The wealth management landscape has fundamentally shifted. What worked for previous generations—single-advisor relationships with traditional fee structures—no longer serves the needs of today's high-earning professionals who demand integrated, technology-driven solutions that adapt to increasingly complex financial lives.
The choice isn't simply between "traditional" or "modern" anymore. Evaluating wealth management options involves diving into their key offerings: from service integration to technology sophistication and fee transparency. Some prioritize the personal touch of dedicated human advisors, while others gravitate toward streamlined platforms that deliver comprehensive insights without the traditional overhead.
Understanding these distinctions is crucial when selecting a wealth management partner that aligns with your preferences, complexity level, and long-term financial goals.
Range: The All-in-One Wealth Management Approach With 0% AUM Fees
Range represents the new paradigm in wealth management—an integrated platform that combines advanced technology with Certified Financial Planners to deliver comprehensive wealth management services at 0% AUM fees.1
All-in-One Wealth Management: Range consolidates everything from investment management and retirement planning to estate planning, tax preparation and filing, and real estate strategy into a single, unified platform. Range clients can access alternative investing options and guidance, manage their real estate, and have direct visibility to track their wealth journey. The platform eliminates the need for scattered accounts and siloed data by automatically updating your complete financial picture in one comprehensive view.
Tech-First: Range’s online wealth management dashboards allow members to interact with their financial data and strategic projections to gain a full view of their financial picture. No need to schedule a call with an advisor to check in on their progress towards their goals.
Fee Structure: Range operates on a transparent flat-fee model with 0% AUM fees for their advisory services1—potentially saving clients thousands annually compared to traditional 1% AUM fee structures.
Service Tiers:
- Range Premium offers comprehensive wealth management for you and your partner, including investing, retirement, and cashflow plans, 0% AUM fees, 4% APY cash savings 2, and unlimited access to financial planners.
- Range Platinum includes everything in a premium account, plus tax filing, tax-loss harvesting, direct indexing, tax planning and projections, and equity compensation planning.
- Range Titanium provides the most comprehensive service, including unlimited K-1s, international planning, and advanced real estate support.
Distinctive Strengths: Range combines AI-powered analytics with human expertise to deliver personalized guidance available 24/7 through their platform.
Fidelity: The Traditional Wealth Management Offering
Fidelity's wealth management offerings span from entry-level robo-advisory to ultra-high-net-worth private wealth services, emphasizing personalized team support and specialized expertise.
Service Tiers:
- Fidelity Go ($10 minimum): Robo-advisory with automatic rebalancing and digital access, coaching available at $25,000+ (0.35% AUM fee)
- Fidelity Advisory Services Team ($50,000 minimum): Team-based approach with portfolio management and annual reviews (0.50%-1.50% AUM fee)
- Fidelity Wealth Management ($500,000 minimum): Dedicated advisor with customized planning and specialist support (0.50%-1.04% AUM fee)
- Fidelity Private Wealth Management ($2M managed + $10M total): Advisor-led team with comprehensive planning and coordination with outside professionals (0.20%-1.04% AUM fee)
Distinctive Strengths: Fidelity excels in trust solutions, fixed income strategies, and advanced planning for complex situations like inheritances and concentrated positions. The firm provides seamless access to third-party advisors for specialized needs.
Charles Schwab: The Banking-Integrated Solution
Schwab's approach emphasizes seamless integration between wealth management and banking services, offering everything from free robo-advisory to full-scale private wealth services.
Service Tiers:
- Schwab Intelligent Portfolios ($0 minimum): Goal-oriented digital investment with 0% advisory fees (charges apply for premium tier)
- Schwab Managed Portfolios ($25,000 minimum): Professionally managed funds and ETFs with active rebalancing (0.90% AUM fee)
- Schwab Wealth Advisory ($1M minimum): Dedicated advisor with holistic financial, estate, and tax planning (0.80% AUM fee)
- Schwab Private Wealth Services ($10M+ minimum): High net worth expertise with banking integration and negotiable fees
Distinctive Strengths: Schwab offers seamless banking integration, tax-loss harvesting capabilities, and broad access to investment products. The firm excels at providing comprehensive managed account options across different wealth levels.
Vanguard: The Lower AUM Fee Option
Vanguard's wealth management services reflect the firm's foundational commitment to low-cost investing and long-term wealth building through disciplined portfolio management.
