
Fisher Investments' transparent fee is a unique pricing model that offers straightforward and predictable costs to its clients. This fee structure is designed to be easy to understand and calculate.
The transparent fee is based on a single, annual charge that is calculated as a percentage of the client's investment portfolio. According to the article, this percentage is typically around 0.25% to 0.50% per year.
One of the key benefits of Fisher Investments' transparent fee is that it eliminates the need for hidden costs and surprise fees, which can be a major source of frustration for investors.
Fisher Investments Fees
Fisher Investments Fees are based on the value of the assets they manage for you. This means you only pay for their services based on your portfolio's size.
Their fee structure is simple and straightforward, making it easy to understand. You won't find any hidden or layered fees with Fisher Investments.
As a fee-only investment adviser, Fisher Investments' interests are aligned with yours. They do better when you do better, which is a big plus in our book.
Fisher Investments' fees are competitive, often lower than many other financial professionals' fees. They don't charge commissions, layered fees, kickbacks, or other "add-on" fees that can add up quickly.
Here's a breakdown of their fee structure:
- Simple and Straightforward: Fees are based on the value of the assets we manage for you.
- Aligned with Your Interests: Fisher Investments is a fee-only investment adviser; this helps align our interests with yours. In other words, we do better when you do better.
- Competitive: We believe our fees are often lower than many other financial professionals’ fees, particularly when you consider the commissions, layered fees, kickbacks and other “add-on” fees that are rife in our industry.
Fisher Investments makes money by charging a percentage fee based on its clients' assets. This transparent fee structure gives you peace of mind, knowing exactly how much you're paying.
Business Model
Fisher Investments operates as a crossover between a product creator and a financial advisor, combining the ability to create mass-market products with the potential for high-end financial advisory services.
This blended model allows Fisher Investments to charge financial advisor fees, which can be as high as 1.5% of clients' assets, while still operating and marketing like a fund manager.
Some high-quality fund managers with similar strategies charge less than 1%, often much lower, but Fisher Investments' model is highly lucrative, having enabled Ken Fisher to become the wealthiest financial advisor in the world, with a net worth of over $8.1 billion.
Fisher Investments makes money by charging a percentage fee based on its clients' assets, which is a common practice for fee-only advisors.
Fisher Investments Transparency

Fisher Investments is a fee-only advisor, making money by charging a percentage fee based on its clients' assets. This means their interests are aligned with yours, as they do better when you do better.
Their fee structure is simple and straightforward, based only on the value of the assets they manage for you. They never charge hidden or layered fees, so what you see is what you get.
Here's a breakdown of their tiered advisory fee structure:
- The first $1 million: 1.25%
- The next $4 million: 1.125%
- Anything over $5 million: 1%
This progressive, bracketed fee structure is designed to be easy to understand and puts your interests first.
Transparent Fee Structure
Fisher Investments is a fee-only advisor, which means it makes money by charging a percentage fee based on its clients' assets.
Their fee structure is transparent and straightforward, with no hidden or layered fees. They charge an annual fee based on the total amount of assets they manage on your behalf.
Here's a breakdown of their fee structure:
Their fee structure is progressive, meaning the fee rate decreases as the asset value increases. This means that if you have a portfolio of $15 million, you'll be charged 1.25% on the first $1 million, 1.125% on the next $4 million, and 1% on the remaining $10 million.
Fisher Investments also charges a pass-through commission of $7-10 per trade, which goes to its broker. However, this fee is separate from their annual management fee.
One of the benefits of Fisher Investments' fee structure is that it aligns their interests with yours. They do better when you do better, which means they're motivated to make smart investment decisions that grow your wealth.
Their fees are also competitive, especially when compared to other financial professionals who may charge commissions and layered fees.
Financial Advisors
Financial advisors can be a great option for those who want to take a hands-off approach to managing their finances. They can provide personalized advice and guidance, helping you achieve your financial goals.
Good financial advisors build customized plans for each client, taking into account their unique lifestyle and financial situation. They go beyond investment management, offering tax guidance, insurance recommendations, and advice on other investments.
A good financial advisor can act as a buffer between you and your money, helping you avoid making emotional decisions that can negatively impact your investments. This can be especially helpful for those who are new to investing or lack experience in managing their finances.
Fees for financial advisors can be lower than those charged by Fisher Investments, typically ranging from 0.70-1.20% of your portfolio. This is a significant cost savings, especially for those with larger portfolios.
If you're considering working with a financial advisor, look for one who is fee-only and has expertise in tax planning. This will ensure they can oversee your entire financial picture, not just your investments.
To find a financial advisor, interview multiple candidates and choose one you like and trust. Be sure to ask about their approach to tax planning and how they will help you achieve your financial goals.
Alternatives and Worth
If you're not sold on Fisher Investments' transparent fee structure, there are alternative investment options available.
Robo-advisors like Betterment and Wealthfront offer lower fees, with annual management fees ranging from 0.25% to 0.40%.
These lower fees can add up over time, saving you hundreds or even thousands of dollars in investment costs.
Fisher Investments' transparent fee structure is still a competitive option, especially for those who value personalized investment advice and research-driven investment strategies.
Some investors may find that the benefits of Fisher Investments' approach, such as its focus on tax-efficient investing, outweigh the costs.
Three Alternatives to Fisher Investments
If you're looking for alternatives to Fisher Investments, you might want to consider Vanguard. Vanguard offers a wide range of low-cost index funds that can be a great option for those looking to diversify their portfolios.
One of the main benefits of Vanguard is its low expense ratios, which can save investors a significant amount of money over time. For example, Vanguard's Total Stock Market Index Fund has an expense ratio of just 0.04%.
BlackRock is another large investment management company that offers a range of low-cost index funds. BlackRock's iShares ETFs are particularly popular among investors, with over $2 trillion in assets under management.
One of the key advantages of BlackRock's iShares ETFs is their low trading costs. According to the article, BlackRock's iShares ETFs have an average trading cost of just $2.50 per trade.
Wealthfront is a robo-advisor that offers low-cost investment management services to individual investors. With Wealthfront, investors can create a diversified portfolio of low-cost index funds for a fraction of the cost of traditional investment managers.
Wealthfront's investment portfolios are designed to be low-cost and tax-efficient, with an average expense ratio of just 0.25%.
Is Fisher Investments Worth the Fee?
Fisher Investments' fees are slightly higher than the industry average. Many of Fisher's clients are willing to pay these fees.
Some people might not think it's worth paying the extra fees, but others are happy to do so. The personal opinion is that it's not worth it.
The decision to pay the fees ultimately depends on individual preferences and financial priorities. It's essential to weigh the pros and cons before making a decision.
Fisher's clients seem to be satisfied with the services they receive, despite the higher fees.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the downside of Fisher Investments?
Fisher Investments has high fees and a steep minimum investment requirement of $500,000, making it less accessible to those with lower net worth. This may limit its appeal to investors seeking more affordable investment options.
How do Fisher investment advisors get paid?
Fisher Investment advisors are paid through a tiered fee structure based on the size of your portfolio, not on commissions from trades. This fee structure aligns their interests with yours, making their compensation directly tied to your investment success.
Sources
- https://www.fisherinvestments.com/en-us/personal-wealth-management/how-we-are-different/fees
- https://stockanalysis.com/article/fisher-investments-review/
- https://www.fisherinvestments.com/en-gb/personal-wealth-management/how-we-are-different/fees
- https://www.fisherinvestments.com/en-us/insights/videos/transparent-fee-structure
- https://wealthtender.com/advisory-firms/fisher-investments/
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