Are financial advisors worth 1% fees?

Asked by: Dr. Kaleigh Waters  |  Last update: September 30, 2025
Score: 4.6/5 (65 votes)

Bottom Line. A 1% annual fee on a multi-million-dollar investment portfolio is roughly typical of the fees charged by many financial advisors. But that's not inherently a good or bad thing, but rather should hold weight in your decision about whether to use an advisor's services.

Is it worth paying a financial advisor 1 percent?

If the financial advisor consistently delivers impressive returns, aids in achieving primary financial goals, or offers extensive financial planning services, the 1% fee may be well-justified. However, it is important to be mindful of the rising advisor rates, based on the size of your investments.

Is 1% investment fee good?

Sometimes it's worth paying this if they are a professional and have a track record of providing value. The 1% you are paying will be recouped on either better returns, reducing exposure and volatility in a downturn, tax maximization, financial planning, and meeting your financial goals.

What is a reasonable fee for a financial advisor?

On average, you can expect to pay between 0.5% and 2% of your total assets under management annually, $150 to $400 per hour, or a flat fee ranging from $1,000 to $3,000 for a comprehensive financial plan.

Is 2% high for a financial advisor?

Industry standards show that financial advisor fees generally range between 0.5% and 1.5% of AUM annually. Placement of a 2% fee may appear steep compared to this average. However, this fee might encompass more comprehensive services or cater to more unique, high-maintenance portfolios.

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26 related questions found

Is a 1.5 fee high for a financial advisor?

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.

What is the average ROI from a financial advisor?

The average return is going to vary from year to year, based on the activity in the market. Studies have shown that financial advisors have the potential to add, on average, between 1.5% and 4% to your portfolio above what the average person is able to get as a return on their own.

Is it better to have a fee-only financial advisor?

Key Takeaways. Many financial advisors offer a fee-only compensation structure, where they receive a fee for their planning services in lieu of traditional commissions. The benefits of fee-only include transparency, no hidden charges, and no conflicts of interest in selling a certain product line or company offering.

What does Charles Schwab charge for a financial advisor?

At Schwab, there's no cost to work with your Financial Consultant. ² There's no cost whether you're getting assistance in creating your personalized plan, or receiving tailored product recommendations and direct access to our specialists.

Can you negotiate financial advisor fees?

Financial advisor fees may be negotiable. Whether you're able to get fees reduced can depend on which advisor or firm you're working with. If an advisor is willing to negotiate fees, they must specify that in their Form ADV.

Is 1% brokerage fee high?

The standard commission for full-service brokers today is between 1% to 2% of a client's managed assets. For example, if a client has a $500,000 portfolio, they can expect to pay their broker $5,000 to $10,000 annually. A 12B-1 fee is a recurring fee that a broker receives for selling a mutual fund.

Should you put all your money with one financial advisor?

By hiring a single investment advisor, you receive more streamlined advice as only one person manages all your money matters removing any chance of conflicting advice or any disagreement. This also allows the chosen individual to clear up your doubts and offer guidance to you on how to best attain your financial goals.

What financial advisor has the lowest fees?

Robo-advisors are typically the least expensive, followed by online financial planners. An in-person advisor will be the most expensive and may charge you more than 1 percent of your assets annually.

At what point is it worth getting a financial advisor?

This professional guidance can improve financial outcomes and provide confidence. At what point is it worth getting a financial advisor? When your financial situation becomes complex—like significant income growth, nearing retirement, or managing investments over $100,000—consider an advisor.

Are financial advisor fees tax deductible?

While financial advisor fees are no longer deductible, there are things you can do to keep your tax bill as low as possible. For example, those strategies include: Utilizing tax-advantaged accounts, such as a 401(k) or IRA to invest.

At what salary should I get a financial advisor?

Very 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 also be higher, such as $500,000, $1 million or even more.

What percentage should you pay a financial advisor?

One common method is for advisors to charge a percentage of the assets they manage on your behalf. This rate often ranges from about 0.5% to 2% per year. For example, if an advisor manages $1,000,000 for you and charges a 1.2% fee, you would pay $12,000 annually for their services.

Is Edward Jones a fiduciary?

Edward Jones serves as an investment advice fiduciary at the plan level and provides educational services at both the plan and participant levels, if applicable.

What is the minimum investment for Charles Schwab financial advisor?

The annual fee for Schwab Wealth Advisory starts at 0.80% of assets and decreases at higher asset levels (see chart). Enrollment minimum is $500,000.

Are financial advisors worth the 1%?

Bottom Line. On average, financial advisors charge between 0.59% and 1.18% of assets under management for their asset management. At 1%, an advisor's fee is well within the industry average. Whether that fee is too much or just right depends entirely on what you think of the advisor's services and performance.

What are the disadvantages of having a financial advisor?

While it's easy to see the many advantages a financial advisor has, we want to also bring up the potential disadvantages so you can make informed decisions:
  • They may have a conflict of interest.
  • They could charge high fees.
  • You could feel left in the dark.

How can I reduce my financial advisor fees?

Negotiate a Lower Fee

Another way to pay less is to negotiate a financial advisor's fee. Be prepared to explain why you feel it is too high and why it makes sense for the advisor to take you on as a client for less than what their firm normally charges.

Is a 1% management fee high?

Bottom Line. A 1% annual fee on a multi-million-dollar investment portfolio is roughly typical of the fees charged by many financial advisors. But that's not inherently a good or bad thing, but rather should hold weight in your decision about whether to use an advisor's services.

How much money do I need to invest to make $3,000 a month?

$3,000 X 12 months = $36,000 per year. $36,000 / 6% dividend yield = $600,000. On the other hand, if you're more risk-averse and prefer a portfolio yielding 2%, you'd need to invest $1.8 million to reach the $3,000 per month target: $3,000 X 12 months = $36,000 per year.

At what net worth should I get a financial advisor?

Once you have investable assets over $1M, it's definitely time to start speaking with advisory firms to see how they can help you optimize your investments. It's also important to ensure you're not overpaying your taxes or missing out on other wealth-planning opportunities.