Is 1% wealth management fee worth it?
But, if you're already working with an advisor, the simplest way to determine whether a 1% fee is reasonable may be to look at what they've helped you accomplish. For example, if they've consistently helped you to earn a 12% return in your portfolio for five years running, then 1% may be a bargain.
Many financial advisers charge based on how much money they manage on your behalf, and 1% of your total assets under management is a pretty standard fee.
If you have $1 million worth of investments, a 1% fee comes out to $10,000 per year. That may sound like a lot, but a good wealth manager can be well worth the cost, especially if you have substantial assets or a complicated financial situation.
Most of my research has shown people saying about 1% is normal. Answer: From a regulatory perspective, it's usually prohibited to ever charge more than 2%, so it's common to see fees range from as low as 0.25% all the way up to 2%, says certified financial planner Taylor Jessee at Impact Financial.
Many financial advisors use a fee structure called an AUM fee, or a percentage of assets under management. That fee is most commonly 1% per year, though there are plenty of services (like robo-advisors) that charge substantially less.
While 1.5% is on the higher end for financial advisor services, if that's what it takes to get the returns you want then it's not overpaying, so to speak. Staying around 1% for your fee may be standard but it certainly isn't the high end. You need to decide what you're willing to pay for what you're receiving.
Generally, having between $50,000 and $500,000 of liquid assets to invest can be a good point to start looking at hiring a financial advisor. Some advisors have minimum asset thresholds. This could be a relatively low figure, like $25,000, but it could $500,000, $1 million or even more.
Financial Advisors and Wealth Advisors may be compensated in flat fees or a percentage of the asset value of the portfolio under management. A typical range for an annual percentage fee would be between 0.25% and 1.0% of invested assets.
Any minimums in terms of investable assets, net worth or other metrics will be set by individual wealth managers and their firms. That said, a minimum of $2 million to $5 million in assets is the range where it makes sense to consider the services of a wealth management firm.
Wealth management services aren't typically available for everyone. Due to the comprehensive nature of them, firms can require high minimums, such as $500,000 or $1 million. In fact, they may even charge additional fees to cover the costs of wealth management services, being that they're comprehensive.
Are Morgan Stanley fees too high?
At Morgan Stanley, or any big firm, 1% is a fairly common fee---and a fair one, in many cases--provided it covers all transaction costs and is the Advisors' sole compensation on the account [meaning that the client's interest should be the Advisor's only interest.]
| Billable Assets | Fee Schedule |
|---|---|
| First $1 million | 0.80% |
| Next $1 million (more than $1M up to $2M) | 0.75% |
| Next $3 million (more than $2M up to $5M) | 0.70% |
| Assets over $5 million | 0.30% |
Not everyone needs a financial advisor, especially since it's an additional cost. But having the extra help and advice can be paramount in reaching financial goals, especially if you're feeling stuck or unsure of how to get there.
Investments of $500,000 or more range from advisory fees of 0.5% to 1.5% per year. All accounts include access to a phone-based team of advisors, or a dedicated advisor for investments of $500,000 or more. Separately Managed Accounts – The minimum investment amount is $100,000. Advisory fees range from 0.2% to 1.5%.
The range of the markup that Merrill charges is between 0.50% – 2.00%, depending on the maturity of the MLI. A portion of the Merrill markup, which may be discounted by your Advisor, is paid to your Advisor as compensation.
They can only charge fees, and the most prevalent structure is the assets under management, or AUM, model. AUM fees are calculated as a percentage of the assets they manage and are payable as long as the advisor has a relationship with the client. These fees can be paid on a yearly, quarterly or monthly basis.
By working with a fiduciary, you can have peace of mind that the advice you're receiving is unbiased. Further, you can trust a fiduciary to make and execute investment decisions on your behalf.
Source: 2021 Fidelity Investor Insights Study. Furthermore, industry studies estimate that professional financial advice can add between 1.5% and 4% to portfolio returns over the long term, depending on the time period and how returns are calculated.
Of high-net-worth individuals, 70 percent work with a financial advisor.
The wealthy also trust and work with financial advisors at a far greater rate. The study found that 70% of millionaires versus 37% of the general population work with a financial advisor.
Do millionaires have financial advisors?
More than 8 in 10 of this wealthy cohort have a long-term financial plan – far higher than the 52% of average Americans – and 70% work with a financial advisor – almost double that of the general population.
Usually, advisors that charge a percentage will want to work with clients that have a minimum portfolio of about $100,000. This makes it worth their time and will allow them to make about $1,000 to 2,000 a year.
In the 18 years to 2021, the average real return for a Steady Growth portfolio was 4.4% per annum. However, the rate has fallen to 3.2% per annum over the past 20 years, underlining the negative impact of inflation. The last time real wealth took a major hit was at the height of the credit crunch in 2008.
Wealth management is one of the highest-paying financial advisor jobs. They work with high-net-worth individuals and families to manage their investments and assets. Plus, they provide personalized investment strategies and financial planning services to help clients achieve their long-term financial goals.
Some financial advisors are willing to work with just about anyone wanting financial advice or help with their money management. A wealth manager generally only works with high-net-worth individuals. Another important distinction is that wealth managers may not be regulated by an entity.
