Is 2% high for a financial advisor?
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.
Without knowing the full scope of services delivered by the advisor, 2% may be too expensive for a portfolio of your size and for a relationship in which tax advice is not provided. This immediate, high-level evaluation is based on benchmarks for typical advisory fees, which we'll dive into shortly.
An AdvisoryHQ study averaged the past three years of wealth management fees across the U.S. and found that, for a client with $1 million in assets, the average AUM fee is 1.02%. A 1% AUM fee means that a client will pay an annual fee of $10,000 to work with an advisor on an investment portfolio of $1 million.
The short answer is yes. Ken Robinson, certified financial planner at Practical Financial Planning, says while a 1% fee may be common, advisers who charge based on AUM are increasingly scaling down from 1% at lower thresholds in the past. But if you get a lot of service, the 1% fee isn't always a bad thing.
Many may ask “Is 1.5% too much?” and the answer is that it depends. 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.
Schwab Wealth Advisory™
Fees start at 0.80% and the fee rate decreases at higher asset levels. Call us at 866-645-4124 or find a local Financial Consultant to speak with.
The short answer is that they could be, depending on how an advisory firm structures its fees. There's no guarantee that negotiating will work, though there are other things you might be able to do to save money when hiring a financial advisor.
Focus on the Vital Few
The Pareto Principle emphasizes that 20% of your efforts generate 80% of your results. Therefore, identify the 20% of your expenses or investments that bring 80% of your wealth growth, and cut down on non-essential expenses to maximize savings.
A high-net-worth individual (HNWI) is someone with liquid assets of at least $1 million. These individuals often seek the assistance of financial professionals to manage their money, and their high net worth qualifies them for additional benefits and investing opportunities that are closed to most.
Investors who work with an advisor are generally more confident about reaching their goals. 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.
What financial advisors don t tell you?
- "I offer a guaranteed rate of return."
- "Performance is the only thing that matters."
- "This investment product is risk-free. ...
- "Don't worry about how you're invested. ...
- "I know my pay structure is confusing; just trust me that it's fair."
Many, but not all, registered investment advisors use an independent firm as their custodian. This means they don't take actual possession of your money. The investment manager may have the discretion to buy or sell securities and in what quantity for your account, but the custodian holds the assets.
Those who use financial advisors typically get higher returns and more integrated planning, including tax management, retirement planning and estate planning. Self-investors, on the other hand, save on advisor fees and get the self-satisfaction of learning about investing and making their own decisions.
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. Moreover, 53% of wealthy people consider advisors to be their most trusted source of financial advice.
But when you're looking for financial advice, then having a fiduciary on your side can help you get the expertise and direction that's best for your situation, making it a better fit than a financial advisor who is not a fiduciary.
Financial advisors typically charge a fixed-rate fee between $7,500 and $55,000, or a percentage-based rate of 1.02% of assets under management (AUM) for ongoing portfolio management for $1 million is assets, according to a 2023 report by Advisory HQ.
Overall Appeal. Fidelity and Schwab are both excellent choices. These investment firms offer thousands of funds. There are some nuances, such as Fidelity being better for crypto traders and Schwab being more optimal for futures traders.
Advisory fees range from 0.2% to 1.5%. Fees depend on the type of targeted-fund strategy. The fee includes the financial advisor and specific investment strategies. Wealth Management – This service offers personal planning, advice and investment management with a dedicated financial advisor.
"High-net-worth" is defined as having $5 million or more in assets.
- Top financial advisor firms.
- Vanguard.
- Charles Schwab.
- Fidelity Investments.
- Facet.
- J.P. Morgan Private Client Advisor.
- Edward Jones.
- Alternative option: Robo-advisors.
How do I cancel my financial advisor fees?
In most cases, you simply have to send a signed letter to your advisor to terminate the contract. In some instances, you may have to pay a termination fee.
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.]
At ages 56 to 60, you should have saved 7.6 times your current salary. At ages 61 to 64, you should have saved 9.2 times your current salary. Source: Chief Investment Office and Bank of America Retirement & Personal Wealth Solutions, "Financial Wellness: Helping improve the financial lives of your employees," 2023.
Did you want a simpler answer? No problem. Here's a final rule of thumb you can consider: at least 20% of your income should go towards savings.
This budgeting rule states that you should allocate 50 percent of your monthly income for essentials (such as housing, groceries and gas), 30 percent for wants and 20 percent for savings.
