Fidelity charges for information in three main ways: a percentage of assets you put under management, a flat annual fee, or an hourly rate

Fidelity offers financial information through different channels, and the cost depends on which one you use. If you work with a Fidelity advisor who manages your investments, you typically pay an assets under management (AUM) fee — usually between 0.3% and 1% per year of the money they manage, though the exact rate varies by account size and the specific service level. If you want information without ongoing management, you can pay an hourly rate (typically $150 to $400 per hour, depending on the advisor's experience) or a flat annual fee for a financial plan. Fidelity also offers some guidance through their website and phone advisors at no extra charge if you hold certain account types.

The cost structure matters because it shapes how the advisor is paid. An advisor earning a percentage of your assets has an incentive to grow the money they manage — which can align with your goals, but also means they benefit if your account grows. An hourly or flat-fee advisor is paid the same whether your account goes up or down, which removes that conflict. Understanding which model you are using helps you know what to expect on your statement and what the advisor's financial incentive actually is.

Key Takeaways

  • Fidelity's managed accounts typically charge 0.3% to 1% per year of assets under management, with lower percentages for larger accounts.
  • Hourly financial planning information costs roughly $150 to $400 per hour depending on the advisor's credentials and experience.
  • Flat-fee plans for a one-time financial plan or annual retainer are also available but the cost varies by complexity and scope.
  • Some Fidelity services, including basic guidance and retirement planning tools, carry no advisory fee if you maintain a may have access to account.
  • The fee structure — percentage, hourly, or flat — determines whether the advisor benefits when your money grows.

Assets Under Management (AUM) fees and how they work

When you hire a Fidelity advisor to manage your investments on an ongoing basis, the most common fee structure is a percentage of the total value of your account. This is called an assets under management fee. The percentage typically ranges from 0.3% to 1% per year, but the exact rate depends on how much money you have under management and which Fidelity service you choose.

Here is how the math works: if you have $100,000 under management and pay 0.5% per year, you pay $500 annually. That fee is usually deducted from your account automatically, often quarterly. If your account grows to $150,000, the fee grows to $750 that year. If it shrinks to $80,000, the fee drops to $400. The fee is calculated on the balance at the time of deduction, so it changes as your account value changes.

Fidelity typically offers tiered pricing, meaning the percentage drops as your account gets larger. For example, you might pay 0.75% on the first $250,000, then 0.5% on amounts above that. This rewards larger accounts with lower rates. Some Fidelity advisors also offer wrap accounts, where the AUM fee includes both the advisor's fee and the cost of trading and custodial services, so you see one fee rather than multiple line items.

Hourly and flat-fee advisory services

If you do not want an advisor managing your money continuously, you can pay for information by the hour or as a flat fee for a specific project. Hourly rates at Fidelity typically range from $150 to $400 per hour, depending on the advisor's credentials (whether they hold a CFP or similar designation) and experience level. A financial planning conversation might take two to five hours, so a complete plan could cost $300 to $2,000 or more.

Flat-fee arrangements are also available for specific deliverables — for example, a retirement income plan, a college savings strategy, or a comprehensive financial plan. The cost varies widely based on what is included and the complexity of your situation. A straightforward plan might cost $500 to $1,500, while a detailed plan covering multiple goals could run $2,000 to $5,000 or higher. Unlike AUM fees, these fees do not change if your account balance changes; you pay the agreed amount regardless.

Hourly and flat-fee advisors have no financial incentive to recommend that you invest more money or that your account grows, because they are paid the same either way. This structure can reduce conflicts of interest, though it also means you are paying out of pocket for the information rather than having the fee deducted from your account.

No-cost guidance and when you might not pay an advisory fee

Fidelity offers some financial guidance at no additional charge. If you hold a Fidelity brokerage account, you can access retirement calculators, investment guidance tools, and educational content on their website for free. You can also speak with a Fidelity representative by phone about general investing topics, account setup, and basic questions about your holdings without paying an advisory fee.

However, this free guidance is not the same as personalized investment management. A Fidelity phone representative can answer questions and point you toward resources, but they are not building a custom investment strategy for you or monitoring your account over time. If you want ongoing information tailored to your specific situation — your goals, risk tolerance, time horizon, and financial picture — you will need to move to a paid advisory relationship.

Some workplace retirement plans through Fidelity also include advisory services as part of the plan, so check your plan documents to see whether information is already included in what your employer offers.

