Guides › Financial Advisor Fees
Updated October 3, 2026. Quick answer: Savant Wealth Management has the lower published fee at $500,000: up to $7,500 a year (the published maximum), versus $10,000 a year for Baird, computed from each firm’s own SEC-filed fee disclosure. 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 | Baird (annual fee) | Savant Wealth Management (annual fee) |
|---|---|---|
| $250,000 | $5,000 | Up to $3,750 |
| $500,000 | $10,000 | Up to $7,500 |
| $1,000,000 | $20,000 | Up to $15,000 |
| $2,000,000 | $35,000 | Up to $30,000 |
Baird discloses a tiered schedule starting at 2.00% (Baird Private Wealth Management Wrap Fee Program Brochure, Form ADV Part 2A Appendix 1, March 27, 2026); Savant Wealth Management discloses a published maximum rate of 1.5% (Savant Wealth Management Form ADV Part 2A Firm Brochure, July 30, 2026).
What the fee includes, in each firm’s own words
Baird (Baird Private Wealth Management Wrap Fee Program Brochure, Form ADV Part 2A Appendix 1, March 27, 2026): “Baird generally offers two types of asset-based fee arrangements: a tiered fee schedule and a breakpoint fee schedule. Under a tiered fee schedule, the asset-based fee will vary for different segments of client assets, gradually decreasing as the Account balance increases. Tiered Advice Fee Schedule: First $1,000,000, 2.00%; Next $1,000,000, 1.50%; Next $3,000,000, 1.35%; Next $5,000,000, 1.25%; Above $10,000,000, 1.00%.”
This is Baird’s marginal (tiered) Advice Fee schedule, which applies across essentially all of Baird’s Private Wealth Management discretionary/advisory programs; each bracket’s rate applies only to the assets inside that bracket. Baird also publishes an alternative whole-balance Breakpoint Advice Fee Schedule (2.00% up to $1M, 1.75% from $1M to just under $2M, 1.50% at $2M and above) that a client and advisor may choose instead; this page uses the tiered version, the one named first in the brochure. For programs that layer on a separate Portfolio Fee (0.00% for several core programs, roughly 0.10% to 0.77% or more for SMA/UMA strategies), the total cost can run higher than the Advice Fee alone.
Savant Wealth Management (Savant Wealth Management Form ADV Part 2A Firm Brochure, July 30, 2026): “Our fees for comprehensive wealth management services range from an annualized rate of 0.50% to 1.50% based upon total assets under management and/or advisement and the complexity of the client services required and/or provided, and the market where the client is located.”
Savant discloses a range (0.50%-1.50%) rather than dollar breakpoints; where a given client lands in that range depends on AUM, service complexity, and location, none of which is further quantified in the brochure. To avoid understating cost, the dollar figures apply the top of the disclosed range (1.50%) as a flat ceiling rate to each balance; an individual client’s actual fee could be lower, especially at higher balances.
How this compares
The median ria charges roughly 1.0% of assets under management annually (the benchmark). At $500,000, Baird runs $10,000 a year and Savant Wealth Management runs up to $7,500 a year (the published maximum): a difference of $2,500 a year between those figures at that balance.
Want the full breakdown for either firm on its own? Read the Baird fee page or the Savant Wealth Management 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 Baird, or read the general mechanics of switching financial advisors.
Find the right next step for your situation
About how much do you have invested? Pick the range that fits; your next step appears immediately below.
Savant Wealth Management runs up to $7,500 a year (the published maximum) at $500,000. See what else is available.
If your portfolio is $250,000 or more, this connects you (free, with no obligation to hire anyone) with 2 to 3 vetted advisors.
Before you start, what actually happens. The matching service is run by WiserAdvisor, an independent advisor-matching company. It opens on their site, asks for your ZIP code and a few questions, and matches you with 2 to 3 vetted advisors. It is free to you.
WiserAdvisor states the service is built for portfolios of $250,000 and above. By submitting, you consent to emails, phone calls and text messages from WiserAdvisor and up to three advisors, so expect to be contacted. Clear Money Guide is paid when you complete the form, whether or not you ever hire anyone.
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Before you start, what actually happens. The form is run by Kapitalwise, our advisor-matching partner. Kapitalwise sends your details to advisers who pay for the introduction, so expect calls and texts. Clear Money Guide is paid when you submit the form, whether or not you ever hire anyone. This is free to you and there is no obligation to hire anyone.
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Answer againSources
- Baird Private Wealth Management Wrap Fee Program Brochure, Form ADV Part 2A Appendix 1 (March 27, 2026): https://www.bairdwealth.com/retailinvestor
- SEC Investment Adviser Public Disclosure, Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated (CRD #8158): https://adviserinfo.sec.gov/firm/summary/8158
- Savant Wealth Management Form ADV Part 2A Firm Brochure (July 30, 2026): https://savantwealth.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Savant-ADV-Part-2A-July-2026.pdf
- SEC Investment Adviser Public Disclosure, Savant Capital, LLC dba Savant Wealth Management (CRD #107271): https://adviserinfo.sec.gov/firm/summary/107271
Methodology. This page was built October 3, 2026, re-pairing figures already archived and independently verified for Baird and Savant Wealth Management 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.