Updated July 7, 2026. Quick answer (2026): Financial advisor fees for a $500k portfolio are about $5,000/year at 1.00% AUM, $3,750/year at 0.75% AUM, and $2,500/year at 0.50% AUM before fund, platform, trading, tax-prep, or implementation costs. A flat annual, hourly, or project quote can be cheaper or more expensive depending on the planning scope.
Use this $500k portfolio guide to compare AUM, flat annual, retainer, hourly, project, and robo-supported quotes in dollars before an intro call. The key question is not only whether 1% is normal; it is what work is included for the annual cost.
Fast tools
- Financial advisor fee calculator
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- Flat fee vs AUM break-even calculator
- Financial advisor fee comparison chart
$500k portfolio advisor fee table
| Quote type | Example annual cost | What to confirm |
|---|---|---|
| 1.00% AUM | $5,000/year | Planning scope, fund/platform costs, meeting cadence, tax coordination, and whether implementation is included. |
| 0.75% AUM | $3,750/year | Whether the lower rate has a planning minimum, asset minimum, or lighter service model. |
| Flat annual planning | $3,000-$8,000/year | Written deliverables, investment help, tax coordination, follow-up rules, and renewal terms. |
| Hourly or project | $1,500-$5,000+ per project | Not-to-exceed cap, timeline, written plan, and whether implementation questions are included. |
Price the quote you were actually given
Enter the annual rate you were actually quoted. This prices it against the by-slice breakpoint schedule published on this site — one example schedule, not a market benchmark — and shows the difference in annual dollars. Neither figure includes fund expense ratios or platform layers.
When a $500k household should look past AUM
- When a percentage quote includes only light planning and portfolio allocation.
- When the main needs are a rollover review, retirement-income checkup, tax-aware withdrawal map, or one-time investment policy.
- When a flat annual or hourly/project advisor will provide a written plan, implementation checklist, and fiduciary advice for a clear capped price.
Related balances: $1 million portfolio advisor fees, $2 million portfolio advisor fees, and $3 million portfolio advisor fees.
Methodology
- We convert common advisor percentage quotes into annual dollars for a $500,000 portfolio.
- We compare AUM against flat annual, retainer, hourly, project, and robo-supported pricing by first-year cost and written scope.
- This page was materially reviewed on July 7, 2026. Fee examples are educational, not personalized financial, tax, legal, or investment advice.
Editorial standards: Editorial Policy
Whether the fee is worth paying at this balance: do you need an advisor with $500k.
More balances, same measured basis: $750k · $5 million · $10 million — the last two sit above our measured range and are labelled as upper bounds rather than going rates.