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Cetera Minimum Investment (2026): What It Takes to Open an Account

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Updated September 18, 2026. Quick answer: $25,000 for Preferred Asset Management Program. Cetera’s own Form ADV Part 2A brochure states this figure directly, though the firm can waive or reduce it at its own discretion. At that minimum, Cetera’s own published fee schedule works out to $625 a year.

The minimum, in the firm’s own words

“In general, We require a minimum deposit of $25,000 to open a Preferred, Prime, or Premier account. Your opening balance can include both cash and securities.”

On waivability: “Depending on a number of factors, We can waive the minimum required balance.”

Minimum investment and what it would cost

ProgramMinimum investmentAnnual fee at that minimumWaivable?
Preferred Asset Management Program$25,000$625Yes, at the firm’s discretion
Source: Cetera Investment Advisers LLC Form ADV Part 2A Brochure, August 12, 2026

$25,000 sits entirely inside Cetera’s first marginal tier (First $0 to $250,000 at 2.50%): $25,000 x 2.50% = $625.

Cetera’s own fee schedule at other balances

Account balanceAnnual fee
$250,000$6,250
$500,000$11,875
$1,000,000$20,625
$2,000,000$35,625

What a larger account would cost

The minimum is only the entry point. On a $500,000 account, Cetera’s own published fee schedule runs $11,875 a year; see the full dollar breakdown from Cetera’s own fee disclosure across several account sizes.

Already a client and thinking about the minimum a different way, like whether you could get a better deal elsewhere? Read the general mechanics of switching financial advisors, or use a dated termination letter once you decide.

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Sources

Methodology. This page was built September 18, 2026, quoting directly from Cetera’s own current Form ADV Part 2A / wrap-fee brochure, with the source linked above. The annual-fee-at-the-minimum figure applies that same brochure’s own published fee schedule to the disclosed minimum dollar amount; any distinction we could not independently confirm this session is named as an honest gap rather than presented as verified. Nothing here is personalized financial, tax, legal, or investment advice, and it is not a substitute for reading the firm’s own Form ADV Part 2A. See our Editorial Policy, Corrections, Affiliate Disclosure, and Disclaimer.

Comparing Cetera against other options? See Cetera alternatives, including a lower-fee full-service firm, a flat-fee route, and a robo/hybrid.

How much do you need to open an account? Compare the minimum investment at 128 advisory firms, each taken from the firm’s own Form ADV Part 2A brochure.