2025 Financial Planning Fees Guide
📊 How Much Do Financial Advisors and Robo-Advisors Cost?
Average robo-advisor fees vs financial advisor costs in 2025. Betterment charges 0.25%, Wealthfront 0.25%, human advisors 0.50%–1.50% AUM. Full fee breakdown.
✓ Official Sources
SEC.gov (Form ADV data)CFP BoardKitces.comNerdWallet
Financial advisor fees vary widely by type. Robo-advisors charge 0.25%–0.50% of assets annually with no minimum interaction. Subscription-based CFPs charge flat monthly fees. Traditional AUM-based advisors charge 0.50%–1.50% annually and typically require $250,000+ minimums. Understanding what you're paying is critical — a 1% fee difference on $500k in assets costs $5,000 per year.
| Service Level |
Low End |
High End |
Notes |
| Robo-Advisor (Betterment, Wealthfront) |
0.25% AUM/yr |
0.50% AUM/yr |
Betterment Digital: 0.25%. Wealthfront: 0.25%. Schwab Intelligent Portfolios: 0% (higher cash drag) |
| Subscription CFP (Facet, Ellevest) |
$100/mo |
$300/mo |
Unlimited advice from a CFP via video; no AUM requirement. Facet starts at $2,400/yr |
| AUM-Based Independent Advisor |
0.50% AUM/yr |
1.50% AUM/yr |
Most common model; rates decrease at higher asset tiers ($250k+, $1M+) |
| One-Time Financial Plan |
$1,000 |
$5,000 |
Comprehensive plan without ongoing management; growing category of fee-only planners |
| Hourly CFP Consulting |
$200/hr |
$400/hr |
Good for specific questions (retirement analysis, Social Security optimization) |
| Wirehouse / Bank Advisor |
1.00% AUM/yr |
2.00%+ AUM/yr |
Merrill Lynch, Wells Fargo Advisors; often higher fees with product commission incentives |
💡 Expert Tips
- 📌 A 1% fee on $500,000 invested over 30 years costs ~$590,000 in foregone growth (assuming 7% returns). Fee choice matters enormously.
- 📌 Always check an advisor's ADV Form Part 2A on the SEC's Investment Adviser Public Disclosure database (IAPD) before hiring.
- 📌 "Fee-only" advisors charge only you (no commissions). "Fee-based" advisors can also earn commissions — a meaningful conflict of interest.
- 📌 For most investors under $500k, a robo-advisor plus occasional CFP consultation often beats a full AUM relationship on cost.
Top Vendors in This Category
Betterment
0.25%–0.40% AUM/yr
Best robo-advisor overall
Visit site ↗
Wealthfront
0.25% AUM/yr
Best tax-loss harvesting
Visit site ↗
Facet
$2,400–$6,000/yr flat
Best subscription CFP
Visit site ↗
Vanguard Personal Advisor
0.30% AUM/yr
Best hybrid robo + human
Visit site ↗
Disclaimer: All pricing ranges are estimates based on data sourced from SEC.gov (Form ADV data), CFP Board, Kitces.com, NerdWallet as of 2025. Actual costs vary significantly based on individual circumstances, location, complexity, and provider. This is not financial, legal, or tax advice. FinanceStackHub does not guarantee the accuracy of these figures. Always obtain multiple quotes and conduct your own due diligence.