Clear Money Guide
What this guide covers
A quick view of the questions and evidence developed below.
Comparison tables scroll horizontally on smaller screens.
Updated July 7, 2026. Quick answer (2026): AUM fees at $2M are about $20,000/year at 1.00%, $15,000/year at 0.75%, and $10,000/year at 0.50% before fund, platform, overlay, trading, tax-prep, or implementation costs. At this balance, fee breakpoints and flat-fee alternatives can change the cost by thousands per year.
AUM fees at $2M table
| AUM rate | Annual advisor fee | Ask before accepting |
|---|---|---|
| 1.00% | $20,000/year | Are breakpoints, household billing, or caps available? |
| 0.75% | $15,000/year | What tax, estate, charitable, and implementation work is included? |
| 0.50% | $10,000/year | Is the lower cost tied to a narrower service model? |
Compare nearby balances: AUM fees at $500k, AUM fees at $1M, AUM fees at $3M, and financial advisor fees for a $2 million portfolio.
At $2M, ask about breakpoints
- A 0.25 percentage-point difference equals about $5,000/year on a $2M portfolio.
- Confirm whether the advisor charges on the full balance or uses tiered breakpoints.
- Compare AUM against flat annual, retainer, hourly, and project quotes for the same planning scope.
Methodology
- We convert common AUM rates into annual dollar amounts for a $2,000,000 portfolio.
- We compare AUM with flat annual, hourly, project, retainer, and robo-supported alternatives by scope and cost.
- This page was materially reviewed on July 7, 2026. It is educational, not personalized financial, tax, legal, or investment advice.
Editorial standards: Editorial Policy
What firms actually disclose at this balance. In our own benchmark of published adviser fee schedules, the weighted median annual cost at $2,000,000 is $16,000 to $19,375, taken from the Form ADV Part 2A filings of 176 SEC-registered advisers. The full benchmark, with method.