Guides › Financial Advisor Fees
Updated October 3, 2026. Quick answer: Primerica has the lower published fee at $500,000: $8,550 a year, versus up to $11,250 a year (the published maximum, which the firm says is negotiable) for Cambridge Investment Research, 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 | Cambridge Investment Research (annual fee) | Primerica (annual fee) |
|---|---|---|
| $250,000 | Up to $5,625 | $4,350 |
| $500,000 | Up to $11,250 | $8,550 |
| $1,000,000 | Up to $22,500 | $15,200 |
| $2,000,000 | Up to $45,000 | $27,600 |
Cambridge Investment Research discloses a published maximum rate of 2.25%, which the firm says is negotiable (Cambridge Investment Research Advisors, Inc. Form ADV Part 2A Disclosure Brochure, July 2026); Primerica discloses a tiered schedule starting at 1.25% advisory + 0.49% program = 1.74% (PFS Investments Inc. (Primerica Advisors) Wrap Fee Program Brochure, Form ADV Part 2A Appendix 1, March 30, 2026).
What the fee includes, in each firm’s own words
Cambridge Investment Research (Cambridge Investment Research Advisors, Inc. Form ADV Part 2A Disclosure Brochure, July 2026): “The investment advisory fee for accounts managed through the Cambridge Managed Account Platform (“CMAP”) is based on the amount of assets under management, including cash balances deposited in a Federal Deposit Insured Corporation (“FDIC”) insured multi bank program (“Program”). … The investment advisory fee is negotiable and is subject to discounts on a Financial Professional-by-Financial Professional, client-by-client, or account-by-account basis. … The maximum allowable advisory fee that can be charged will not exceed 2.25% of assets under management on an annual basis.” Maximum annual advisory fee (Cambridge Managed Account Platform, Flexible Managed Account Platform, WealthPort Advisor-directed / Team-directed): 2.25%; Maximum annual advisory fee (WealthPort CAAP / UMA programs): 2.15%.
CIRA’s Form ADV does not publish one fixed rate schedule. Advisory fees on its primary managed-account platforms (CMAP, FlexMAP, WealthPort Advisor-directed/Team-directed) are individually negotiated between the client and Financial Professional, subject to a disclosed maximum of 2.25% of AUM annually (WealthPort CAAP/UMA caps at 2.15%). The dollar figures on this page apply that 2.25% maximum to each balance, as the most a client could be charged. Actual fees are typically lower and individually negotiated per client/advisor.
Primerica (PFS Investments Inc. (Primerica Advisors) Wrap Fee Program Brochure, Form ADV Part 2A Appendix 1, March 30, 2026): “Advisory fee (Maximum), Account Value: $250,000 or less, 1.25%; $250,000.01-$500,000, 1.25%; $500,000.01-$1,000,000, 1.10%; $1,000,000.01-$3,000,000, 1.00%. Program fee, Account Value: $250,000 or less, 0.49%; $250,000.01-$500,000, 0.46%; $500,000.01-$1,000,000, 0.42%; $1,000,000.01-$3,000,000, 0.38%.”
Primerica Advisors is a breakpoint schedule: only the rate for your bracket applies, to the whole balance. This covers PFS Investments’ Lifetime Investment Program specifically, not Primerica’s much larger commission-based insurance and mutual fund business. An additional Asset Manager fee (0.00% to 0.50%, depending on the model selected) can apply on top.
How this compares
The median ria charges roughly 1.0% of assets under management annually (the benchmark). At $500,000, Cambridge Investment Research runs up to $11,250 a year (the published maximum) and Primerica runs $8,550 a year: a difference of $2,700 a year between those figures at that balance.
Want the full breakdown for either firm on its own? Read the Cambridge Investment Research fee page or the Primerica 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 Primerica, or read the general mechanics of switching financial advisors.
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Primerica runs $8,550 a year at $500,000. See what else is available.
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Answer againSources
- Cambridge Investment Research Advisors, Inc. Form ADV Part 2A Disclosure Brochure (July 2026): https://files.adviserinfo.sec.gov/IAPD/Content/Common/crd_iapd_Brochure.aspx?BRCHR_VRSN_ID=1055573
- SEC Investment Adviser Public Disclosure, Cambridge Investment Research Advisors, Inc. (CRD #134139): https://adviserinfo.sec.gov/firm/summary/134139
- PFS Investments Inc. (Primerica Advisors) Wrap Fee Program Brochure, Form ADV Part 2A Appendix 1 (March 30, 2026): https://www.primerica.com/public/pdf/PFSI-PriAdvForADVWraFeeProBro.pdf
- SEC Investment Adviser Public Disclosure, PFS Investments Inc. (Primerica Advisors) (CRD #10111): https://adviserinfo.sec.gov/firm/summary/10111
Methodology. This page was built October 3, 2026, re-pairing figures already archived and independently verified for Cambridge Investment Research and Primerica 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.