How much does a financial advisor cost? Hourly, flat and one-time fees
These numbers come from the fee section of each firm's Form ADV brochure, the document advisers must give every client. They are published prices, not survey answers. Updated October 2026.
Key findings
- The median published hourly rate for a fee-only financial advisor in the US is $275, based on the fee schedules of 6,292 firms in their SEC Form ADV Part 2A brochures (data as of October 2026).
- Half of hourly advisors charge between $225 and $350 an hour.
- A one-time financial plan or project costs a median of $4,025 (5,268 firms; middle half $2,200–$7,500).
- Ongoing advice on a flat annual retainer costs a median of $6,000 a year (1,702 firms), the same as a 1% asset-based fee on a $600,000 portfolio.
- Among states with at least five firms that publish an hourly rate, Maryland has the highest median ($300/hr) and Utah the lowest ($200/hr).
- 62% of the 14,208 fee-only planning firms we reviewed state at least one planning fee in dollars in their brochure.
Cite as: PlannerFees, analysis of SEC Form ADV Part 2A brochures, October 2026, https://plannerfees.com/financial-planner-cost/. Free download: CSV or JSON (CC BY 4.0).
| Fee | Median | Middle half of firms | Firms with a published fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hourly rate | $275/hr | $225–$350/hr | 6,292 firms |
| Flat or project fee | $4,025 | $2,200–$7,500 | 5,268 firms |
| Annual retainer | $6,000/yr | $3,000–$12,500/yr | 1,702 firms |
Hourly rates by state
States with at least five firms that publish an hourly rate, highest median first.
| State | Median hourly | Middle half | Median flat fee | Firms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maryland | $300 | $250–$400 | $4,335 | 157 |
| California | $300 | $250–$400 | $5,000 | 933 |
| Massachusetts | $300 | $225–$375 | $4,750 | 184 |
| North Carolina | $300 | $250–$350 | $4,800 | 178 |
| Washington | $300 | $250–$350 | $3,250 | 217 |
| New Jersey | $300 | $250–$375 | $5,000 | 175 |
| Wisconsin | $300 | $250–$400 | $3,000 | 96 |
| Colorado | $300 | $225–$350 | $5,250 | 232 |
| New York | $300 | $250–$400 | $4,500 | 302 |
| Connecticut | $300 | $250–$375 | $5,125 | 104 |
| Nevada | $300 | $250–$425 | $5,000 | 65 |
| Montana | $300 | $200–$350 | $3,450 | 21 |
| Delaware | $300 | $175–$400 | $3,575 | 19 |
| Hawaii | $300 | $200–$350 | $5,238 | 16 |
| New Mexico | $300 | $200–$400 | $4,000 | 27 |
| Vermont | $300 | $250–$350 | $4,375 | 15 |
| Mississippi | $300 | $250–$400 | $3,000 | 11 |
| District of Columbia | $298 | $275–$475 | $4,750 | 12 |
| Florida | $288 | $238–$375 | $4,900 | 373 |
| Rhode Island | $280 | $250–$400 | $3,625 | 16 |
| Texas | $275 | $225–$350 | $3,850 | 469 |
| Arizona | $275 | $200–$375 | $3,100 | 196 |
| Tennessee | $275 | $218–$350 | $3,000 | 112 |
| New Hampshire | $275 | $225–$350 | $5,400 | 53 |
| Illinois | $273 | $213–$350 | $4,500 | 216 |
| Minnesota | $263 | $200–$350 | $5,250 | 116 |
| Virginia | $260 | $215–$350 | $4,250 | 204 |
| Pennsylvania | $250 | $200–$350 | $3,650 | 268 |
| Oklahoma | $250 | $200–$300 | $2,875 | 42 |
| South Carolina | $250 | $200–$350 | $3,000 | 70 |
| Ohio | $250 | $200–$300 | $3,250 | 220 |
| Oregon | $250 | $225–$350 | $4,000 | 124 |
| Missouri | $250 | $200–$275 | $3,550 | 89 |
| Georgia | $250 | $225–$350 | $5,000 | 170 |
| Idaho | $250 | $200–$350 | $2,625 | 44 |
| Michigan | $250 | $200–$300 | $3,250 | 171 |
| Nebraska | $250 | $200–$300 | $5,000 | 33 |
| Alabama | $250 | $200–$300 | $5,075 | 42 |
| Louisiana | $250 | $200–$300 | $3,250 | 46 |
| Indiana | $250 | $200–$300 | $5,000 | 120 |
| Kentucky | $250 | $175–$325 | $3,000 | 37 |
| Kansas | $250 | $200–$300 | $3,500 | 60 |
| Iowa | $250 | $250–$300 | $3,850 | 48 |
| South Dakota | $250 | $200–$300 | $5,250 | 14 |
| Maine | $250 | $200–$300 | $4,125 | 24 |
| West Virginia | $250 | $250–$275 | $4,525 | 8 |
| North Dakota | $250 | $150–$300 | $913 | 12 |
| Wyoming | $250 | $175–$350 | $7,125 | 13 |
| Arkansas | $225 | $175–$250 | $3,600 | 35 |
| Utah | $200 | $150–$275 | $2,050 | 79 |
Flat fee or 1% of assets?
Many advisers charge a yearly percentage of the money they manage, often around 1%. Among the listed firms that also charge an asset-based fee, the median top rate in their brochure is 1.25% a year. Here is what 1% costs compared with the median flat-fee prices above.
| Portfolio | 1% a year | Median annual retainer | Median one-time plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| $250,000 | $2,500 | $6,000 | $4,025 |
| $500,000 | $5,000 | $6,000 | $4,025 |
| $1,000,000 | $10,000 | $6,000 | $4,025 |
| $2,000,000 | $20,000 | $6,000 | $4,025 |
A percentage fee usually includes investment management, which a one-time plan does not. Compare what each fee covers, not only the price.
Common questions
- How much does a financial advisor cost per hour?
- The median published rate is $275 an hour, and half of hourly advisors charge between $225 and $350. See the hourly advisors by state.
- How much does a one-time financial plan cost?
- A flat-fee plan or project costs a median of $4,025. Simple plans start around $2,200, and complex plans for business owners or high earners can cost $7,500 or more. See flat-fee advisors by state.
- What is the difference between fee-only and fee-based?
- A fee-only adviser is paid only by clients and takes no commissions. A fee-based adviser charges fees and can also earn commissions on products it sells. Every firm on PlannerFees reports no commissions and no broker-dealer business in its Form ADV.
- Why don't all advisors publish their prices?
- Brochures must explain how fees work, but not every firm gives dollar amounts. About 62% of the firms we reviewed do. For the rest, ask for a written fee schedule before you sign.
What the fee types mean
- Hourly
- You pay for the advisor's time, usually billed after the work is done. Good for a single question or a second opinion.
- Flat or project fee
- One quoted price for a defined piece of work, such as a full financial plan or a retirement income plan.
- Annual retainer or subscription
- A fixed yearly or monthly fee for ongoing advice. It does not grow with your investments.
- Percentage of assets (AUM)
- A yearly fee, often around 1%, charged on the investments the firm manages.