Is It Worth Paying a Percentage to a Financial Advisor?

If you’ve built up a solid portfolio, say, $250,000 or more, you’ve probably asked yourself this:

“Is it really worth paying a financial advisor a percentage of my investments?” It’s a smart question. For a $250,000 portfolio, a typical advisor fee of 1% per year comes out to $2,500. That’s not pocket change, so it’s worth understanding what you’re getting in return.

Let’s take a closer look.

What Are You Actually Paying For?

✅ A Plan That Connects All the Dots

True financial planning is it’s about coordination, not just returns. Your investments, insurance, tax strategies, estate planning, and even your business structure should all work together.

A quality advisor helps you:

• Reduce unnecessary taxes.

• Strategically use insurance (life, disability, critical illness).

• Plan for wealth transfer and succession.

• Structure compensation and cash flow effectively.

• Navigate major transitions like selling a business or planning for retirement.

  
  

Most DIY platforms or one-off product advisors won’t do this. It’s about having someone actively steward the process.

✅ Protection from Costly Mistakes

One poorly timed decision can cost more than years’ worth of fees. Selling in a panic, buying at a peak, missing tax deadlines, or neglecting insurance, all of these can set your plan back by six figures.

A good advisor doesn’t just help you grow wealth, they help you avoid preventable setbacks.

✅ A Trusted Second Brain for Your Financial Life

Managing significant wealth often means managing complexity. Corporate structures, real estate holdings, cross-border tax considerations, group benefits, and succession plans, none of these live in a vacuum.

A proactive advisor serves as a strategic partner, coordinating with your accountant, lawyer, and internal team to make sure your entire financial picture is working in sync.

✅ Ongoing Advice, Not One-Time Transactions

With the right advisor, you’re not just paying for a plan. You’re paying for ongoing guidance, regular reviews, and strategic adjustments as your life, goals, and the market evolve.

In other words, you’re not buying products. You’re investing in leadership, clarity, and long-term alignment.

So... Is It Worth It? If you’re simply paying for investment access or a few basic recommendations, probably not. But if you're working with someone who:

• Builds a truly integrated financial plan

• Shields you from mistakes

• Helps you preserve and protect wealth across generations

• Provides clarity and confidence in your financial decisions

  
  

...then yes. The right advisor doesn’t cost money, they help you unlock more of what your wealth is capable of.

Final Thought: Whether you're managing a growing portfolio, running a business, or planning your legacy, the question shouldn’t just be “How much does it cost?”.

The better question is: “What am I missing by not having the right advisor?”

About the Author

Matthew Sheppard-Brown is a Calgary-based financial consultant who works with professionals, entrepreneurs, and high-net-worth families to build integrated financial strategies that go beyond investments.

His approach brings together insurance, tax, retirement, estate, and business planning. So every dollar works harder, and every decision has a purpose.

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