How Much Does a Financial Advisor Cost in Singapore?
The cost of a financial advisor in Singapore varies significantly depending on the type of advisor, fee structure, and services you need. In 2026, you can expect to pay anywhere from $150 per hour for basic consultations to over $50,000 annually for comprehensive wealth management of a large portfolio.
Singapore's financial advisory landscape offers four primary pricing models: fee-only (hourly or project-based), assets under management (AUM) fees, commission-based compensation, and monthly retainer subscriptions. Each model suits different client profiles and financial situations.
Quick Price Overview
Hourly Consultation
$150 - $500
Per hour, pay-as-you-go
Project-Based Plan
$1,500 - $10,000
One-time comprehensive plan
AUM Fee
0.5% - 1.5%
Annual percentage of portfolio
Monthly Retainer
$200 - $800
Per month, ongoing access
It is important to understand that the cheapest option is not always the most cost-effective. Commission-based advice may appear free at the point of consultation, but the embedded costs within financial products can far exceed what you would pay a fee-only advisor over time. A Vanguard study found that professional financial advice adds approximately 3% in net returns annually through better investment selection, tax optimization, and behavioral coaching -- far outweighing typical advisory fees.
Fee-Only Advisor Costs
Fee-only advisors charge you directly for their services and receive no commissions from product providers. This transparency makes it easy to understand exactly what you are paying for. Here is a detailed breakdown of each fee-only pricing structure available in Singapore.
Hourly Rate: $150 - $500 per hour
Pay-As-You-GoHourly billing is the most accessible entry point for professional financial advice. Junior advisors or those at larger firms typically charge $150 to $250 per hour, while senior advisors with specialist credentials (CFP, CFA, ChFC) command $300 to $500 per hour.
Typical engagement: 2-6 hours for a focused topic, 8-15 hours for comprehensive planning
Total cost example: $250/hour x 8 hours = $2,000 for a full financial review
Best for: Specific questions, second opinions, young professionals starting out
Project-Based Fee: $1,500 - $10,000
Fixed PriceProject fees cover a defined scope of work with a clear deliverable. A basic financial plan costs $1,500 to $3,000, while comprehensive plans covering investments, insurance, estate, tax, and retirement typically run $5,000 to $10,000. Complex situations involving cross-border assets or business succession can exceed $10,000.
Basic financial plan: $1,500 - $3,000 (budgeting, insurance review, simple investment plan)
Comprehensive plan: $5,000 - $10,000 (full financial plan with implementation roadmap)
Best for: Major life events, one-time planning needs, getting a complete financial roadmap
AUM Fee: 0.5% - 1.5% annually
Percentage of AssetsAssets Under Management (AUM) fees are charged as a percentage of the portfolio your advisor manages. Rates typically decrease as your portfolio grows: 1.0% to 1.5% for portfolios under $500,000, 0.75% to 1.0% for $500,000 to $2 million, and 0.5% to 0.75% for portfolios above $2 million.
$250,000 portfolio at 1%: $2,500 per year
$1,000,000 portfolio at 0.8%: $8,000 per year
Best for: Ongoing portfolio management, clients who want hands-off investing, high-net-worth individuals
Commission-Based Advisor Costs
Commission-based advisors do not charge you directly. Instead, they earn commissions from the financial products they sell you. While this appears free, the costs are embedded in the products and can be substantial over time.
How Commissions Work in Singapore
When a commission-based advisor recommends an insurance policy, unit trust, or investment-linked plan (ILP), the product provider pays the advisor a commission. This commission is built into the product fees you pay, making it less visible but no less real.
Insurance Policies
Commission: 25% to 50% of first-year premiums, plus 5% to 10% trail commission on renewals. A $5,000/year whole life policy could generate $1,250 to $2,500 in first-year commission alone.
Unit Trusts / Mutual Funds
Front-end sales charge: 1% to 5% of investment amount. A $100,000 investment could cost you $1,000 to $5,000 upfront, plus annual trailer fees of 0.5% to 1% built into the fund expense ratio.
