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Updated October 3, 2026. Quick answer: Creative Planning has the lower published fee at $500,000: $6,000 a year, versus up to $10,175 a year (the stated maximum MSWM Fee plus Platform Fee for its Consulting Group Advisor program) for Morgan Stanley, computed from each firm’s own SEC-filed fee disclosure. Where a firm states only a maximum rate, the figure shown applies that maximum; negotiation may lower what you pay. Morgan Stanley’s brochure adds that in special circumstances, and with the client’s agreement, its MSWM Fee may be more than the stated maximum. 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 | Creative Planning (annual fee) | Morgan Stanley (annual fee) |
|---|---|---|
| $250,000 | $3,000 | Up to $5,088 |
| $500,000 | $6,000 | Up to $10,175 |
| $1,000,000 | $11,000 | Up to $20,350 |
| $2,000,000 | $21,000 | Up to $40,700 |
Creative Planning discloses a tiered schedule starting at 1.20% (Creative Planning, LLC Form ADV Part 2A, March 31, 2026); Morgan Stanley discloses a stated maximum MSWM Fee of 2.00% plus a 0.035% Platform Fee (2.035% combined) (Morgan Stanley Consulting Group Advisor (CGA) Program Wrap Fee Brochure, Form ADV Part 2A Appendix 1, March 30, 2026).
What the fee includes, in each firm’s own words
Creative Planning (Creative Planning, LLC Form ADV Part 2A, March 31, 2026): “Annual Fee Calculation: 1.20% on the first $500,000, then 1.00% on assets of $500,001-$2,000,000, then .85% on assets of $2,000,001-$5,000,000, then .80% on assets of $5,000,001-$10,000,000, then .70% on assets of $10,000,001-$25,000,000, then .40% on assets of $25,000,001-$50,000,000, then .30% on assets of $50,000,001-$100,000,000, then .25% on assets over $100,000,000.”
Creative Planning generally requires new clients to have a minimum of $200,000 in assets under management, which it may waive at its discretion. The schedule shown is its standard fee schedule. Clients with assets under management below $500,000 may be charged a minimum management fee, communicated in the client agreement documents, so the $250,000 figure above may be higher in practice. The brochure also says fees and how they are charged are negotiable.
Morgan Stanley (Morgan Stanley Consulting Group Advisor (CGA) Program Wrap Fee Brochure, Form ADV Part 2A Appendix 1, March 30, 2026): “The maximum annual MSWM Fee for CGA accounts is 2.00% of the market value of the eligible assets in the account. … The Platform Fee is a 0.035% annual asset-based fee. The Platform Fee is in addition to the MSWM Fee, is non-negotiable and is generally applicable to all CGA accounts, except for Retirement Accounts covered by Title I of ERISA, including for example, certain Simplified Employee Pension (“SEPs”) accounts, and SIMPLE IRAs, 529 plans and accounts we classify as institutional.” Combined maximum: a 2.00% MSWM Fee plus a 0.035% Platform Fee.
Morgan Stanley discloses only a maximum annual fee for its Consulting Group Advisor program, not a public breakpoint table; the figures above are the disclosed maximum (2.035% combined) applied flat. Fees are stated as negotiable; the brochure adds that in special circumstances, and with the client’s agreement, the MSWM Fee may be more than the stated maximum annual fee.
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, Creative Planning runs $6,000 a year and Morgan Stanley’s CGA program runs up to $10,175 a year at its stated maximum components (2.00% plus the 0.035% Platform Fee): a difference of up to $4,175 a year between those figures at that balance. Morgan Stanley’s fee is negotiable, so the order is not fixed: an MSWM Fee negotiated at or below about 1.165% of assets ($5,825 at $500,000, which with the $175 Platform Fee equals Creative Planning’s $6,000) would cost no more than Creative Planning’s schedule.
Want the full breakdown for either firm on its own? Read the Creative Planning fee page or the Morgan Stanley 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 Morgan Stanley, or read the general mechanics of switching financial advisors.
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- Creative Planning, LLC Form ADV Part 2A (March 31, 2026): https://creativeplanning.com/wp-content/uploads/Creative-Planning-Form-ADV-Part-2A.pdf
- SEC Investment Adviser Public Disclosure, Creative Planning, LLC (CRD #105348): https://adviserinfo.sec.gov/firm/summary/105348
- Morgan Stanley Consulting Group Advisor (CGA) Program Wrap Fee Brochure, Form ADV Part 2A Appendix 1 (March 30, 2026): https://files.adviserinfo.sec.gov/IAPD/Content/Common/crd_iapd_Brochure.aspx?BRCHR_VRSN_ID=1033575
- SEC Investment Adviser Public Disclosure, Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC (CRD #149777): https://adviserinfo.sec.gov/firm/summary/149777
Methodology. This page was built October 3, 2026, re-pairing figures already archived and independently verified for Creative Planning and Morgan Stanley 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.