Is a 1% financial adviser fee expensive?
A percentage is not expensive or cheap in isolation. First turn it into pounds. Then compare what you actually receive for the money.
Start with the maths
If the percentage applies to all assets under advice, the cash amount scales directly with the portfolio. A tiered or capped fee may work differently, which is why the charging model matters.
1% sits at the top end of MoneyHelper’s broad ongoing range
MoneyHelper currently gives a typical broad range of 0.5–1% for ongoing pension and investment advice. That is useful context, but it does not tell you whether a particular adviser’s 1% fee is fair for your circumstances.
A complex client receiving substantial planning work may value a more expensive service. A straightforward client receiving little beyond an annual meeting may reach a different conclusion.
Compare the service, not just the number
Ask for one number in pounds
Ask: “Based on the amount I have today, roughly what will I pay you in year one, and what would I pay in a normal ongoing year?” Then ask what is included and what other charges sit underneath.