How Much Does a Financial Advisor Cost in Missoula?

One reason many Missoula-area residents avoid talking to a financial advisor is the assumption that it's expensive — and "you need a minimum of $X to work with us" gates they've encountered before. Here's an honest look at what fee-only advisors actually cost and what options exist for middle-income households.

Fee structures: the three main models

AUM (percentage of assets managed): the most common structure for ongoing wealth management. Typically 0.75%-1.25% per year of assets managed. On a $200,000 portfolio, that's $1,500-$2,500/year. Many advisors have account minimums ($250K- $500K is common) that price out smaller accounts from ongoing management relationships — this is worth asking about directly when evaluating an advisor.

Hourly fees: useful for specific advice without ongoing management. Typical range is $250-$450/hour. A 2-hour consultation to review pension options, Medicare timing, or a retirement income plan costs $500-$900 — meaningful but often significantly cheaper than either a poor decision or an ongoing AUM relationship for something that's a one-time question.

Flat / subscription fees: a growing model specifically designed to serve middle-income households who need financial planning but don't have the asset size that makes AUM pricing work for either party. Pricing varies, but $150-$400/month is a typical range for ongoing comprehensive financial planning without AUM management.

For public-sector employees: what advice is worth paying for

The decisions that have the highest financial consequences for University of Montana and state government employees are often one-time, irreversible choices that an hourly consultation handles well:

• Montana PERS or TRS retirement election (which payout option to choose — single life, joint and survivor, etc.).
• Decision about a pension buyout, if offered.
• Timing of retirement relative to Social Security eligibility.
• Whether and how to use a supplemental 457(b) or 403(b) to bridge to retirement.

For these questions, one or two hours with a fee-only advisor familiar with Montana public employee retirement systems is usually worth more than months of ongoing AUM management at a point in your career when the investments themselves aren't the hard part.