Clear Money Guide
What this guide covers
A quick view of the questions and evidence developed below.
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Advisor Fee Comparison Examples (In Dollars)
Updated on
Three ready-to-run scenarios in our 10-Year model. Click, tweak anything, and see which fee model wins—in dollars.
Run a scenario
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$500k start · $18k/yr contributions · 6% return
AUM 1.00% vs Fixed $5,000 vs Retainer $300/mo
Open this scenario -
$1.0M start · $24k/yr contributions · 6% return
AUM 0.80% vs Fixed $7,000 vs Retainer $500/mo
Open this scenario -
$2.0M start · $36k/yr contributions · 6% return
AUM 0.70% vs Fixed $9,000 vs Retainer $750/mo
Open this scenario
Tip: After you open a scenario, use “Share this scenario” on the page to copy a link with your edits.
Compare with quick calculators
- Advisor Fee Calculator — quick $ vs %
- AUM Fee Calculator — tiers → one effective %
- Advisor Fee Snapshot — 2026 — typical dollar anchors
Methodology
How this page calculates and what to expect
- Dollar-first outputs. We convert percentages and rules into dollars so you can compare choices quickly.
- Fee tools (AUM · Fixed · Retainer · Hourly).
- AUM fees use an annual average balance ((start+end)/2). Tiered schedules are treated as marginal (like tax brackets).
- Contributions are applied at year-end; returns compound annually; “Deduct fees from portfolio” subtracts fees from assets (toggle changes this).
- We ignore taxes and platform/trading costs unless stated. Results are planning estimates, not exact billing replicas.
- Retirement & tax windows (IRMAA · SS taxability · RMD · QCD).
- Calculators use current-year values you enter (caps, surcharges, thresholds) and simplify agency rules for planning.
- Outputs are estimates to help you stay under a line (bracket, cap, or threshold). Confirm details before acting.
- Data freshness. This page’s content was last reviewed on . Some thresholds change annually—update inputs as needed.
- Educational only. Not tax, legal, or investment advice. For specifics, talk to a fiduciary advisor.
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What to do next
Editorial standards: see our Editorial Policy.
What the filings actually say. We measured the fee schedules 176 SEC-registered advisers publish in their Form ADV Part 2A filings: at $250,000 only 28.4% disclose a fee you can price at all, and the weighted median annual cost among those that do is $2,000 to $2,500. The full benchmark, with method.