Clear Money Guide
What this guide covers
A quick view of the questions and evidence developed below.
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Updated July 7, 2026. Quick answer (2026): Financial advisor fees by portfolio size change quickly once you convert percentages into annual dollars. A 1.00% AUM quote is about $5,000/year on $500k, $10,000/year on $1 million, $20,000/year on $2 million, and $30,000/year on $3 million before fund, platform, overlay, trading, tax-prep, or implementation costs.
Use this page as the $500k, $1M, $2M, $3M portfolio-size route before an intro call. Start with your balance, convert every quote into annual dollars, then compare written scope, fiduciary status, tax coordination, investment implementation, meeting cadence, and what becomes hourly or out-of-scope.
Portfolio-size shortcuts
- Financial advisor fees for a $500k portfolio
- Financial advisor fees for a $1 million portfolio
- Financial advisor fees for a $2 million portfolio
- Financial advisor fees for a $3 million portfolio
- AUM fees by balance
- Financial advisor fee calculator
- Financial advisor fee comparison chart
Advisor fee cost by portfolio size
| Portfolio size | 1.00% AUM | 0.75% AUM | 0.50% AUM | Flat-fee comparison prompt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $500,000 | $5,000/year | $3,750/year | $2,500/year | Ask whether a flat annual or hourly/project quote includes planning, implementation, and review meetings. |
| $1,000,000 | $10,000/year | $7,500/year | $5,000/year | Compare AUM against flat annual planning, tax coordination, retirement income, and portfolio implementation. |
| $2,000,000 | $20,000/year | $15,000/year | $10,000/year | Ask for breakpoints, all-in investment costs, household planning scope, and who does the work. |
| $3,000,000 | $30,000/year | $22,500/year | $15,000/year | Pressure-test tax strategy, estate coordination, concentrated stock, charitable planning, and implementation help. |
Compare fee models in annual dollars
- AUM percentage: easy to quote, but the dollar cost rises automatically with portfolio balance unless breakpoints reduce the effective rate.
- Flat annual fee: one stated yearly dollar amount for a defined planning and investment scope.
- Retainer: a monthly or quarterly planning fee that may or may not include investment management.
- Hourly or project: useful for narrower questions, second opinions, rollovers, tax-aware withdrawal maps, and one-time planning work.
- Robo or platform fee: can be cheaper, but usually offers less custom tax, retirement-income, estate, equity-comp, and implementation support.
Calculator line: run the same proposal through the Financial advisor fee calculator, then compare the long-term cost with the 10-year advisor fee comparison and the flat fee vs AUM break-even calculator.
Compare your next step
Just comparing fees? Keep reading the fee guide.Optional next step
Explore an adviser match
Compare the services and the full fee before deciding whether to hire anyone.
- No fee to request a match
- No obligation to hire
Expect questions about your situation, your name, email and phone, and phone verification by text. A match is not guaranteed.
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 may earn a referral payment through this service, whether or not you ever hire anyone. This is free to you and there is no obligation to hire anyone.
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How our partner relationships workCompare an adviser match before you decide
Ask about the full fee, what it covers and how the adviser is paid. A match is an introduction, not a recommendation from Clear Money Guide.
- Free matching service
- No obligation to hire
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. Advisers pay for the introduction. Clear Money Guide is paid when you complete the form, whether or not you ever hire anyone. There is no obligation to hire anyone.
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Source: WiserAdvisor’s service description5 questions to ask before choosing
- What is my all-in first-year cost in dollars, including planning, investment management, funds, platforms, trading, hourly work, and product compensation?
- Does this quote include retirement income, tax coordination, Social Security, Roth conversions, RMDs, Medicare/IRMAA, estate basics, charitable giving, and investment implementation?
- What fee breakpoints apply as the portfolio grows, and what is the effective annual rate in dollars?
- Would the same planning scope cost less under a flat annual, retainer, hourly/project, or robo-supported model?
- Are you acting as a fiduciary for the full relationship, including rollover, insurance, annuity, and investment recommendations?
AUM fee by balance route
Pair portfolio-size advisor fee examples with AUM fees explained and the balance-specific AUM guides for $500k, $1M, $2M, and $3M before comparing flat annual or hourly pricing.
Figures verified by recomputing every dollar amount from its stated balance and rate on September 30, 2026; the example rates are illustrative, and the WiserAdvisor $250,000 service floor was not re-checked.
Methodology
- We convert common AUM percentages into annual dollar amounts so readers can compare percentage, flat annual, retainer, hourly, project, and robo pricing side by side.
- We use simple portfolio examples for education; actual advisor quotes, fund costs, platform fees, tax-prep fees, and implementation costs vary.
- This page was materially reviewed on July 7, 2026. It does not rank advisors, sell directory placement, or claim that one fee model is best for every household.
Editorial standards: Editorial Policy
Before the fee comparison: Check how advisor minimum assets work, which accounts count, and whether a minimum annual fee changes the effective percentage at your portfolio size.
Larger than $3 million? The family continues upward: private wealth management fees covers $5M, $10M, and $25M+ schedules and retainers in dollars.