Guides › Financial Advisor Fees
Updated September 19, 2026. Quick answer: Fidelity is less expensive at $500,000: $6,250 a year, versus $11,250 a year for Cambridge Investment Research, 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 | Cambridge Investment Research (annual fee) | Fidelity (annual fee) |
|---|---|---|
| $250,000 | $5,625 | $3,750 |
| $500,000 | $11,250 | $6,250 |
| $1,000,000 | $22,500 | $11,750 |
| $2,000,000 | $45,000 | $20,750 |
Cambridge Investment Research discloses a maximum, individually negotiated rate of 2.25% (Cambridge Investment Research Advisors, Inc. Form ADV Part 2A Disclosure Brochure, July 2026); Fidelity discloses a tiered schedule starting at 1.50% (capped at $6,250) (Fidelity Wealth Services Form ADV Part 2A Brochure (Strategic Advisers LLC), March 30, 2026).
What the fee includes, in each firm’s own words
Cambridge Investment Research (Cambridge Investment Research Advisors, Inc. Form ADV Part 2A Disclosure Brochure, July 2026): “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.” Maximum annual advisory fee (Cambridge Managed Account Platform, Flexible Managed Account Platform, WealthPort Advisor-directed / Team-directed): 2.25%; Maximum annual advisory fee (WealthPort CAAP / UMA programs): 2.15%.
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.
Fidelity Wealth Management (Fidelity Wealth Services Form ADV Part 2A Brochure (Strategic Advisers LLC), March 30, 2026): “ANNUAL ADVISORY FEE SCHEDULE FOR PROGRAM ACCOUNTS: Wealth Management and Private Wealth Management. If Average Daily Assets total $500,000 or less: For Average Daily Assets from $0 to $500,000, 1.50% (up to a maximum of $6,250). If Average Daily Assets total more than $500,000: For the first $500,000, 1.25%; for the next $500,000, 1.10%; for the next $1,000,000, 0.90%.”
This is the Gross Advisory Fee; Fidelity applies a Credit Amount that can lower the Net Advisory Fee a client actually pays, which is not quantified in the public schedule.
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, Cambridge Investment Research runs $11,250 a year and Fidelity runs $6,250 a year: a difference of $5,000 a year at that balance.
Want the full breakdown for either firm on its own? Read the Cambridge Investment Research fee page or the Fidelity fee page for the complete tier table and source citations.
Thinking about leaving one of these firms instead of pricing what you would pay to stay? See what it costs to leave Fidelity, or read the general mechanics of switching financial advisors.
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- 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
- SEC Investment Adviser Public Disclosure, Cambridge Investment Research Advisors, Inc. (CRD #134139): https://adviserinfo.sec.gov/firm/summary/134139
- Fidelity Wealth Services Form ADV Part 2A Brochure (Strategic Advisers LLC) (March 30, 2026): https://www.fidelity.com/bin-public/060_www_fidelity_com/documents/FWS-program-fundamentals.pdf
- SEC Investment Adviser Public Disclosure, Strategic Advisers LLC (CRD #104555): https://adviserinfo.sec.gov/firm/summary/104555
Methodology. This page was built September 19, 2026, re-pairing figures already archived and independently verified for Cambridge Investment Research and Fidelity 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.