A financial advisor costs $4,800 to $11,000 per year in 2026
A financial advisor costs about $4,800 to $11,000 per year in 2026 for a $500,000 account or a flat retainer. NerdWallet puts the average fee at 0.96 percent of assets, or $4,800 on $500,000. GOBankingRates shows $5,250 on the same size account. SoFi lists flat retainers at $6,000 to $11,000. A smaller account pays less. A $100,000 account costs $1,120 a year, per GOBankingRates.
What price guides say
We checked 3 price guides and read every number on their pages on October 7, 2026. They do not all measure the same thing, so read each line for what it counts.
| Source | What it found |
|---|---|
| NerdWallet | NerdWallet lists an average fee of 0.96% of assets, or $4,800 a year on $500,000, and $307 per hour. |
| SoFi | SoFi lists 0.59% to 1.18% of assets, annual retainers of $6,000 to $11,000, and hourly rates of $130 to $300. |
| GOBankingRates | GOBankingRates lists $1,120 on $100,000, $5,250 on $500,000, and $10,200 on $1,000,000 a year. |
Financial advisor cost by fee type
| Fee type | Cost | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Percent of assets, average | 0.96% a year, or $4,800 on $500,000 | NerdWallet |
| Percent of assets, range | 0.59% to 1.18% a year | SoFi |
| $100,000 account | $1,120 a year | GOBankingRates |
| $500,000 account | $5,250 a year | GOBankingRates |
| $1,000,000 account | $10,200 a year | GOBankingRates |
| Flat yearly retainer | $6,000 to $11,000 | SoFi |
| One time financial plan | $2,926 on average | NerdWallet |
| Hourly advice | $307 on average | NerdWallet |
Every number in this table was read on one of the source pages listed at the bottom of this page.
What pushes the price up
| What | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Fee model | Advisors charge a percent of assets, a retainer, a plan fee, or an hourly rate. NerdWallet lists a $2,926 average plan fee and a $307 hourly rate. |
| Account size | A percent fee grows as your account grows. GOBankingRates shows $1,120 a year on $100,000, $5,250 on $500,000, and $10,200 on $1,000,000. |
| Fee rate | Rates differ from one firm to the next. SoFi lists 0.59% to 1.18% of assets a year, and GOBankingRates lists a range of 0.50% to 2%. |
| Type of advisor | A robo advisor costs far less than a person. NerdWallet and GOBankingRates both list robo fees of 0.25% to 0.50% of assets a year. |
| Services included | Plain investing costs less than full planning for taxes, estates, and insurance. Ask what a retainer covers, since SoFi lists retainers at $6,000 to $11,000 a year. |
What the price includes
An advisor fee usually covers managing your investments and regular check ins. Some fees also cover a written financial plan, tax help, or retirement advice. Fund costs, trading fees, and account fees may be billed apart from the advisor fee. Ask for the all in yearly cost in writing, in dollars and as a percent.
Who charges this and how it is billed
Most advisors bill a percent of your assets and take it straight from your account. Others send an invoice for a flat retainer or an hourly bill. Some earn commissions from products they sell you. Fee only advisors do not. Planners who charge by the plan bill you once for the work. Robo advisors take a small percent of your balance. Because the fee comes out of your account, you may not see it. Ask for a yearly statement that shows the dollars charged. NerdWallet lists an average of $307 per hour.
When you need this
You may need an advisor when your money, taxes, or life plans get complex. Common times are a new job, a home sale, an inheritance, a marriage, or nearing retirement. If you are unsure how to invest or how much to save, a one time plan can help. If your needs are simple, a low cost robo advisor may be enough.
How to judge your quote
- Is the fee a percent of assets, a flat fee, or hourly?
- What is the all in yearly cost in dollars, with fund fees?
- Is the advisor a fiduciary, and do they earn commissions?
- What services does the fee cover, and what costs extra?
- Compare the total with the range above: $4,800 to $11,000 per year for most people in 2026.
Ways to pay less
- Ask if the advisor is a fiduciary who charges only a fee. Then you pay for advice and not for products that pay the advisor a commission.
- Compare a flat retainer with a percent fee. On a large account, a percent fee can cost more each year than a flat retainer.
- Think about a robo advisor if your needs are simple. NerdWallet lists robo fees of 0.25% to 0.50% of assets a year.
- Pay for one financial plan when you only need a plan. NerdWallet lists an average plan fee of $2,926, instead of a yearly fee.
- Ask for the full cost in writing, including fund fees and trading fees, and ask if the percent drops as your account grows.
How we got these numbers
The range on this page comes from NerdWallet, SoFi and GOBankingRates. We opened each source page and read every number on it on October 7, 2026. Where the sources disagree, the table above shows each one so you can see the spread. These are planning ranges, not quotes. The written price you are given is the real price.
Common questions
How much does a financial advisor cost per year?
NerdWallet lists an average of 0.96 percent of assets, or $4,800 a year on $500,000. SoFi lists flat retainers at $6,000 to $11,000.
How much does a financial advisor charge per hour?
NerdWallet lists an average of $307 per hour. SoFi lists $130 to $300 per hour, and GOBankingRates lists $200 to over $500.
How much does a one time financial plan cost?
NerdWallet lists an average of $2,926 per plan. GOBankingRates lists $2,000 to $4,000 for a single session.
Is a robo advisor cheaper?
Yes. NerdWallet and GOBankingRates list robo fees of 0.25% to 0.50% of assets a year. SoFi says some robo advisors charge no management fee.
Does the fee drop on a bigger account?
Often the percent does. GOBankingRates says fees fall as assets rise, and shows 0.91 percent, or $18,200, on a $2 million portfolio.