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Updated September 23, 2026. Quick answer: $500 for Core Portfolios Program (branded “E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley”). E*TRADE Core Portfolios’ own Form ADV Part 2A brochure states this figure directly, though the firm reserves some discretion to adjust it. At that minimum, E*TRADE Core Portfolios’ own published fee schedule works out to $1.50 a year.
The minimum, in the firm’s own words
“Account minimums. To participate in the Program, you must maintain a minimum investment amount of $500 for the life of the account, except as may otherwise be agreed to by MSWM at our … sole discretion. Your account will not be actively managed until the account balance meets this minimum investment amount. If withdrawals cause the account value to fall below $450, we will require that you deposit additional cash into your account to reach the $500 minimum.”
On waivability: “you must maintain a minimum investment amount of $500 for the life of the account, except as may otherwise be agreed to by MSWM at our … sole discretion”
Minimum investment and what it would cost
| Program | Minimum investment | Annual fee at that minimum | Waivable? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Core Portfolios Program (branded “E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley”) | $500 | $1.50 | Partially, at the firm’s discretion |
| Source: Form ADV Wrap Fee Program Brochure, Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC, Core Portfolios(R) Program, March 30, 2026 | |||
$500 at Core Portfolios’ disclosed 0.30% flat rate: $500 x 0.30% = $1.50.
E*TRADE Core Portfolios’ own fee schedule at other balances
| Account balance | Annual fee |
|---|---|
| $250,000 | $750 |
| $500,000 | $1,500 |
| $1,000,000 | $3,000 |
| $2,000,000 | $6,000 |
What else to know
E*TRADE Core Portfolios’ $500 minimum must be maintained for the life of the account; the account is not actively managed if the balance falls below it, and a drop under $450 triggers a required top-up back to $500.
What a larger account would cost
The minimum is only the entry point. On a $500,000 account, E*TRADE Core Portfolios’ own published fee schedule runs $1,500 a year; see the full dollar breakdown from E*TRADE Core Portfolios’ 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? See what it costs to leave E*TRADE Core Portfolios, or read the general mechanics of switching financial advisors.
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- Form ADV Wrap Fee Program Brochure, Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC, Core Portfolios(R) Program (March 30, 2026): https://www.morganstanley.com/content/dam/msdotcom/en/wealth-investmentsolutions/pdfs/adv/ms_core_adv2.pdf
- SEC Investment Adviser Public Disclosure, Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC (CRD #149777): https://adviserinfo.sec.gov/firm/summary/149777
- Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC, SEC Form ADV filing: https://reports.adviserinfo.sec.gov/reports/ADV/149777/PDF/149777.pdf
Methodology. This page was built September 23, 2026, quoting directly from E*TRADE Core Portfolios’ 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.
Weighing whether to move ahead? Read the full E*TRADE Core Portfolios review, including its fiduciary status and what it costs to leave.