Guides › Financial Advisor Fees
Updated September 19, 2026. Quick answer: CAPTRUST is less expensive at $500,000: $6,250 a year, versus $12,500 a year for Carson Wealth, computed from each firm’s own SEC-filed fee disclosure. See the full side-by-side table below for $250,000, $1 million and $2 million.
What each firm charges, side by side
| Account balance | CAPTRUST (annual fee) | Carson Wealth (annual fee) |
|---|---|---|
| $250,000 | $3,125 | $6,250 |
| $500,000 | $6,250 | $12,500 |
| $1,000,000 | $12,500 | $25,000 |
| $2,000,000 | $22,500 | $50,000 |
CAPTRUST discloses a tiered schedule starting at 1.25% (CAPTRUST Financial Advisors Form ADV Part 2A – Wealth Client Brochure, March 27, 2026); Carson Wealth discloses a maximum, individually negotiated rate of 2.5% (CWM, LLC Form ADV Part 2A Brochure, December 2025).
What the fee includes, in each firm’s own words
CAPTRUST (CAPTRUST Financial Advisors Form ADV Part 2A – Wealth Client Brochure, March 27, 2026): “Advisory fees, minimum account sizes, and services are negotiable and detailed in the advisory agreement. Advisory fees generally will be calculated as a percentage of total assets under management. Adviser’s standard fee schedule, effective January 1, 2026, is as follows: Annual Advisory Fees Assets Under $10 Million at Initial Funding First $1M at 1.25% Next $1M at 1.00% Next $3M at 0.85% Assets over $5M at .70%”
CAPTRUST’s standard fee schedule (effective January 1, 2026) is marginal/tiered like a tax bracket. At $250,000 and $500,000 the entire balance falls in the first $1M tier, so the fee is balance x 1.25% ($3,125 and $6,250). At $1,000,000 the fee is $1,000,000 x 1.25% = $12,500. At $2,000,000 the fee is ($1,000,000 x 1.25%) + ($1,000,000 x 1.00%) = $12,500 + $10,000 = $22,500.
Carson Wealth (CWM, LLC Form ADV Part 2A Brochure, December 2025): “The annual investment advisory fee charged range up to a maximum of 2.50% of the assets held in the account.”
CWM, LLC (the SEC-registered adviser behind the Carson Wealth brand) discloses a single ceiling rate of 2.50% per year rather than a dollar-breakpoint table. Fees are individually negotiated based on advisor, account size, complexity, and other factors, and are typically lower than the ceiling for larger accounts. The dollar figures apply the disclosed 2.50% maximum as a flat rate to each balance (balance x 0.025), which represents a worst-case/ceiling estimate, not a guaranteed quote.
How this compares
Our benchmark of published adviser fee schedules puts the weighted median annual cost near $2,000 to $2,500 on $250,000 (the benchmark). At $500,000, CAPTRUST runs $6,250 a year and Carson Wealth runs $12,500 a year: a difference of $6,250 a year at that balance.
Want the full breakdown for either firm on its own? Read the CAPTRUST fee page or the Carson Wealth fee page for the complete tier table and source citations.
Comparing these two against a full move? Read the general mechanics of switching financial advisors, or use a dated termination letter once you decide.
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Source: WiserAdvisor’s service descriptionSources
- CAPTRUST Financial Advisors Form ADV Part 2A – Wealth Client Brochure (March 27, 2026): https://www.captrust.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/2026-CAPTRUST-Form-2A-Wealth-Client-Brochure-FINAL.pdf
- SEC Investment Adviser Public Disclosure, CAPTRUST Financial Advisors (CRD #175112): https://adviserinfo.sec.gov/firm/summary/175112
- CWM, LLC Form ADV Part 2A Brochure (December 2025): https://carsonhub.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/CWM-LLC-ADV-Part-2A-December-2025.pdf
- SEC Investment Adviser Public Disclosure, CWM, LLC (CRD #155344): https://adviserinfo.sec.gov/firm/summary/155344
Methodology. This page was built September 19, 2026, re-pairing figures already archived and independently verified for CAPTRUST and Carson Wealth from each firm’s own SEC-filed disclosure; sources linked above. Nothing here is personalized financial, tax, legal, or investment advice. See our Editorial Policy, Corrections, Affiliate Disclosure, and Disclaimer.
Weighing a move away from either firm? How to leave CAPTRUST and How to leave Carson Wealth each cover what it costs to transfer out.