Service Tiers:
- Personal Advisor Services ($50,000 minimum): Dedicated advisor with comprehensive planning and discretionary portfolio management (0.30% AUM fee)
- Vanguard Flagship ($1M minimum): Priority service with exclusive investment research and reduced transaction fees (0.20% AUM fee)
- Personal Advisor Wealth Management ($5M minimum): Wealth partner team with CFP® professionals and access to private equity (0.20% AUM fee on first $25M)
Distinctive Strengths: Vanguard provides access to top-tier index investing and estate and trust planning. The firm offers exclusive access to private equity for high-net-worth clients.
Morgan Stanley: The Institutional-Grade Alternative
Morgan Stanley's wealth management platform targets ultra-high-net-worth individuals and institutions, offering access to sophisticated alternative investments and institutional-quality services.
Service Tiers:
- Advisory & Managed Accounts ($100,000+ minimum): Custom portfolios with financial planning and tax guidance (1.00%+ typical AUM fee)
- Private Wealth Management ($10M+ minimum): Full team support with tailored legacy and philanthropic services (negotiable fees)
Distinctive Strengths: Morgan Stanley provides access to alternative investments, including private equity, hedge funds, real estate, and impact investing platforms. The firm excels in business succession planning, philanthropic strategies, and family office support.
Choosing the Best Wealth Management for You
Finding the best wealth management option depends on your specific needs and what you prioritize in your financial planning. The key is aligning your provider's strengths with your specific requirements, whether that's cutting-edge technology, personalized human service, cost efficiency, or access to exclusive investment opportunities.
If you own multiple homes, make over $300k, and have equity from your tech job, Range can integrate your entire financial picture with a tech-first all-in-one platform, so every decision is made keeping your complete financial situation and your specific goals in mind.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do traditional wealth management fees really cost over time?
Traditional 1% AUM fees compound significantly over time. On a $1 million portfolio, you'll pay $10,000 annually, or $100,000 over ten years—not including opportunity cost on those fees. Range's transparent subscription pricing with 0% AUM fees can eliminate this drag on returns in large portfolios.1 3
Use Range's advisor cost comparison calculator to see your specific savings potential.
Can technology-powered platforms really match human advisors for complex situations?
Modern platforms like Range combine advanced technology with knowledge from a team of financial professionals including Certified Financial Planners, Certified Public Accountants, and Financial Advisors, to deliver both speed and sophistication. Technology handles data analysis, pattern recognition, and initial planning scenarios, while human experts provide strategic oversight and complex decision-making. This hybrid approach can deliver faster, more comprehensive analysis than traditional advisor-only models.
What's the minimum complexity level that justifies professional wealth management?
Professional wealth management becomes valuable when you have multiple income streams, complex tax situations, retirement planning needs, or coordination requirements across investment accounts. This can begin to occur around $200,000+ in income or when you're dealing with equity compensation, real estate investments, or business ownership. Range's platform is specifically designed for high-income professionals navigating these complexities.
How important is technology integration in choosing a wealth manager?
Technology integration is crucial for real-time financial tracking, automated rebalancing, tax optimization, and comprehensive planning scenarios. Modern platforms provide 24/7 access to your complete financial picture and can run complex analyses instantly. Without proper technology integration, you'll likely spend more time on administrative tasks and receive less frequent portfolio updates and strategic insights.
Why should I consolidate all my financial services with one provider?
Consolidation can provide better coordination, more comprehensive planning, and reduced administrative burden.
1 Brokerage fees, transaction charges, and other applicable platform fees imposed by our custodian are not included in your membership and will be passed through to you as the Member. Additionally, fund fees charged by third-party managers (such as mutual fund or ETF expense ratios) will apply; these fees are separate from your membership and are not received or shared by Range in any way.
2 The Annual Percentage Yield (APY) quoted for the cash account is as of July 30, 2025, and offered through our custodial partner, Altruist Financial LLC. The APY is variable and subject to change at any time without notice. Fees charged by Altruist Financial LLC may reduce earnings. This does not constitute a recommendation or offer to open or maintain a cash account.
3 Range’s flat-fee model may reduce overall costs compared to traditional AUM-based fees, which can help keep more assets invested. Keeping assets invested gives them the potential to compound, which may enhance returns over time—assuming there are returns. However, investment performance is not guaranteed, and all investments carry risk.
This material is provided for general informational purposes only and should not be construed as personalized investment advice or a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Range Advisory, LLC is an SEC-registered investment adviser. Registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training. All investments carry risk, including the possible loss of principal, and past performance is not indicative of future results.
Information about other financial institutions (e.g., Fidelity, Schwab, Vanguard, Morgan Stanley) is based on publicly available sources as of the date of publication. Range makes no representation as to the accuracy or completeness of this information, which may change over time.