Advisor fee calculator
What is your wealth manager really costing you? Enter your portfolio, return and fees to see the dollars you pay, the growth you give up, and what a lower or flat fee would change.
- Fees you'll pay
- What fees cost you, including lost growth
- Fees this year
- With the alternative
Portfolio value over time
Show as a table
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How advisory fees compound
A fee charged as a percentage of assets is taken every year, from a portfolio that would otherwise have kept growing. The dollars you pay are only part of the cost. The growth those dollars would have earned is the rest, and over 20 or 30 years it can be larger than the fees themselves.
Percentage or flat fee?
A percentage fee rises as your portfolio grows, even if the work doesn't. A flat or retainer fee stays the same, which usually favours larger portfolios. Many firms also step their percentage down at higher asset levels, so ask where your breakpoints are.
What to ask your advisor
- What is my total annual cost in dollars, including fund and product fees?
- Are you paid anything by the funds or products you recommend?
- Do you act as a fiduciary on all of my assets?
- Where are the breakpoints in your fee schedule?
What this calculator assumes
- A steady return each year, before fees. Real returns vary, and so will the gap.
- Fees are charged once a year on the portfolio's value after that year's growth.
- No withdrawals, contributions or taxes.
- A flat fee stays the same every year, and can't exceed the portfolio's value.
This is a planning tool, not investment advice. Your advisory agreement governs the real numbers.
Frequently asked questions
How much should I pay a financial advisor?
Around 1% of assets a year is common for smaller portfolios, often falling on a sliding scale as assets grow. Larger families often pay less as a percentage, or a flat or retainer fee. What matters is the total cost, including fund and product fees, and what you get for it.
How much does a 1% advisory fee cost over 20 years?
On $1M growing at 6% a year before fees, a 1% annual fee leaves you with about $2.62M after 20 years instead of about $3.21M, roughly 18% less. The gap widens the longer the money compounds.
Is a flat fee better than a percentage of assets?
It can be for larger portfolios, because a flat fee doesn't rise as your assets grow. Compare the total cost over time, and check what services each option includes.
What fees should I ask my wealth manager about?
The advisory fee, fund and product expense ratios, platform or custody fees, performance fees on private funds, and any commissions or revenue sharing. Ask for the total in dollars, in writing.
Are advisory fees negotiable?
Often, especially for larger portfolios or when you consolidate assets with one firm. Fee schedules commonly step down as assets grow, so ask where your breakpoints are.
From VC10X, hosted by Prashant Choubey. Updated .
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