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Updated October 9, 2026. Quick answer: Mariner Wealth Advisors has the lower published fee at $500,000: $7,500 a year (its standard schedule’s minimum fee of $1,875 a quarter), versus up to $10,175 a year (the sum of the firm’s published maximum fee components) for Morgan Stanley, computed from each firm’s own SEC-filed fee disclosure. At $250,000 it is the other way round, $7,500 versus $5,088. Where a firm publishes only a maximum rate, the figure shown is that maximum, and what you pay may be lower. 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 | Mariner Wealth Advisors (annual fee) | Morgan Stanley (annual fee) |
|---|---|---|
| $250,000 | $7,500 | Up to $5,088 |
| $500,000 | $7,500 | Up to $10,175 |
| $1,000,000 | $12,500 | Up to $20,350 |
| $2,000,000 | $22,500 | Up to $40,700 |
Mariner Wealth Advisors discloses a tiered schedule starting at 1.25% with a minimum fee of $1,875 a quarter (Mariner, LLC Form ADV Part 2A Brochure, July 17, 2026); Morgan Stanley discloses published fee components that sum to a maximum of 2.035% (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
Mariner Wealth Advisors (Mariner, LLC Form ADV Part 2A Brochure, July 17, 2026): “The structure and level of our advisory fee will vary by client based upon the services provided and other considerations deemed relevant by us but typically takes the form of a percentage of assets under management and/or advisement, ranging up to 2.50% per annum. Our current standard fee schedule is as follows: Standard Fee Schedule (blended tiered schedule)* $0-$1,000,000 1.25% $1,000,000-$5,000,000 1.00% $5,000,000-$10,000,000 0.80% Above $10,000,000 0.60% *Quarterly minimum fee of $1,875 … All fee arrangements are subject to negotiation. We reserve the right to waive the minimum fee at our discretion.”
Mariner’s standard schedule is blended: each slice of the balance is charged at its own rate (1.25% on the first $1,000,000, 1.00% from $1,000,000 to $5,000,000, 0.80% from $5,000,000 to $10,000,000, 0.60% above that), subject to a minimum fee of $1,875 a quarter, which is $7,500 a year. At $250,000 and $500,000 the minimum, not a rate, sets the fee: $7,500 a year. At $1,000,000 the fee is 1.25% of the balance, $12,500. At $2,000,000 it is $12,500 on the first $1,000,000 plus 1.00% of the next $1,000,000, $22,500. The brochure says fees can range up to 2.50% depending on the services provided, that the firm may waive the minimum, and that every fee arrangement is negotiable, so an actual fee can differ from these figures.
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.” 2.00% maximum MSWM Fee plus a non-negotiable 0.035% Platform Fee.
Morgan Stanley discloses only a maximum negotiated rate for its flagship Consulting Group Advisor program, not a public breakpoint table; the figures above are the disclosed ceiling (2.035% combined) applied flat. Fees are stated as negotiable and often lower.
How this compares
The median ria charges roughly 1.0% of assets under management annually (the benchmark). At $500,000, Mariner Wealth Advisors runs $7,500 a year and Morgan Stanley runs up to $10,175 a year (the published maximum): a difference of $2,675 a year between those figures at that balance.
Want the full breakdown for either firm on its own? Read the Mariner Wealth Advisors 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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- Mariner, LLC Form ADV Part 2A Brochure (July 17, 2026): https://files.adviserinfo.sec.gov/IAPD/Content/Common/crd_iapd_Brochure.aspx?BRCHR_VRSN_ID=1052128
- SEC Investment Adviser Public Disclosure, Mariner, LLC d/b/a Mariner Wealth Advisors (CRD #140195): https://adviserinfo.sec.gov/firm/summary/140195
- 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 Mariner Wealth Advisors 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.