Guides › Financial Advisor Fees
Updated September 19, 2026. Quick answer: Creative Planning is less expensive at $500,000: $6,000 a year, versus $12,500 a year for Carson Wealth, computed from each firm’s own SEC-filed fee disclosure. 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 | Carson Wealth (annual fee) | Creative Planning (annual fee) |
|---|---|---|
| $250,000 | $6,250 | $3,000 |
| $500,000 | $12,500 | $6,000 |
| $1,000,000 | $25,000 | $11,000 |
| $2,000,000 | $50,000 | $21,000 |
Carson Wealth discloses a maximum, individually negotiated rate of 2.5% (CWM, LLC Form ADV Part 2A Brochure, December 2025); Creative Planning discloses a tiered schedule starting at 1.20% (Creative Planning, LLC Form ADV Part 2A, March 31, 2026).
What the fee includes, in each firm’s own words
Carson Wealth (CWM, LLC Form ADV Part 2A Brochure, December 2025): “The annual investment advisory fee charged range up to a maximum of 2.50% of the assets held in the account.”
CWM, LLC (the SEC-registered adviser behind the Carson Wealth brand) discloses a single ceiling rate of 2.50% per year rather than a dollar-breakpoint table. Fees are individually negotiated based on advisor, account size, complexity, and other factors, and are typically lower than the ceiling for larger accounts. The dollar figures apply the disclosed 2.50% maximum as a flat rate to each balance (balance x 0.025), which represents a worst-case/ceiling estimate, not a guaranteed quote.
Creative Planning (Creative Planning, LLC Form ADV Part 2A, March 31, 2026): “Annual Fee Calculation: 1.20% on the first $500,000, then 1.00% on assets of $500,001-$2,000,000, then .85% on assets of $2,000,001-$5,000,000, then .80% on assets of $5,000,001-$10,000,000, then .70% on assets of $10,000,001-$25,000,000.”
Clients under $200,000 in assets generally are not eligible for standard individual service; the schedule shown is Creative Planning’s standard individual/HNW fee calculation.
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, Carson Wealth runs $12,500 a year and Creative Planning runs $6,000 a year: a difference of $6,500 a year at that balance.
Want the full breakdown for either firm on its own? Read the Carson Wealth fee page or the Creative Planning fee page for the complete tier table and source citations.
Comparing these two against a full move? Read the general mechanics of switching financial advisors, or use a dated termination letter once you decide.
Compare your next step
Just comparing fees? Keep reading the fee guide.Optional next step
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Source: WiserAdvisor’s service descriptionSources
- CWM, LLC Form ADV Part 2A Brochure (December 2025): https://carsonhub.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/CWM-LLC-ADV-Part-2A-December-2025.pdf
- SEC Investment Adviser Public Disclosure, CWM, LLC (CRD #155344): https://adviserinfo.sec.gov/firm/summary/155344
- Creative Planning, LLC Form ADV Part 2A (March 31, 2026): https://creativeplanning.com/wp-content/uploads/Creative-Planning-Form-ADV-Part-2A.pdf
- SEC Investment Adviser Public Disclosure, Creative Planning, LLC (CRD #105348): https://adviserinfo.sec.gov/firm/summary/105348
Methodology. This page was built September 19, 2026, re-pairing figures already archived and independently verified for Carson Wealth and Creative Planning 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.
Weighing a move away from either firm? How to leave Carson Wealth and How to leave Creative Planning each cover what it costs to transfer out.