Wealth In Yourself vs. AUM
The 1% fee isn't 1%. It's much more.
At $5M, a 1% AUM fee costs you $2,369,210 in portfolio value over 20 years — and $6,992,247 over 30. The math is simple. The impact is not.
The side-by-side comparison.
Fee Structure
AUM Advisor
1% of assets under management
WIY
Flat fee based on net worth
Minimum
AUM Advisor
Usually $1M–$5M AUM
WIY
$10K/year minimum (typically $1M+ net worth)
Scope of services
AUM Advisor
Primarily portfolio management
WIY
Tax, investments, estate, insurance, business planning, RE investor planning, financial therapy
Fee grows when portfolio grows
AUM Advisor
Yes — automatically, even if they did nothing
WIY
Rate declines as your net worth grows
Incentive to keep assets in your account
AUM Advisor
Yes — moving money out reduces their fee
WIY
None. Your fee doesn't change based on where assets are held.
Conflicts of interest
AUM Advisor
Incentive to discourage paying down debt, gifting, real estate purchases, or starting a business
WIY
Zero. Fee is independent of asset allocation decisions.
CPA, attorney, insurance coordination
AUM Advisor
You find and manage them yourself
WIY
Vetted VFO partner network — coordinated and included
Meeting frequency
AUM Advisor
Typically 1-2 per year
WIY
Unlimited — meet as often as you need
Transparent pricing published online
AUM Advisor
Rarely
WIY
Always
“The AUM model was designed in the 1980s. Better than commissions. But ‘better than commissions’ is a low bar.”
— Josh St. Laurent
The Math
The math at $5M over 20 years.
Fees are paid from the portfolio each year, reducing the base for future growth.
Portfolio Benefit
$2,369,210
more in your portfolio with WIY over 20 years
30-Year Benefit
$6,992,247
more in your portfolio with WIY over 30 years
AUM Fees Paid (20yr)
$1,953,284
cumulative fees
WIY Fees Paid (20yr)
$603,447
cumulative fees
Fee Delta (20yr)
$1,349,836
less in fees with WIY
Year 1 · AUM Portfolio: $5,296,500
AUM Fee
$53,500/yr
Total: $53,500
WIY Fee
$21,700/yr
Total: $21,700
Year 5 · AUM Portfolio: $6,669,064
AUM Fee
$67,364/yr
Total: $301,163
WIY Fee
$24,809/yr
Total: $116,019
Year 10 · AUM Portfolio: $8,895,282
AUM Fee
$89,851/yr
Total: $702,859
WIY Fee
$30,041/yr
Total: $255,074
Year 15 · AUM Portfolio: $11,864,641
AUM Fee
$119,845/yr
Total: $1,238,645
WIY Fee
$34,158/yr
Total: $418,106
Year 20 · AUM Portfolio: $15,825,209
AUM Fee
$159,851/yr
Total: $1,953,284
WIY Fee
$39,234/yr
Total: $603,447
Assumes 7% annual portfolio growth for illustrative purposes only. Actual returns will vary. This is not a guarantee of future performance. Fees are assumed to be deducted from the portfolio annually. AUM fee is 1% of portfolio value each year (grows with portfolio). WIY fee is a flat fee based on starting net worth (does not grow with portfolio returns).
Why AUM fees are a structural problem.
The AUM model was designed in the 1980s as a step up from commissions. It was better. But "better than commissions" is a low bar.
The structural problem: your advisor earns more when your investable account balance grows. That creates a quiet incentive to keep assets parked — even when moving them is the right call.
Should you pay off the mortgage? Buy a rental property? Fund a business? Gift to your kids? Start a donor-advised fund? These are often the best financial decisions you can make. Every one of them reduces your advisor's paycheck.
A flat fee based on net worth removes that conflict entirely. We get paid the same whether you invest it, spend it, gift it, or deploy it into real estate. Our only job is to help you make the right decision.
This comparison uses hypothetical examples for illustrative purposes only. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Individual results will vary. Assumes 7% annual portfolio growth with fees deducted annually. Actual returns, fees, and outcomes depend on individual circumstances and market conditions.
See what your fee would actually be at Wealth In Yourself.
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