Guides › Financial Advisor Fees
Updated September 19, 2026. Quick answer: SoFi Invest is less expensive at $500,000: $1,250 a year, versus $8,750 a year for Merrill Lynch, 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 | Merrill Lynch (annual fee) | SoFi Invest (annual fee) |
|---|---|---|
| $250,000 | $4,375 | $625 |
| $500,000 | $8,750 | $1,250 |
| $1,000,000 | $17,500 | $2,500 |
| $2,000,000 | $35,000 | $5,000 |
Merrill Lynch discloses a maximum, individually negotiated rate of 1.75% (Merrill Lynch Investment Advisory Program Brochure (Form ADV Part 2A Wrap Fee Program Brochure), June 26, 2026 (IAPB-062026)); SoFi Invest discloses a flat, non-negotiable rate of 0.25% (Form ADV Part 2A – SoFi Wealth LLC Brochure, 2026-03-27).
What the fee includes, in each firm’s own words
Merrill Lynch (Merrill Lynch Investment Advisory Program Brochure (Form ADV Part 2A Wrap Fee Program Brochure), June 26, 2026 (IAPB-062026)): “We have set the maximum Merrill Lynch Fee Rate for the Program at 1.75%. The Merrill Lynch Fee Rate is negotiable, meaning you and your Advisor may agree to a Merrill Lynch Fee Rate for an Account that is lower than 1.75%.”
Merrill Lynch does not publish a dollar-tiered breakpoint table for its flagship Investment Advisory Program (IAP); it publishes only a maximum, individually negotiated rate of 1.75%. The figures above apply that ceiling as a flat rate; your actual negotiated rate may be lower. If you select a discretionary Style Manager or PAS Manager strategy inside the Program, an additional manager fee (roughly 0.00% to 0.65% or more, depending on strategy) can apply on top of the 1.75% Merrill Lynch Fee.
SoFi Invest (Form ADV Part 2A – SoFi Wealth LLC Brochure, 2026-03-27): “Clients are charged an annual asset-based fee (the “wrap fee”) at the rate of 0.25% based on the value of each account enrolled in the program. This fee is non-negotiable.”
Flat, non-negotiable 0.25% annual wrap fee applied to the full account balance at any AUM level (SoFi Wealth’s automated/robo investing service, branded SoFi Invest, has no stated minimum or tiering in the fee schedule itself). Dollar figures = balance x 0.0025.
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, Merrill Lynch runs $8,750 a year and SoFi Invest runs $1,250 a year: a difference of $7,500 a year at that balance.
Want the full breakdown for either firm on its own? Read the Merrill Lynch fee page or the SoFi Invest fee page for the complete tier table and source citations.
Thinking about leaving one of these firms instead of pricing what you would pay to stay? See what it costs to leave Merrill Lynch, or read the general mechanics of switching financial advisors.
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- Merrill Lynch Investment Advisory Program Brochure (Form ADV Part 2A Wrap Fee Program Brochure) (June 26, 2026 (IAPB-062026)): https://www.ml.com/solutions/understanding-our-services-and-fees-when-you-work-with-an-advisor.html
- SEC Investment Adviser Public Disclosure, Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (CRD #7691): https://adviserinfo.sec.gov/firm/summary/7691
- Form ADV Part 2A – SoFi Wealth LLC Brochure (2026-03-27): https://files.adviserinfo.sec.gov/IAPD/Content/Common/crd_iapd_Brochure.aspx?BRCHR_VRSN_ID=1028153
- SEC Investment Adviser Public Disclosure, SoFi Wealth LLC (CRD #167958): https://adviserinfo.sec.gov/firm/summary/167958
Methodology. This page was built September 19, 2026, re-pairing figures already archived and independently verified for Merrill Lynch and SoFi Invest 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.