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Second-Opinion Review (2026): Are Your Advisor & Fees the Right Fit?

Clear Money Guide

Guide and tool overview

See the questions covered here, then open the interactive utility.

Open the interactive utility
Second-Opinion Review (Are Your Advisor & Fees the Right Fit?)
The short version
Mini Second-Opinion Triage (Implied Fee % Calculator)

← Back to the Advisor Fees hub

Second-Opinion Review (Are Your Advisor & Fees the Right Fit?)

Updated on

A quick, calm check: plug in your basics and we’ll flag if your fees look high, if your needs suggest a different model, and what to do next—negotiate, switch, or stay the course.

The short version

This takes 2 minutes. You’ll see an implied fee %, a simple verdict, and one next step (negotiate/switch/stay). Then grab scripts or compare fee models.

Educational use only. Not investment or tax advice.

Mini Second-Opinion Triage (Implied Fee % Calculator)

What do you need help with this year? (check any)
Advisor attributes

Implied fee rate: 1.10% (on $750,000)

Quick verdict: Negotiate or compare models

Why: Specialized planning + fee above typical range

Tip: If your implied rate is well above ~1% at ~$500k–$1M, get quotes on a flat-fee or hourly plan to compare service vs. cost.

Need fee math? Try the Advisor Fee Calculator or see Fee Model Comparison.

How this review works

  1. Measure your fee in %. We estimate your implied rate from last year’s dollars ÷ portfolio.
  2. Match needs to a fee model. Complex, ongoing planning may justify flat-fee or project-based vs. pure AUM.
  3. Pick one next step. Negotiate a better fit, request quotes, or stay the course.

Example

With $750k and $8,250/year, your implied rate is ~1.10%. If you need Roth windows + equity-comp help and you’re only meeting annually, you might compare a flat-fee plan or negotiate more service for the same price.

Common questions

Is 1% always “too high”? Not necessarily—scope and service matter. This page is a quick fit/price check, not a final verdict.

Can I mix models? Yes. Many use hourly or project planning plus low-cost implementation elsewhere.

What about taxes? Fees, account location, and withdrawal sources interact—compare the full picture, not price alone.

Educational only. Consider advice for your specific situation.

Run your own numbers. Advisor proposal scorecard — score a proposal against a checklist.

Methodology

How this page calculates and what to expect
  • Dollar-first outputs. We convert percentages and rules into dollars so you can compare choices quickly.
  • Fee tools (AUM · Fixed · Retainer · Hourly).
    • AUM fees use an annual average balance ((start+end)/2). Tiered schedules are treated as marginal (like tax brackets).
    • Contributions are applied at year-end; returns compound annually; “Deduct fees from portfolio” subtracts fees from assets (toggle changes this).
    • We ignore taxes and platform/trading costs unless stated. Results are planning estimates, not exact billing replicas.
  • Retirement & tax windows (IRMAA · SS taxability · RMD · QCD).
    • Calculators use current-year values you enter (caps, surcharges, thresholds) and simplify agency rules for planning.
    • Outputs are estimates to help you stay under a line (bracket, cap, or threshold). Confirm details before acting.
  • Data freshness. This page’s content was last reviewed on . Some thresholds change annually—update inputs as needed.
  • Educational only. Not tax, legal, or investment advice. For specifics, talk to a fiduciary advisor.

Questions or spotted an error? Tell us and we’ll take a look.

Questions or spotted an issue?

Tell us what you need and we’ll improve it. We read every note.

What to do next

Editorial standards: see our Editorial Policy.

Next step