{"type":"practice_guide","title":"How to Price Advisory Services: Fee Schedules and Pricing Models","lead":"As of Oct 20, 2026, the most recent published figures we found put the average assets-based advisory fee near 104 basis points on a $750,000 account and 88 on a $1.5 million account (Cerulli, reported Feb 6, 2024), and the average planning retainer at $6,815 a year (Envestnet survey of 491 advisors, May 4, 2026).","as_of":"2026-10-20","facts":{"summary":"AUM tiers, flat fees, subscriptions, retainers and hourly rates, with published fee data and what Form ADV Part 2A makes you disclose.","key_facts":["Form ADV Part 2A Item 5 requires an adviser to describe how it is paid, provide its fee schedule and say whether fees are negotiable.","Advisors who charge on assets reported averages of 103.7 basis points on a $750,000 account and 88.1 on a $1.5 million account.","Average planning retainer $6,815, flat fee $2,926, subscription $595 a month, AUM bundled fee 0.96% in a 2026 survey of 491 advisors.","An SEC-registered adviser's contract generally may not base compensation on a share of a client's capital gains or capital appreciation."]},"sources":[{"url":"https://www.sec.gov/files/formadv-part2.pdf","checked":"2026-10-20","label":"U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission: Form ADV Part 2: Uniform Requirements for the Investment Adviser Brochure and Brochure Supplements (SEC 1707)"},{"url":"https://www.institutionalinvestor.com/index%2Ephp/article/2ctaz879nv0iexlnncz5s/ria-intel/the-fight-to-win-unadvised-clients-starts-with-fee-clarity","checked":"2026-10-20","label":"Institutional Investor, Holly Deaton: The fight to win unadvised clients starts with fee clarity (reporting Cerulli Associates and Marketcast data)"},{"url":"https://www.envestnet.com/newsroom/press-releases/average-financial-planning-retainer-fee-surges-52-2023-industry-accelerates","checked":"2026-10-20","label":"Envestnet | MoneyGuide, survey by Datos Insights: Average financial planning retainer fee surges 52% since 2023 (2026 State of Financial Planning Fees, press release)"},{"url":"https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/15/80b-5","checked":"2026-10-20","label":"Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School: 15 U.S.C. 80b-5 (Investment Advisers Act Section 205), investment advisory contracts"},{"url":"https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/17/275.204-5","checked":"2026-10-20","label":"Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School: 17 CFR 275.204-5, delivery of Form CRS"},{"url":"https://www.sec.gov/files/risk-alert-newly-registered-ias-032723.pdf","checked":"2026-10-20","label":"U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, Division of Examinations: Risk Alert: Observations from Examinations of Newly-Registered Advisers"},{"url":"https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/17/275.206(4)-2","checked":"2026-10-20","label":"Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School: 17 CFR 275.206(4)-2, custody of funds or securities of clients by investment advisers"},{"url":"https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/17/275.206(4)-1","checked":"2026-10-20","label":"Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School: 17 CFR 275.206(4)-1, investment adviser marketing (the Marketing Rule)"}],"related":[{"title":"Advisor Capacity Calculator: How Many Households Can You Serve?","url":"https://advisoriq.com/practice/calculators/advisor-capacity/"},{"title":"Advisor Fee Revenue Calculator: AUM Fee Schedule vs Flat Fee","url":"https://advisoriq.com/practice/calculators/fee-revenue/"},{"title":"How to Start an RIA: SEC vs State Registration","url":"https://advisoriq.com/practice/guides/how-to-start-an-ria-sec-vs-state-registration/"},{"title":"Hiring Your First Advisor or Operations Hire: Roles, Licensing and Structure","url":"https://advisoriq.com/practice/guides/hiring-first-advisor-or-operations-hire/"},{"title":"How to Build an RIA Compliance Program: Rule 206(4)-7, CCO and Annual Review","url":"https://advisoriq.com/practice/guides/compliance-program-for-a-new-ria/"},{"title":"Legal Essentials for an Independent RIA: Entity, Advisory Agreement and Insurance","url":"https://advisoriq.com/practice/guides/legal-essentials-for-an-independent-ria/"},{"title":"How to Choose an RIA Custodian: What Custodians Do and What to Ask","url":"https://advisoriq.com/practice/guides/choosing-an-ria-custodian/"},{"title":"Financial Advisor Technology Stack: What You Need, How It Connects and How to Budget","url":"https://advisoriq.com/practice/guides/advisor-technology-stack/"},{"title":"RIA Cybersecurity: Regulation S-P, Regulation S-ID and Practical Controls","url":"https://advisoriq.com/practice/guides/ria-cybersecurity-and-client-data-protection/"},{"title":"Marketing for Financial Advisors: How to Attract Clients","url":"https://advisoriq.com/practice/guides/marketing-for-financial-advisors/"},{"title":"SEC Marketing Rule for Advisors: Testimonials, Ratings and Performance","url":"https://advisoriq.com/practice/guides/sec-marketing-rule-for-advisors/"}],"notes":["Educational, not legal, tax or investment advice.","Practice management content is not eligible for CFP Board CE. CFP Board plans to allow up to five hours of it per cycle once its Q4 2027 changes take effect."],"url":"https://advisoriq.com/practice/guides/advisor-fee-schedules-and-pricing-models/","citation":"AdvisorIQ, as of 2026-10-20. https://advisoriq.com/practice/guides/advisor-fee-schedules-and-pricing-models/","license":"https://advisoriq.com/license/","publisher":"AdvisorIQ, independent education for financial advisors","disclaimer":"Summaries of rules set by designation bodies and regulators, which have the final word."}