Compare Financial Advisor Fees

Understand the Cost of AUM vs. Flat-Fees

You’ve probably heard that a 1% fee is the industry standard.

What you don’t often hear is what that 1% can actually cost you—not just in fees paid, but in potential wealth left behind.

This page includes two tools designed to help you see the long-term impact of advisor fees—under both smooth assumptions and more realistic, unpredictable markets.

Fixed Returns Comparison

This tool compares flat and AUM-based fees assuming a consistent annual return. Simple by design, so you can clearly see the effect of fees over time.

This is a hypothetical illustration for educational purposes only. See assumptions and disclosures below.

Random Returns Comparison

This tool compares flat fees and AUM-based fees using the same set of randomized annual returns—reflecting how markets behave in real life: unpredictable, inconsistent, and rarely in a straight line.

Each run shows:

The average portfolio result across 1,000 randomized paths
A single sample path, randomly selected to reflect one possible outcome

Because both fee structures follow the same returns, the difference you see comes down to fees—not the market.

This is a hypothetical illustration for educational purposes only. See assumptions and disclosures below.

Curious How This Applies to You?

These tools give a clearer view of how different fee structures can impact long-term outcomes.

Fees are only a problem when they exceed the value delivered. This tool helps you see whether they’re aligned.

If you want help making sense of your current setup and fees, we’ll run an analysis that brings clarity.

Book a Consult

Want to Go Deeper?

If you’d like to keep reading, here are a few resources that dig further into evaluating advice, understanding fees, and figuring out whether you're getting real value.

How to Evaluate Evaluate Investment Advice: A practical guide to evaluating financial advisors.
How to Evaluate Advisor Fees: A deeper dive into the costs associated with investing.

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Tool Disclosures & Methodology

Fixed Returns Comparison Tool: This tool provides a hypothetical illustration for informational purposes only and does not guarantee future performance. The calculations assume constant annual returns, no withdrawals or contributions, and do not account for taxes, inflation, market fluctuations, or other real-world factors that may impact investment outcomes. Flat fees are based on Altruist Wealth Management’s current fee structure, which ranges from $3,000 to $12,000 annually, depending on the complexity of financial planning and investment management. For illustrative comparison purposes, the following estimates were used: 0.66% annually for accounts under $1.5 million (a proportional estimate for comparison purposes only and not a flat fee), $10,000 annually for accounts between $1.5 million and $6 million, and $12,000 annually for accounts over $6 million. Actual fees vary and are determined through consultation based on individual financial needs and plan complexity. AUM fees are based on publicly available industry averages, which typically range from 1.02% to 0.59%, depending on portfolio size. These comparisons are for informational purposes only and may not reflect the exact fees charged by all advisors. This tool is for educational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice or an offer to provide investment advisory services. Full assumptions and methodology are available upon request.

Randdom Returns Comparison Tool: This tool is a hypothetical, educational illustration designed to help users understand the potential long-term impact of different financial advisor fee structures. It is not intended to predict future returns or outcomes, and should not be relied upon as investment advice, a financial plan, or a recommendation.

Simulation Assumptions:

The tool uses Monte Carlo simulation to model 1,000 potential future investment return paths over a 30-year period.
Simulations are based on historical annual return and standard deviation assumptions for the selected index (e.g., 60/40 portfolio, S&P 500, or T-Bills).
One randomized simulation path is shown alongside the average simulation outcome and the 5th–95th percentile range to illustrate the distribution of possible outcomes.
Simulations assume annual compounding, with no additional contributions or withdrawals.
Taxes, inflation, behavioral changes, or portfolio rebalancing are not reflected in these projections.

Fee Model Assumptions:

Altruist Wealth Management – Flat Fee Structure:

Fees modeled are based on Altruist Wealth Management’s flat, transparent pricing for ongoing wealth management, which typically ranges from $3,000 to $12,000 annually, depending on the complexity of the client’s financial situation and services required.
For simulation purposes, the following fee assumptions were used:
- Portfolios under $1.5 million: 0.66% annually (for comparison purposes only; not an actual fee quote).
- Portfolios between $1.5 million and $6 million: $10,000 annually.
- Portfolios over $6 million: $12,000 annually.
These assumptions are designed to reflect typical fee tiers and do not represent an exact quote. Actual fees are determined through a consultation process and are fully disclosed prior to engagement.

Industry Average AUM Fees:

AUM-based fees are modeled using blended industry average rates based on publicly available advisor fee surveys.
Tiered, marginal AUM fees assumed in this tool range from 1.02% for portfolios under $1 million to 0.59% for portfolios above $30 million, applied incrementally across asset bands.
These rates are intended to represent the average fees charged by traditional assets-under-management-based advisors and may not reflect any specific advisor’s pricing.

Additional Disclaimers:

This illustration does not account for the potential value of financial advice itself, such as behavioral coaching, tax optimization, or estate planning—only the effect of the fee structure on portfolio growth over time.
All return assumptions are based on historical data, which may not repeat in the future. Past performance is not indicative of future results.
This tool is for educational use only. It does not constitute an offer to provide financial planning or investment advisory services, and should not be interpreted as an agreement, guarantee, or commitment.
Individual results will vary. This model does not account for personal risk tolerance, investment choices, cash flow needs, or tax circumstances.

Data & Methodology:

Return assumptions:
- 60/40 Portfolio: 7.95% avg return, 11.14% standard deviation
- S&P 500: 10.42% avg return, 18.57% standard deviation
- T-Bills: 3.28% avg return, 0.86% standard deviation
Historical performance data sources include DFA, Vanguard, and public index return datasets based on 1/1926 - 12/24. time period.
Fee data was compiled from industry sources to reflect the blended averages commonly seen across U.S.-based wealth managers.