Guides › Financial Advisor Fees
Updated September 19, 2026. Quick answer: Cambridge Investment Research is a registered investment adviser. Per its own current fee brochure, a $500,000 account would run up to $11,250 a year (the published maximum, which the firm says is negotiable) under its published fee schedule; the minimum to open an account is $25,000 for Cambridge Managed Account Platform (CMAP) / Flexible Managed Account Platform. Is it a fiduciary? Yes, as a registered investment adviser, on the advisory services this page covers.
Cambridge Investment Research at a glance
| Fact | What Cambridge Investment Research’s own pages say |
|---|---|
| Legal entity | Cambridge Investment Research Advisors, Inc. |
| Registration | Cambridge Investment Research Advisors, Inc. (“CIRA”) is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) as an investment adviser. |
| Fee on a $500,000 account | Up to $11,250 a year (the published maximum, which the firm says is negotiable), per its own current brochure |
| Minimum to open an account | $25,000 for Cambridge Managed Account Platform (CMAP) / Flexible Managed Account Platform |
| Cost to leave (exit fee) | See how to leave Cambridge Investment Research |
What Cambridge Investment Research’s own fee schedule charges
“The investment advisory fee for accounts managed through the Cambridge Managed Account Platform (“CMAP”) is based on the amount of assets under management, including cash balances deposited in a Federal Deposit Insured Corporation (“FDIC”) insured multi bank program (“Program”). … The investment advisory fee is negotiable and is subject to discounts on a Financial Professional-by-Financial Professional, client-by-client, or account-by-account basis. … The maximum allowable advisory fee that can be charged will not exceed 2.25% of assets under management on an annual basis.”
CIRA’s Form ADV does not publish one fixed rate schedule. Advisory fees on its primary managed-account platforms (CMAP, FlexMAP, WealthPort Advisor-directed/Team-directed) are individually negotiated between the client and Financial Professional, subject to a disclosed maximum of 2.25% of AUM annually (WealthPort CAAP/UMA caps at 2.15%). Because there is no standard published tier table, dollar_at applies the disclosed 2.25% ceiling uniformly across all four balances as the maximum a client could legally be charged under this brochure (250000*0.0225=5625; 500000*0.0225=11250; 1000000*0.0225=22500; 2000000*0.0225=45000). Actual fees are typically lower and individually negotiated per client/advisor.
| Account balance | Annual fee |
|---|---|
| $250,000 | $5,625 |
| $500,000 | $11,250 |
| $1,000,000 | $22,500 |
| $2,000,000 | $45,000 |
See the full breakdown, including how the figure is calculated, on Cambridge Investment Research’s own fee page.
Is Cambridge Investment Research a fiduciary?
Cambridge Investment Research Advisors, Inc. (“CIRA”) is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) as an investment adviser.
“When we act as your investment adviser, we have to act in your best interest and not put our interest ahead of yours.”
You will pay a fee for our services based upon the type of service you receive. This can include asset-based fees, fixed fees, hourly fees, set-up fees and program fees.
Full detail, including the exact registration type and source: Cambridge Investment Research’s fiduciary status, explained.
The minimum to open an account
“CIRA typically imposes a minimum investment amount of $25,000 to establish an account on the Cambridge Managed Account Platform or Flexible Managed Account Platform.”
$25,000 for Cambridge Managed Account Platform (CMAP) / Flexible Managed Account Platform. See the full minimum-investment breakdown, including what that minimum would cost per year, on Cambridge Investment Research’s minimum investment page.
What it costs to leave
A dedicated how-to-leave page for Cambridge Investment Research covers the exit costs in full. The general mechanics of switching financial advisors and a dated termination letter apply regardless of firm.
What we would compare it against
Before you decide, run the numbers against another firm using the financial advisor fee comparison, or price the dollar cost of any percentage fee over time with the Financial Advisor Fee Calculator and the Fee Drag Calculator.
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Source: WiserAdvisor’s service descriptionSources
- Cambridge Investment Research Advisors, Inc. Form ADV Part 2A Disclosure Brochure (July 2026): https://files.adviserinfo.sec.gov/IAPD/Content/Common/crd_iapd_Brochure.aspx?BRCHR_VRSN_ID=1055573
- Form CRS (Client Relationship Summary) (June 2020): https://files.brokercheck.finra.org/crs_134139.pdf
- SEC Investment Adviser Public Disclosure, Cambridge Investment Research Advisors, Inc. (CRD #134139): https://adviserinfo.sec.gov/firm/summary/134139
- Cambridge Investment Research Advisors, Inc., SEC Form ADV filing: https://reports.adviserinfo.sec.gov/reports/ADV/134139/PDF/134139.pdf
Methodology. This page was built September 19, 2026, drawing directly on Cambridge Investment Research’s own current fee brochure and Form CRS, both linked above, plus this site’s own already-published fiduciary, minimum-investment, and (where one exists) how-to-leave pages for the same firm, each independently sourced when it was built. Any distinction we could not independently confirm this session is named as an honest gap rather than presented as verified. Nothing here is personalized financial, tax, legal, or investment advice, and it is not a substitute for reading Cambridge Investment Research’s own Form ADV Part 2A and Form CRS. We have not used Cambridge Investment Research as a client. Cambridge Investment Research did not pay for, review, or influence this content. See our Editorial Policy, Corrections, Affiliate Disclosure, and Disclaimer.
Comparing firms? See all 182 advisor firm reviews in one table, with each firm’s type and its fee on a $500,000 account.