Guides › Financial Advisor Fees
Updated October 3, 2026. Quick answer: Savant Wealth Management has the lower published fee at $500,000: up to $7,500 a year (the published maximum), versus up to $10,175 a year (the sum of the firm’s published maximum fee components) for Morgan Stanley, 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 | Morgan Stanley (annual fee) | Savant Wealth Management (annual fee) |
|---|---|---|
| $250,000 | Up to $5,088 | Up to $3,750 |
| $500,000 | Up to $10,175 | Up to $7,500 |
| $1,000,000 | Up to $20,350 | Up to $15,000 |
| $2,000,000 | Up to $40,700 | Up to $30,000 |
Morgan Stanley discloses published fee components that sum to a maximum of 2.035% (Morgan Stanley Consulting Group Advisor (CGA) Program Wrap Fee Brochure, Form ADV Part 2A Appendix 1, March 30, 2026); Savant Wealth Management discloses a published maximum rate of 1.5% (Savant Wealth Management Form ADV Part 2A Firm Brochure, July 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.
Savant Wealth Management (Savant Wealth Management Form ADV Part 2A Firm Brochure, July 30, 2026): “Our fees for comprehensive wealth management services range from an annualized rate of 0.50% to 1.50% based upon total assets under management and/or advisement and the complexity of the client services required and/or provided, and the market where the client is located.”
Savant discloses a range (0.50%-1.50%) rather than dollar breakpoints; where a given client lands in that range depends on AUM, service complexity, and location, none of which is further quantified in the brochure. To avoid understating cost, the dollar figures apply the top of the disclosed range (1.50%) as a flat ceiling rate to each balance; an individual client’s actual fee could be lower, especially at higher balances.
How this compares
The median ria charges roughly 1.0% of assets under management annually (the benchmark). At $500,000, Morgan Stanley runs up to $10,175 a year (the published maximum) and Savant Wealth Management runs up to $7,500 a year (the published maximum): a difference of $2,675 a year between those figures at that balance.
Want the full breakdown for either firm on its own? Read the Morgan Stanley fee page or the Savant Wealth Management 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 read the general mechanics of switching financial advisors.
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.
Savant Wealth Management runs up to $7,500 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.
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Answer againSources
- Morgan Stanley Consulting Group Advisor (CGA) Program Wrap Fee Brochure, Form ADV Part 2A Appendix 1 (March 30, 2026): https://files.adviserinfo.sec.gov/IAPD/Content/Common/crd_iapd_Brochure.aspx?BRCHR_VRSN_ID=1033575
- SEC Investment Adviser Public Disclosure, Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC (CRD #149777): https://adviserinfo.sec.gov/firm/summary/149777
- Savant Wealth Management Form ADV Part 2A Firm Brochure (July 30, 2026): https://savantwealth.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Savant-ADV-Part-2A-July-2026.pdf
- SEC Investment Adviser Public Disclosure, Savant Capital, LLC dba Savant Wealth Management (CRD #107271): https://adviserinfo.sec.gov/firm/summary/107271
Methodology. This page was built October 3, 2026, re-pairing figures already archived and independently verified for Morgan Stanley and Savant Wealth Management 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.