Let's say you're just starting out and need help with something specific, like retirement planning. In that case, a financial adviser may be a good fit. However, if you have a complex financial situation or you want a more hands-on service, a wealth manager may be better suited to help.
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.
Flat-Rate Model
You can find a wealth manager who charges a flat rate for their services. Common flat rates for 2023 ranged from $2,000 to $7,500 a year. You can also find wealth managers who charge by the month or by the hour for their financial expertise.
If your current strategy is working well and you're seeing good returns, paying for management might not be essential. However, if you seek advanced strategies or prefer to delegate some of the management, a wealth manager could be worthwhile.
While financial advisors can provide advice on a range of financial matters – such as budgeting, retirement planning and investment choices – wealth managers typically focus on more affluent clients and may offer services like estate planning, tax optimization and legacy planning.
While the typical annual financial advisor fee is thought to be 1%, according to a 2023 study by Advisory HQ, the average financial advisor fee is 0.59% to 1.18% per year. However, rates typically decrease the more money you invest.
Wealth managers typically work with individuals, families, and entities who have a higher-than-average net worth. The barrier to entry will vary from one wealth manager to another. It could be as low as $250,000, or as high as $1 million and beyond.
High-net-worth individual (HNWI) is a technical term used in the financial services industry for people who maintain liquid assets at or above a certain threshold. Typically, they are defined as holding financial assets (excluding their primary residence) valued over US$1 million.
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.
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.
Look for professional credentials, such as Chartered Financial Analyst® (for investment managers), Certified Financial Planner® or related planning credentials, trust and estate attorneys, Certified Public Accountants, and Certified Trust Financial Advisors.
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.
The top 10% of earners have an average net worth of $2.65 million. Even if you're squeaking into the upper class (the 80-90% range), you're looking at about $793,000. Moving down to the middle class, things get a bit more varied. The upper-middle class folks have an average net worth of around $300,800.
Your net worth is what you own minus what you owe. It's the total value of all your assets—including your house, cars, investments and cash—minus your liabilities (things like credit card debt, student loans, and what you still owe on your mortgage).
What is considered high net worth? A person with a high net worth is known as a HNWI (“high net worth individual”). U.S. adults we surveyed gave a wide range of responses for what they'd consider a HNWI; the median average landed at $400,000.
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.
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.
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.
J.P. Morgan Personal Advisors charges between 0.50% and 0.60% of your assets under management annually. It's 0.60% for portfolios below $250,000, 0.50% for portfolios over $250,000. J.P. Morgan Personal Advisors does not charge commissions for selling investments.
Some prefer to hire a wealth manager to help with situations such as retirement and estate planning, or to reach specific long-term goals. Wealth managers can provide personalized advice, help create comprehensive and strategic financial plans, and align your investment plan with any long-term goals.
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.