Guides › Financial Advisor Fees
Updated October 3, 2026. Quick answer: CAPTRUST has the lower published fee at $500,000: $6,250 a year, versus up to $10,175 a year (the sum of the firm’s published maximum fee components) for Morgan Stanley, 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 | CAPTRUST (annual fee) | Morgan Stanley (annual fee) |
|---|---|---|
| $250,000 | $3,125 | Up to $5,088 |
| $500,000 | $6,250 | Up to $10,175 |
| $1,000,000 | $12,500 | Up to $20,350 |
| $2,000,000 | $22,500 | Up to $40,700 |
CAPTRUST discloses a tiered schedule starting at 1.25% (CAPTRUST Financial Advisors Form ADV Part 2A, Wealth Client Brochure, March 27, 2026); Morgan Stanley discloses published fee components that sum to a maximum of 2.035% (Morgan Stanley Consulting Group Advisor (CGA) Program Wrap Fee Brochure, Form ADV Part 2A Appendix 1, March 30, 2026).
What the fee includes, in each firm’s own words
CAPTRUST (CAPTRUST Financial Advisors Form ADV Part 2A, Wealth Client Brochure, March 27, 2026): “Advisory fees, minimum account sizes, and services are negotiable and detailed in the advisory agreement. Advisory fees generally will be calculated as a percentage of total assets under management. Adviser’s standard fee schedule, effective January 1, 2026, is as follows: Annual Advisory Fees Assets Under $10 Million at Initial Funding First $1M at 1.25% Next $1M at 1.00% Next $3M at 0.85% Assets over $5M at .70%”
CAPTRUST’s standard fee schedule (effective January 1, 2026) is marginal/tiered like a tax bracket. The dollar figures in the table apply the schedule’s rates to each balance.
Morgan Stanley (Morgan Stanley Consulting Group Advisor (CGA) Program Wrap Fee Brochure, Form ADV Part 2A Appendix 1, March 30, 2026): “The maximum annual MSWM Fee for CGA accounts is 2.00% of the market value of the eligible assets in the account. … The Platform Fee is a 0.035% annual asset-based fee. The Platform Fee is in addition to the MSWM Fee, is non-negotiable and is generally applicable to all CGA accounts.” 2.00% maximum MSWM Fee plus a non-negotiable 0.035% Platform Fee.
Morgan Stanley discloses only a maximum negotiated rate for its flagship Consulting Group Advisor program, not a public breakpoint table; the figures above are the disclosed ceiling (2.035% combined) applied flat. Fees are stated as negotiable and often lower.
How this compares
Our benchmark of published adviser fee schedules puts the weighted median annual cost near $2,000 to $2,500 on $250,000 (the benchmark). At $500,000, CAPTRUST runs $6,250 a year and Morgan Stanley runs up to $10,175 a year (the published maximum): a difference of $3,925 a year between those figures at that balance.
Want the full breakdown for either firm on its own? Read the CAPTRUST fee page or the Morgan Stanley 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 Morgan Stanley, 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.
CAPTRUST runs $6,250 a year 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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Compare CAPTRUST and Morgan Stanley against a fee-based match.
Price the destination before you decide. The matching service below introduces you to advisers who pay to meet you.
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.
The Kapitalwise form opens here; you stay on this page.
What happens when you press the button
It asks about nine questions: age, investable assets, location; then your name, email and phone number, and verifies the phone by text. Nothing loads and nothing reaches Kapitalwise until you press the button.
Prefer flat-fee or hourly pricing instead? Compare ranges here.
Answer againSources
- CAPTRUST Financial Advisors Form ADV Part 2A, Wealth Client Brochure (March 27, 2026): https://www.captrust.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/2026-CAPTRUST-Form-2A-Wealth-Client-Brochure-FINAL.pdf
- SEC Investment Adviser Public Disclosure, CAPTRUST Financial Advisors (CRD #175112): https://adviserinfo.sec.gov/firm/summary/175112
- Morgan Stanley Consulting Group Advisor (CGA) Program Wrap Fee Brochure, Form ADV Part 2A Appendix 1 (March 30, 2026): https://files.adviserinfo.sec.gov/IAPD/Content/Common/crd_iapd_Brochure.aspx?BRCHR_VRSN_ID=1033575
- SEC Investment Adviser Public Disclosure, Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC (CRD #149777): https://adviserinfo.sec.gov/firm/summary/149777
Methodology. This page was built October 3, 2026, re-pairing figures already archived and independently verified for CAPTRUST and Morgan Stanley 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.