Guides › Financial Advisor Fees
Updated October 3, 2026. Quick answer: Morgan Stanley has the lower published fee at $500,000: up to $10,175 a year (the sum of the firm’s published maximum fee components), versus $13,750 a year for Voya 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 | Morgan Stanley (annual fee) | Voya Financial Advisors (annual fee) |
|---|---|---|
| $250,000 | Up to $5,088 | $6,875 |
| $500,000 | Up to $10,175 | $13,750 |
| $1,000,000 | Up to $20,350 | $26,250 |
| $2,000,000 | Up to $40,700 | $49,750 |
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); Voya Financial Advisors discloses a tiered schedule starting at 2.75% (Voya Financial Advisors, Inc. Part 2A Appendix 1 of Form ADV: Investor Center Wrap Fee Program Brochure (IC UMA Program), September 16, 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.
Voya Financial Advisors (Voya Financial Advisors, Inc. Part 2A Appendix 1 of Form ADV: Investor Center Wrap Fee Program Brochure (IC UMA Program), September 16, 2026): “Maximum Annual Total Client Fee Portfolio Value From To Annual Total Client Fee First $ 0-$ 250,000 2.75% Next $ 250,001-$ 500,000 2.75% Next $ 500,001-$ 1,000,000 2.50% Next $ 1,000,001-$ 2,000,000 2.35% Next $ 2,000,001-$ 5,000,000 2.10% Next $ 5,000,001-$ 10,000,000 2.05% Next $10,000,001 and over 2.00%”
Marginal/tiered schedule from VFA’s IC UMA Program wrap brochure table: each dollar band is billed only at its own rate (matching the Cambridge/industry convention for ‘Tiered Fee Structure’ presentation with First/Next bands). The dollar figures in the table apply the schedule’s rates to each balance.
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 up to $10,175 a year (the published maximum) and Voya Financial Advisors runs $13,750 a year: a difference of $3,575 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 Voya Financial Advisors 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.
Morgan Stanley runs up to $10,175 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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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
- Voya Financial Advisors, Inc. Part 2A Appendix 1 of Form ADV: Investor Center Wrap Fee Program Brochure (IC UMA Program) (September 16, 2026): https://files.adviserinfo.sec.gov/IAPD/Content/Common/crd_iapd_Brochure.aspx?BRCHR_VRSN_ID=1058134
- SEC Investment Adviser Public Disclosure, Voya Financial Advisors, Inc. (CRD #2882): https://adviserinfo.sec.gov/firm/summary/2882
Methodology. This page was built October 3, 2026, re-pairing figures already archived and independently verified for Morgan Stanley and Voya Financial 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.