Guides › Financial Advisor Fees
Updated September 17, 2026. Quick answer: Fidelity is less expensive at $500,000: $6,250 a year, versus $10,175 a year for Morgan Stanley, 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.
Jump to: compare your next step by portfolio size.
What each firm charges, side by side
| Account balance | Morgan Stanley (annual fee) | Fidelity (annual fee) |
|---|---|---|
| $250,000 | $5,088 | $3,750 |
| $500,000 | $10,175 | $6,250 |
| $1,000,000 | $20,350 | $11,750 |
| $2,000,000 | $40,700 | $20,750 |
Morgan Stanley discloses a maximum, individually negotiated rate of 2.035% (Morgan Stanley Consulting Group Advisor (CGA) Program Wrap Fee Brochure, Form ADV Part 2A Appendix 1, March 30, 2026); Fidelity discloses a tiered schedule starting at 1.50% (capped at $6,250) (Fidelity Wealth Services Form ADV Part 2A Brochure (Strategic Advisers LLC), March 30, 2026).
What the fee includes, in each firm’s own words
Morgan Stanley (Morgan Stanley Consulting Group Advisor (CGA) Program Wrap Fee Brochure, Form ADV Part 2A Appendix 1, March 30, 2026): “The maximum annual MSWM Fee for CGA accounts is 2.00% of the market value of the eligible assets in the account. … The Platform Fee is a 0.035% annual asset-based fee. The Platform Fee is in addition to the MSWM Fee, is non-negotiable and is generally applicable to all CGA accounts.” 2.00% maximum MSWM Fee plus a non-negotiable 0.035% Platform Fee.
Morgan Stanley discloses only a maximum negotiated rate for its flagship Consulting Group Advisor program, not a public breakpoint table; the figures above are the disclosed ceiling (2.035% combined) applied flat. Fees are stated as negotiable and often lower.
Fidelity Wealth Management (Fidelity Wealth Services Form ADV Part 2A Brochure (Strategic Advisers LLC), March 30, 2026): “ANNUAL ADVISORY FEE SCHEDULE FOR PROGRAM ACCOUNTS: Wealth Management and Private Wealth Management. If Average Daily Assets total $500,000 or less: For Average Daily Assets from $0 to $500,000, 1.50% (up to a maximum of $6,250). If Average Daily Assets total more than $500,000: For the first $500,000, 1.25%; for the next $500,000, 1.10%; for the next $1,000,000, 0.90%.”
This is the Gross Advisory Fee; Fidelity applies a Credit Amount that can lower the Net Advisory Fee a client actually pays, which is not quantified in the public schedule.
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, Morgan Stanley runs $10,175 a year and Fidelity runs $6,250 a year: a difference of $3,925 a year at that balance.
Want the full breakdown for either firm on its own? Read the Morgan Stanley fee page or the Fidelity 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 Morgan Stanley or what it costs to leave Fidelity, or read the general mechanics of switching financial advisors.
Compare your next step
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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
- Fidelity Wealth Services Form ADV Part 2A Brochure (Strategic Advisers LLC) (March 30, 2026): https://www.fidelity.com/bin-public/060_www_fidelity_com/documents/FWS-program-fundamentals.pdf
- SEC Investment Adviser Public Disclosure, Strategic Advisers LLC (CRD #104555): https://adviserinfo.sec.gov/firm/summary/104555
Methodology. This page was built September 17, 2026, re-pairing figures already archived and independently verified for Morgan Stanley and Fidelity 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.
Weighing whether to move ahead? Read the full Fidelity Wealth Management review, including its fiduciary status and what it costs to leave.
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