Guides › Financial Advisor Fees
Updated October 3, 2026. Quick answer: Mariner Wealth Advisors has the lower published fee at $500,000: up to $12,500 a year (the published maximum, which the firm says is negotiable), versus up to $15,000 a year (the published maximum) for Lincoln Financial Advisors, computed from each firm’s own SEC-filed fee disclosure. Where a firm publishes only a maximum rate, the figure shown is that maximum, and what you pay may be lower. 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 | Lincoln Financial Advisors (annual fee) | Mariner Wealth Advisors (annual fee) |
|---|---|---|
| $250,000 | Up to $7,500 | Up to $6,250 |
| $500,000 | Up to $15,000 | Up to $12,500 |
| $1,000,000 | Up to $30,000 | Up to $25,000 |
| $2,000,000 | Up to $60,000 | Up to $50,000 |
Lincoln Financial Advisors discloses a published maximum rate of 3.0% (Osaic FA, Inc. Premier Series Wealth Management Program, Form ADV Part 2A, Appendix 1 (Wrap Fee Program Brochure), October 1, 2024); Mariner Wealth Advisors discloses a published maximum rate of 2.5%, which the firm says is negotiable (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
Lincoln Financial Advisors (Osaic FA, Inc. Premier Series Wealth Management Program, Form ADV Part 2A, Appendix 1 (Wrap Fee Program Brochure), October 1, 2024): “OFA updated this Brochure and Items 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 to reflect the fact that Lincoln Financial Advisors Corporation has rebranded and changed its name to Osaic FA, Inc. effective June 6, 2024. … Prior to the rebrand and name change effective June 6, 2024 as detailed above, Items 4, 6, and 9 of this Brochure were updated on May 28, 2024 as part of an interim updating amendment to reflect the fact that Lincoln Financial Advisors Corporation was acquired by Osaic Holdings, Inc. effective May 6, 2024. … The maximum annual program fee in Premier is 3.00% of the client’s assets under management.”
The October 2024 brochure above is the last Premier Series brochure filed under CRD 3978 and is the source for the figures on this page. The dollar figures on this page apply that 3.0% maximum to each balance, as the most a client could be charged. Actual fees are typically lower and individually negotiated.
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; 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
The median ria charges roughly 1.0% of assets under management annually (the benchmark). At $500,000, Lincoln Financial Advisors runs up to $15,000 a year (the published maximum) and Mariner Wealth Advisors runs up to $12,500 a year (the published maximum): a difference of $2,500 a year between those figures at that balance.
Want the full breakdown for either firm on its own? Read the Lincoln Financial Advisors 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.
Find the right next step for your situation
About how much do you have invested? Pick the range that fits; your next step appears immediately below.
Mariner Wealth Advisors runs up to $12,500 a year (the published maximum) at $500,000. See what else is available.
If your portfolio is $250,000 or more, this connects you (free, with no obligation to hire anyone) with 2 to 3 vetted advisors.
Before you start, what actually happens. 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. Clear Money Guide is paid when you complete the form, whether or not you ever hire anyone.
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Price the destination before you decide. The matching service below introduces you to advisers who pay to meet you.
Before you start, what actually happens. 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 is paid when you submit the form, whether or not you ever hire anyone. This is free to you and there is no obligation to hire anyone.
The Kapitalwise form opens here; you stay on this page.
What happens when you press the button
It asks about nine questions: age, investable assets, location; then your name, email and phone number, and verifies the phone by text. Nothing loads and nothing reaches Kapitalwise until you press the button.
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Answer againSources
- Osaic FA, Inc. Premier Series Wealth Management Program, Form ADV Part 2A, Appendix 1 (Wrap Fee Program Brochure) (October 1, 2024): https://files.adviserinfo.sec.gov/IAPD/Content/Common/crd_iapd_Brochure.aspx?BRCHR_VRSN_ID=926535
- SEC Investment Adviser Public Disclosure, Osaic Advisory Services, LLC (CRD #171070): https://adviserinfo.sec.gov/firm/summary/171070
- Registration note: Lincoln Financial Advisors was renamed Osaic FA, Inc. (CRD 3978) after its 2024 acquisition by Osaic Holdings, and that SEC investment-adviser registration was terminated January 28, 2025. Its advisory business now sits under Osaic Advisory Services, LLC (CRD 171070), the entity cited here.
- 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 October 3, 2026, re-pairing figures already archived and independently verified for Lincoln Financial Advisors 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.