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Updated September 18, 2026. Quick answer: $10,000 for Consulting Group Advisor (CGA). Morgan Stanley’s own Form ADV Part 2A brochure states this figure directly, and the brochure does not offer a general waiver for it. At that minimum, Morgan Stanley’s own published fee schedule works out to $203.50 a year.
The minimum, in the firm’s own words
“Account Minimums. The CGA program generally has a minimum account size of $10,000.”
Minimum investment and what it would cost
| Program | Minimum investment | Annual fee at that minimum | Waivable? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Consulting Group Advisor (CGA) | $10,000 | $203.50 | No stated waiver |
| Source: Morgan Stanley Consulting Group Advisor (CGA) Program Wrap Fee Brochure, Form ADV Part 2A Appendix 1, March 30, 2026 | |||
Applies the disclosed 2.035% flat ceiling (2.00% MSWM Fee + 0.035% Platform Fee) to the $10,000 minimum.
Morgan Stanley’s own fee schedule at other balances
| Account balance | Annual fee |
|---|---|
| $250,000 | $5,088 |
| $500,000 | $10,175 |
| $1,000,000 | $20,350 |
| $2,000,000 | $40,700 |
What a larger account would cost
The minimum is only the entry point. On a $500,000 account, Morgan Stanley’s own published fee schedule runs up to $10,175 a year (the sum of the firm’s published maximum fee components); see the full dollar breakdown from Morgan Stanley’s 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 Morgan Stanley, or read the general mechanics of switching financial advisors.
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- Morgan Stanley Consulting Group Advisor (CGA) Program Wrap Fee Brochure, Form ADV Part 2A Appendix 1 (March 30, 2026): https://www.morganstanley.com/wealth-investmentsolutions/wrapfeebrochures
- 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 18, 2026, quoting directly from Morgan Stanley’s 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 Morgan Stanley review, including its fiduciary status and what it costs to leave.
Comparing Morgan Stanley against other options? See Morgan Stanley alternatives, including a lower-fee full-service firm, a flat-fee route, and a robo/hybrid.
How much do you need to open an account? Compare the minimum investment at 128 advisory firms, each taken from the firm’s own Form ADV Part 2A brochure.