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 Mariner Wealth Advisors, 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 | Creative Planning (annual fee) | Mariner Wealth Advisors (annual fee) |
|---|---|---|
| $250,000 | $3,000 | $6,250 |
| $500,000 | $6,000 | $12,500 |
| $1,000,000 | $11,000 | $25,000 |
| $2,000,000 | $21,000 | $50,000 |
Creative Planning discloses a tiered schedule starting at 1.20% (Creative Planning, LLC Form ADV Part 2A, March 31, 2026); Mariner Wealth Advisors discloses a maximum, individually negotiated rate of 2.5% (Mariner, LLC (d/b/a Mariner Wealth Advisors) Form ADV Part 2A Brochure, March 30, 2023).
What the fee includes, in each firm’s own words
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.
Mariner Wealth Advisors (Mariner, LLC (d/b/a Mariner Wealth Advisors) Form ADV Part 2A Brochure, March 30, 2023): “The structure and level of our advisory fee will vary by client based upon the services provided and other considerations deemed relevant by us, but typically takes the form of a percentage of assets under management and/or advisement, ranging up to 2.50% per annum. … All fee arrangements are subject to negotiation.”
Mariner does not publish a dollar-breakpoint fee table; its Form ADV states a single ceiling of ‘ranging up to 2.50% per annum,’ individually negotiated per client. The dollar figures apply the disclosed 2.50% ceiling as a flat rate to each balance (balance x 0.025); an actual negotiated rate is very likely lower, especially at higher balances. Note on currency: this is the combined CRS/ADV Part 2A/Privacy document currently live at Mariner’s own published URL; its internal revision date, stated on the cover page, is March 30, 2023 – no more recent public version of Mariner, LLC’s firm-level Part 2A brochure (as opposed to smaller affiliated entities like Mariner Institutional or Mariner Platform Solutions) could be located.
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, Creative Planning runs $6,000 a year and Mariner Wealth Advisors runs $12,500 a year: a difference of $6,500 a year at that balance.
Want the full breakdown for either firm on its own? Read the Creative Planning fee page or the Mariner Wealth Advisors 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.
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- 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
- Mariner, LLC (d/b/a Mariner Wealth Advisors) Form ADV Part 2A Brochure (March 30, 2023): https://www.marinerwealthadvisors.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/MWA-CRS-ADV-PART-2A-PRIVACY.pdf
- SEC Investment Adviser Public Disclosure, Mariner, LLC d/b/a Mariner Wealth Advisors (CRD #140195): https://adviserinfo.sec.gov/firm/summary/140195
Methodology. This page was built September 19, 2026, re-pairing figures already archived and independently verified for Creative Planning and Mariner Wealth Advisors 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.
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