Morgan Stanley Wealth Management Fees Takeaways
• To understand the costs of Morgan Stanley’s Wealth Management accounts, consider fees for account maintenance, advisory services, and financial planning.
• Morgan Stanley's Wealth Management accounts usually charge a
$70 to $170 maintenance fee per year, which can be waived with a sufficient balance.
• The cost for advisory programs like LifeView Advisor and LifeView Personal Wealth Advisor depends on a few factors.
Morgan Stanley advisory fees can range from $250 to $5,000.
Morgan Stanley’s Wealth Management accounts provide valuable services, but they come with fees. If you plan to use these accounts, be aware of the various fees involved. Keep reading for more details.
Morgan Stanley Wealth Management Fee Breakdown
The fees for Morgan Stanley’s Wealth Management accounts vary by account type, advisory services, and financial planning needs.
Some account types let investors skip membership fees but may have high balance requirements.
Morgan Stanley also has different charges based on account structure. Some accounts charge for trades, others have an annual fee based on the principal, and some are commission-based with discounts for higher trading volumes.
Here is a breakdown of the various fees.
Morgan Stanley Maintenance Fees
Most Morgan Stanley accounts have a maintenance fee between $70 and $170. The lowest fees apply to Virtual Advisor and Business Retirement VIP Plus accounts, while the highest fees are for Active Assets Accounts. Managed brokerage, retirement, and custodial accounts fall in the middle, around $100 to $125 per year.
Some accounts offer fee waivers for eligible clients. For example, Reserved status or a CashPlus account may qualify you for waived maintenance fees.
Reserved status requires a minimum balance of $1 million or spending at least $10,000 in commissions and fees.
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Morgan Stanley Investment Advisory Fees
Morgan Stanley’s advisory fees depend on account type and service level.
LifeView Personal Wealth Advisor and LifeView Advisor programs provide financial reviews and planning.
These services range from $250 to $5,000 annually, and for accounts over $5 million, costs can reach $10,000. Advisors can only charge more than $5,000 if they have specific qualifications like CFA or CPA.
Other programs, like ETRADE’s Core Portfolios and Virtual Advisors, have a simpler fee structure for smaller accounts. The advisory fee is either 0.30% of the principal or $1.50 per $500, whichever is lower. Advisory and management fees are in addition to trading commissions and other charges.
Morgan Stanley Service Fees
Along with management, maintenance, and advisory fees, Morgan Stanley’s Wealth Management accounts include additional services that have their own fees. Investors should be aware of these fees to understand the total cost of their accounts.
Account Closures
If you choose to close a Wealth Management account, the cost will depend on the account type.
For Individual IRAs, the termination fee is $125. For Business Retirement accounts (VIP Basic, VIP Plus, and RPM), it’s $50.
Brokerage accounts (Morgan Stanley Wealth Management and Self-Directed accounts) have a $95 termination fee, which can be waived if the account closure is due to a full outgoing ACATS transfer.
Transfers
The asset transfer fee is important to know if you’re moving your assets to another broker.
Morgan Stanley charges $125 for full outgoing transfers but no fee for partial transfers.
Wire fees are $25 for outgoing domestic transfers and $50 for international transfers.
Are Morgan Stanley’s Wealth Management Services Worth It?
Whether Morgan Stanley's Wealth Management services are worth the cost depends on your financial goals and comfort with the fees.
For those with large portfolios, the personalized advice and exclusive services may justify the costs. However, for smaller accounts or those who prefer to manage their own investments, the fees may not offer enough value.
Many brokers now offer automation and AI-based portfolio management, so investors with smaller accounts might find better value elsewhere.
Find a Financial Advisor
If you are looking for a professional financial advisor in your area, you can
find top Financial Advisors on the Wiser Advisor website.
Visit Wiser Advisor
Updated on 1/1/2025.
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