What affects the cost of your advisory relationship

Several factors influence what you actually pay. Account size is the biggest one: larger accounts may have access to for lower AUM percentages, so a $500,000 account might pay 0.4% while a $50,000 account pays 0.75%. Account type matters too — advisory fees for retirement accounts (IRAs, 401(k) rollovers) may differ from fees for taxable brokerage accounts. Service level

The advisor's credentials and experience affect hourly and flat-fee pricing. A CFP (Certified Financial Planner) or CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) typically charges more per hour than an advisor without those designations. Complexity of your situation also plays a role — if you have multiple income sources, business ownership, significant assets, or complicated tax situations, fees tend to be higher because the work is more involved.

Finally, whether the advisor is a fiduciary can affect cost. A fiduciary is legally required to put your interests ahead of their own. Most Fidelity advisors are fiduciaries when they are managing your account, but it is worth confirming this in writing before you begin.

How to compare Fidelity advisory costs with other options

To understand whether Fidelity's fees are reasonable for your situation, you need to know what you are comparing. If you are considering a managed account with a 0.5% AUM fee, that is comparable to similar services at other brokerages — Schwab, Vanguard, and Merrill Lynch all offer managed accounts in roughly the same range. However, if you are comparing a Fidelity hourly advisor at $250 per hour to a fee-only financial planner in your area, you may find significant variation depending on local market rates and the planner's experience.

One useful comparison: if you are paying 0.75% AUM on a $100,000 account ($750 per year), that is equivalent to paying a flat fee of roughly $750 annually. If you only need information once every few years, an hourly or flat-fee arrangement might cost less. If you need ongoing monitoring and adjustments, the AUM model might be more economical because you are spreading the cost across multiple years of service.

Always ask Fidelity for a written fee schedule before you commit. The schedule should clearly state the percentage or hourly rate, any minimum account sizes, and whether the fee covers trading costs and custodial services or if those are separate.

Reading your Fidelity statement to find advisory fees

Your advisory fee should appear on your Fidelity account statement as a separate line item. For AUM fees, look for a line labeled "Advisory Fee" or "Management Fee" — it will show the percentage rate and the dollar amount deducted. This deduction typically happens quarterly, so you will see it four times per year. If you are on an hourly or flat-fee arrangement, the fee may appear as a one-time charge or as a series of charges depending on the agreement.

If you do not see a fee on your statement but you believe you should be paying one, contact your Fidelity advisor or call Fidelity directly to confirm the fee arrangement. Sometimes fees are deducted from a specific account within your relationship, or they may be billed separately if you are using a third-party advisor through Fidelity's platform.

Keep in mind that advisory fees are separate from other costs you may pay, such as expense ratios on mutual funds or ETFs held in your account, trading commissions (if applicable), or account maintenance fees. Your statement should break these out so you can see the full picture of what you are paying.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Fidelity charge a fee if I just buy and hold index funds on my own?

No. If you manage your own account without using a Fidelity advisor, you pay no advisory fee. You will pay the expense ratio on any mutual funds or ETFs you own (typically 0.03% to 0.20% per year for index funds), but that is not an advisory fee — it is the cost of the fund itself. Fidelity's brokerage account has no account maintenance fee or trading commission for stocks and ETFs.

Can I negotiate the advisory fee with a Fidelity advisor?

Fidelity's published fee schedules are generally fixed, but advisors may have some flexibility on flat fees for planning projects, especially for larger accounts or complex situations. It does not hurt to ask, but expect the AUM percentage to be non-negotiable. Get any fee agreement in writing before you begin.

What happens to my advisory fee if my account loses money?

With an AUM fee, you still pay the percentage on the lower balance. If your account drops from $100,000 to $80,000, your 0.5% fee drops from $500 to $400. You are paying less because there is less money to manage, but you are still paying. With hourly or flat-fee arrangements, the fee does not change regardless of account performance.

Is there a minimum account size to work with a Fidelity advisor?

Fidelity's minimums vary by service. Managed accounts typically require $25,000 to $50,000 to start, though some services have lower minimums. Hourly and flat-fee planning may have no minimum. Ask your specific Fidelity advisor or service about their minimum before you commit.

Do I pay the advisory fee if I am not using the advisor that year?

If you have a managed account with an AUM fee, the fee continues as long as the account is open and under management, even if you do not make changes that year. If you have a flat-fee or hourly arrangement, you only pay when you use the service. If you want to stop paying advisory fees on a managed account, you would need to close the relationship or move to a self-directed account.