Guides › Financial Advisor Fees
Updated September 24, 2026. Quick answer: Yes, on every account. Fifth Third Wealth Advisors is registered with the SEC only as an investment adviser (it is not a broker-dealer), so the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 requires it to act as your fiduciary. Its own Form CRS states: “When we act as your investment adviser, we must act in your best interest and not put our interest ahead of yours.”
How it’s registered
From Fifth Third Wealth Advisors LLC Form CRS (March 2026): “Fifth Third Wealth Advisors LLC (“FTWA”, “we”, “us” or “our) is an investment adviser registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and ultimately owned by Fifth Third Bancorp (NASDAQ: FITB) (“Bank”).”
The standard of conduct, in its own words
“When we act as your investment adviser, we must act in your best interest and not put our interest ahead of yours.”
On commissions: Our financial professionals are compensated through salaries and/or a portion of revenue we receive for the advisory services we provide. The portion paid to your financial professional generally does not vary based on the type of investments that are recommended. This creates a conflict of interest because it gives our financial professionals an incentive to encourage you to invest more assets so that they qualify for increased compensation.
Fiduciary status by capacity
| Capacity | Registration | Standard you’re owed | Can earn commissions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| As your investment adviser | SEC-registered investment adviser | Fiduciary duty (Investment Advisers Act of 1940) | No (asset-based advisory fee: $7,500 a year, 1.50% on a $500,000 account) | Fifth Third Wealth Advisors LLC Form CRS, March 2026 |
What this means for what you pay
Fiduciary status is one input, not the whole picture. Fifth Third Wealth Advisors discloses a published fee that runs $7,500 a year on a $500,000 account; see the full dollar breakdown from Fifth Third Wealth Advisors’ own fee disclosure before deciding whether the standard of conduct here changes your answer.
If the answer above changes your mind about staying, read the general mechanics of switching financial advisors, or use a dated termination letter once you decide.
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Just comparing fees? Keep reading the fee guide.Optional next step
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The form is run by Kapitalwise, our advisor-matching partner. Kapitalwise sends your details to advisers who pay for the introduction, so expect calls and texts. Clear Money Guide is paid when you submit the form, whether or not you ever hire anyone. This is free to you and there is no obligation to hire anyone.
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Ask about the full fee, what it covers and how the adviser is paid. A match is an introduction, not a recommendation from Clear Money Guide.
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The matching service is run by WiserAdvisor, an independent advisor-matching company. It opens on their site, asks for your ZIP code and a few questions, and matches you with 2 to 3 vetted advisors. It is free to you. WiserAdvisor states the service is built for portfolios of $250,000 and above. By submitting, you consent to emails, phone calls and text messages from WiserAdvisor and up to three advisors, so expect to be contacted. Advisers pay for the introduction. Clear Money Guide is paid when you complete the form, whether or not you ever hire anyone. There is no obligation to hire anyone.
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Source: WiserAdvisor’s service descriptionSources
- Fifth Third Wealth Advisors LLC Form CRS (March 2026): https://reports.adviserinfo.sec.gov/crs/crs_313015.pdf
- SEC Investment Adviser Public Disclosure, Fifth Third Wealth Advisors LLC (CRD #313015): https://adviserinfo.sec.gov/firm/summary/313015
- Fifth Third Wealth Advisors LLC, SEC Form ADV filing: https://reports.adviserinfo.sec.gov/reports/ADV/313015/PDF/313015.pdf
Methodology. This page was built September 24, 2026, quoting directly from Fifth Third Wealth Advisors’ own current Form CRS, with the source linked above; 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 the firm’s own Form CRS. See our Editorial Policy, Corrections, Affiliate Disclosure, and Disclaimer.
Weighing whether to move ahead? Read the full Fifth Third Wealth Advisors review, including its fiduciary status and what it costs to leave.
Comparing Fifth Third Wealth Advisors against other options? See Fifth Third Wealth Advisors alternatives, including a lower-fee full-service firm, a flat-fee route, and a robo/hybrid.
How does this compare? See how 127 advisory firms are registered, from each firm’s own SEC record.
Already with Fifth Third Wealth Advisors and weighing a move? How to leave Fifth Third Wealth Advisors covers what it costs to transfer out.