Investment-Linked Plans (ILPs)
Commission: 30% to 50% of first 18-24 months of premiums. These are among the highest-commission products in Singapore, with total fees often reaching 2% to 4% annually.
The Hidden Cost Problem
A commission-based advisor managing a $300,000 portfolio through ILPs and high-fee unit trusts could cost you $6,000 to $12,000 per year in embedded fees -- two to four times what a fee-only advisor would charge. Over 20 years, this difference compounds to tens of thousands of dollars in lost returns.
Retainer and Subscription Models
The retainer or subscription model is gaining popularity in Singapore, particularly among younger professionals and mid-career individuals who want ongoing advisory access without large upfront costs or asset-based fees.
Monthly Retainer: $200 - $800 per month
SubscriptionYou pay a fixed monthly fee for ongoing access to your advisor. This typically includes quarterly portfolio reviews, annual financial plan updates, unlimited email or messaging support, and a set number of meetings per year.
Basic Tier
$200 - $350/mo
- - 2 meetings per year
- - Annual plan review
- - Email support
- - Basic investment guidance
Standard Tier
$350 - $550/mo
- - 4 meetings per year
- - Quarterly reviews
- - Priority support
- - Portfolio management
Premium Tier
$550 - $800/mo
- - Monthly meetings
- - Full wealth management
- - Tax optimization
- - Estate planning support
Retainer models work well for clients in the wealth-building phase who have moderate portfolios ($50,000 to $500,000) but complex planning needs. The predictable monthly cost makes budgeting straightforward, and you avoid paying more as your assets grow (unlike AUM fees).
What Affects Financial Advisor Fees
Several factors determine how much you will pay for financial advice in Singapore. Understanding these can help you negotiate better rates and find the right value proposition.
Complexity of Your Situation
Straightforward financial planning (single income, CPF optimization, basic insurance) costs less than complex situations involving multiple income sources, cross-border assets, business ownership, or trust structures.
Impact: Can double or triple the cost of a financial plan
Total Assets Under Management
Larger portfolios generally attract lower percentage fees but higher absolute dollar costs. A $5 million portfolio at 0.5% costs $25,000 per year, while a $200,000 portfolio at 1.5% costs just $3,000.
Impact: Percentage fees decrease as assets increase
Scope of Services
A basic investment review costs far less than comprehensive planning that covers retirement projections, insurance optimization, estate planning, tax strategy, and education funding all together.
Impact: Full-service plans cost 3-5x a single-topic consultation
Advisor Experience and Credentials
A CFP or CFA charterholder with 15+ years of experience will charge more than a newly licensed advisor. However, experienced advisors may save you more through superior planning and fewer costly mistakes.
Impact: Senior advisors charge 50-100% more than junior advisors
Cost Comparison Table: All Fee Models
The following table compares total costs across all fee models for three common portfolio sizes over a five-year period. This helps you see which model delivers the best value for your specific situation.
| Fee Model | $100K Portfolio (5yr) | $500K Portfolio (5yr) | $1M Portfolio (5yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hourly Fee-Only | $2,000 - $5,000 | $3,000 - $7,500 | $4,000 - $10,000 |
| AUM Fee (1%) | $5,000 | $25,000 | $50,000 |
| Commission-Based | $5,000 - $15,000 | $25,000 - $75,000 | $50,000 - $150,000 |
| Monthly Retainer ($400) | $24,000 | $24,000 | $24,000 |
Key Insight
Hourly fee-only is most economical for smaller portfolios and infrequent advice needs. AUM fees become competitive for larger portfolios needing ongoing management. Retainer models offer the best value for mid-range portfolios ($200K-$500K) with regular planning needs. Commission-based models consistently rank as the most expensive when total embedded costs are considered.
Is a Financial Advisor Worth the Cost?
The value of financial advice extends well beyond investment returns. Research consistently shows that professional financial planning delivers measurable benefits that exceed the costs for most individuals.
