Sixty-nine percent of millionaires work with a financial adviser, compared with just 33% of the general population — and wealthy people consider financial advisers to be their most trusted source of financial advice — more than four times any other source, including a spouse or friend.
Vast majority of wealthy individuals have a financial advisor, with two thirds saying they need more than one to manage their affairs. A recent study from Bank of America Private Bank reveals a strong majority of the country's richest individuals have a financial advisor – and most even have a team in their corner.
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.
However, in general, it's wise to start working with a financial advisor or wealth management team once you've built a nest egg of $1M in investable assets. However, you may wish to seek guidance earlier. Keep in mind that the greater your assets, the more complex your financial situation becomes.
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.
Cash-on-hand guidelines you could use:
Experts generally recommend having enough cash to cover 3–6 months of living expenses in an easily accessible account, such as a high-yield savings account. This safety net can act as a buffer against unexpected expenses like job loss, medical bills or car repairs.
This fee can range from 0.5% to 2%. Advisors that charge a percentage usually want to work with clients with 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.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for personal financial advisors was $94,170 in May 2021. It means half of the financial advisors earned more than that, and half earned less. One in ten earned less than $47,570, while one in ten made more than $208,000.
Millionaires don't worry about FDIC insurance. Their money is held in their name and not the name of the custodial private bank. Other millionaires have safe deposit boxes full of cash denominated in many different currencies.
J.P. Morgan Private Bank, Citi Private Bank, and Bank of America Private Bank are among some of the most popular banks for millionaires.
Around 60%, or the majority, of financial advisors with more than five years of experience will earn over $100,000 annually and up to $300,000. At the higher end, $300,000, puts the advisor in the top 10% of household income in the United States, which is not bad at all.
Top 5% Threshold: This tier is a significant milestone, with a net worth requirement exceeding $3.8 million. This signifies financial accomplishment achieved through strategic planning and diligent wealth management. Top 1% Echelon: To enter this elite group, one must have a net worth exceeding $11.6 million.
Global wealth took a hit in 2022, falling 3%. But it has rebounded last year, and the ranks of the world's millionaires are expected to continue to grow through 2028. Nearly 22 million people in the U.S.—roughly one in 15 Americans—had wealth upwards of $1 million last year, according to UBS' 2024 global wealth report.
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.
Whether you should consider working with more than one advisor can depend on your overall goals and financial situation. If you're fairly new to investing and you haven't built up a sizable net worth yet, for instance then one advisor may be sufficient to meet your needs.
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.
Advisors at wirehouses typically earn a base salary plus bonuses based on assets under management (AUM) growth and sales goals. Total pay packages generally range from $100k for junior advisors up to $300-500k for senior advisors managing over $100 million in AUM.
In addition, millionaires are much more likely to work with a financial advisor (69%), more than double the amount of the general population (33%).
There is no strict minimum amount of money required to work with a wealth manager. While some wealth management firms cater to high-net-worth individuals with a specific minimum investment, many others are more flexible and work with clients at different stages of their journey.
According to the U.S. Trust Survey of Affluent Americans, high-net-worth investors with over $3 million in investable assets hold an average of 15% of their portfolios in cash and cash equivalents. This allocation allows for ample liquidity to seize investment opportunities or cover large expenses as they arise.
Those will become part of your budget. The 50-30-20 rule recommends putting 50% of your money toward needs, 30% toward wants, and 20% toward savings. The savings category also includes money you will need to realize your future goals.
$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.