare models in dollars for the same scope + SLAs.
- Use the five-step advisor screening guide and request a 2-3 hour not-to-exceed trial scope before committing.
Education only; not legal, tax, or investment advice.
Decided you want help finding one? Compare the advisor matching services — standards, minimums, and who pays whom — in one independent table.
The same question, in dollars. This checklist is deliberately about complexity rather than balance. If you want the threshold version: at what net worth you actually need an adviser, with the measured cost at each rung. And if the question is really whether the fee earns its keep: the break-even math by situation.