Measurable ROI from Financial Advice
- - Portfolio optimization: 0.5% to 1.5% higher annual returns through better asset allocation and lower-cost investment products
- - Tax efficiency: $2,000 to $15,000+ saved annually through SRS contributions, tax-loss harvesting, and structure optimization
- - Insurance right-sizing: $1,000 to $5,000 saved per year by eliminating over-insurance and finding competitive premiums
- - Behavioral coaching: Preventing panic selling during downturns can save 1% to 3% annually in avoided losses
- - CPF optimization: Proper CPF allocation and top-ups can yield additional $50,000 to $200,000 over a working lifetime
When an Advisor May NOT Be Worth It
- - You have very simple finances (single income, no dependents, no property)
- - Your investable assets are under $50,000
- - You are knowledgeable and disciplined about investing
- - You only need basic insurance (term life, hospitalization)
- - A robo-advisor meets your investment needs
Even in these cases, a one-time consultation ($300-$500) can provide valuable validation of your strategy and identify blind spots.
How to Choose Based on Your Budget
Your available budget for financial advice should guide which fee model and level of service you pursue. Here are recommendations for three common budget ranges.
Budget: Under $500
If you have less than $500 to spend on financial advice, focus on getting the most impactful guidance in a single session.
- - Best option: One to two hourly consultations with a fee-only advisor ($150-$250/hour)
- - Focus on: Insurance review, CPF optimization, or investment strategy -- pick one priority topic
- - Alternative: Free resources from MoneySense.gov.sg combined with a robo-advisor for investing
- - Avoid: Commission-based advisors who may sell you unnecessary products to earn their commission
Budget: $500 - $2,000
This budget range opens up meaningful planning options that cover multiple aspects of your financial life.
- - Best option: Project-based financial plan ($1,500-$2,000) covering investments, insurance, and retirement
- - Alternative: Monthly retainer at $200-$350/month for 3-6 months to address multiple needs
- - Focus on: Comprehensive financial review with written action plan and implementation guidance
- - Expected outcome: Clear roadmap for the next 3-5 years, optimized insurance and investment portfolio
Budget: $2,000+ Monthly
At this level, you can access premium wealth management services with comprehensive, ongoing support.
- - Best option: AUM-based fee-only advisor for portfolios above $500,000, or premium retainer package
- - Services included: Full portfolio management, tax optimization, estate planning, insurance review, retirement projections
- - Expect: Quarterly reviews, proactive rebalancing, access to institutional investment products
- - Value add: At this level, your advisor should be saving or earning you more than their fee through optimization
Questions to Ask About Fees
Before engaging any financial advisor, ask these questions to ensure full transparency about costs. A trustworthy advisor will answer all of these clearly and without hesitation.
1. What is your complete fee schedule?
Ask for a written breakdown of all fees, including advisory fees, product costs, transaction fees, and any other charges. There should be no surprises.
2. Do you receive any commissions or referral fees?
Even fee-based (not fee-only) advisors may receive commissions on certain products. Ask explicitly: "Will you earn any compensation from any party other than me?"
3. What is the total annual cost for someone in my situation?
Request a specific dollar estimate based on your portfolio size, complexity, and expected services. This makes comparison between advisors straightforward.
4. Are there minimum fees or account minimums?
Some advisors require minimum portfolio sizes ($100,000 to $500,000+) or charge minimum annual fees. Know these thresholds before investing time in discussions.
5. What happens if I terminate the engagement?
Understand cancellation terms, notice periods, and any exit fees. Fee-only advisors typically have straightforward termination -- commission-based products may have surrender charges.
6. How do your fees compare to industry averages?
A confident advisor will benchmark their fees against the market. Use the ranges in this guide to evaluate whether the quoted fees are competitive.
7. What services are included, and what costs extra?
Clarify whether your fee covers tax planning, insurance reviews, estate planning, or if these are billed separately. Understand exactly what you are paying for.
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