Wealth Enhancement Review 2026: Pros, Cons and How It Compares

Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services provides comprehensive financial planning with access to a team of specialists that cover every aspect of financial planning.

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Updated: Apr 3, 2026 7:55 a.m. PDT
Taryn Phaneuf
Written by 
Lead Writer & Content Strategist
Tina Orem
Edited by 
Editor & Content Strategist
Fact Checked
Taryn Phaneuf
Written by 
Lead Writer & Content Strategist
+ 1 more
Tina Orem
Edited by 
Editor & Content Strategist
Fact Checked

Our Take

5.0

NerdWallet rating

Reviewed in: April 2026

Period considered: Feb. - April 2026

The bottom line:

Wealth Enhancement customizes portfolios with a wide range of investment options to suit varied goals and financial situations. The firm’s AUM fee is 1.25% on the first $1 million of assets under management, but the percentage is lower on amounts above that threshold.

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Wealth Enhancement Group

Wealth Enhancement Group

Fees

1% to 1.5%

Account minimum

$25,000

Varies by advisor team and service

Fees

1% to 1.5%

Account minimum

$25,000

Varies by advisor team and service

Promotion

None

no promotion available at this time

Unpaid non-client promotion

Show details

Pros & Cons

Pros
  • Offers comprehensive financial planning services.

  • Multiple custodial options, including Fidelity, Charles Schwab, Raymond James and BNY Pershing.

  • Supports trust, charitable and business accounts in addition to typical taxable and tax-advantaged accounts.

  • Can directly manage workplace retirement accounts such as 401(k)s.

Cons
  • Fees could be calculated in multiple ways because the firm’s advisors have leeway to use two types of AUM fee schedules, which we think could be confusing. Prospective clients should investigate all fee options before hiring the firm.

  • Fees are above average for accounts with less than $3 million in assets under management.

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Full Review

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Where Wealth Enhancement shines


Comprehensive and holistic financial planning. Wealth Enhancement demonstrates breadth and depth in financial planning. Your advisor coordinates each aspect of the planning process and implementation, which ensures all the pieces work together to achieve your goals. And advisors can tap into the expertise of in-house specialists to tailor your plan to your unique circumstances.

Broad investment options. The firm custom-builds portfolios that can include a variety of asset classes and accounts, making it able to meet investment needs ranging from the very simple to the very complex.

Where Wealth Enhancement could do more


Some services cost extra. It’s very normal in the financial planning industry to make certain estate planning and tax services available in addition to the firm’s financial advisory fee. That’s the case with Wealth Enhancement, which bills separately for tax preparation and trust services. But it is possible to find firms that include tax filing or other services in their financial planning and investment management fees, if that’s important to you. Some may require you to meet a certain AUM threshold.

Alternatives to consider:

For all-inclusive services: Range or Allworth Financial

Who should choose Wealth Enhancement?


Households with complex financial needs. Wealth Enhancement is designed to serve a wide range of households. But those who can take advantage of its specialists’ deep expertise — and who want the convenience of consolidated financial services — likely would get the most out of working with the firm.

Wealth Enhancement at a glance


Reviewed in: April 2026

Period considered: Feb. - April 2026

Account minimum

Typically $25,000 but varies by advisor team; some investment programs may have higher minimums.

AUM, fixed or hourly fees

Management fees can vary based on client needs and services provided. Tiered fee-rate schedules are typical, but Wealth Enhancement may also use flat-rate annual fee percentages or flat fees in certain circumstances. Below is an example of a typical tiered fee schedule, but rates and schedules are agreed on with each client in advance.

  • Up to $1 million in AUM: 1.25%

  • $1 million to $3 million: 1%

  • $3 million to $5 million: 0.90%

  • $5 million to $10 million: 0.80%

  • $10 million and higher: 0.60%

Advisor access and credentials

Advisors are available via email, phone, text, video and in-person meetings. Clients work with a primary advisor who is part of a larger advisor team; a centralized group of specialists covering many advanced planning areas is also available. All advisors are licensed fiduciaries. The firm includes certified financial planners (CFPs), certified public accountants, attorneys, certified fund specialists (CFSs), accredited asset management specialists (AAMS) and certified retirement counselors (CRCs).

Financial planning services

Wealth Enhancement advisors offer clients comprehensive financial planning, which can include retirement planning, investment management, tax strategy, estate planning and more as part of the financial advisory fee. Certain services, such as tax preparation and filing and trust services, may be billed separately.

Investment expense ratios

Vary depending on the chosen strategy. Wealth Enhancement's long-term growth ETF portfolio has an expense ratio of 0.13%. More advanced solutions may carry higher fees.

Portfolio construction

Custom built, diversified portfolios align with each client's unique needs and goals. Portfolios may be constructed using individual securities, ETFs, mutual funds, separately managed accounts and/or limited partnerships (when appropriate).

Clients can customize portfolios based on their personal preferences, such as faith-based, social or environmental considerations. Wealth Enhancement also offers a wide range of solutions in private markets, real estate, option overlays, structured notes and long/short separately managed accounts.

Brokerage options

Clients receiving advisory services have multiple custodial options, including Fidelity, Charles Schwab, Raymond James and BNY Pershing.

Accounts supported

Wealth Enhancement supports a broad range of taxable and tax advantaged account types, as well as trust, charitable and business accounts, depending on structure and client needs. Advisors may directly manage workplace retirement plans.

Tax strategy

Wealth Enhancement offers tax-efficient fund placement strategies, tax-loss harvesting, direct indexing and other specialized strategies. Advisors implement these strategies (leveraging the guidance of a centralized tax team) using proprietary tax-smart technology.

What to know about Wealth Enhancement’s account minimum and fees

To work with Wealth Enhancement, you’ll typically need at least $25,000 in investable assets. But some advisor teams or investment programs may have higher minimum requirements.

Like many financial advisors, Wealth Enhancement charges a percentage of assets under management for financial planning and investment management services. Fees may vary based on each client’s needs. Wealth Enhancement typically uses a tiered fee schedule, which applies lower fees to assets above certain thresholds. Below is an example of a schedule, but rates and schedules are agreed on with each client before signing up with an advisor.

  • Up to $1 million in AUM: 1.25%

  • $1 million to $3 million: 1%

  • $3 million to $5 million: 0.90%

  • $5 million to $10 million: 0.80%

  • $10 million and higher: 0.60%

Based on this fee schedule, someone with $1 million in AUM would pay $12,500 per year to work with a Wealth Enhancement advisor. A client with $3 million in AUM would pay $12,500 for the first $1 million and $20,000 for the next $2 million. In all, they’d pay $32,500 annually — an effective AUM rate of 1.08%.

But keep in mind that fees are negotiable. The firm says it recommends that advisors use the tiered fee schedule, but advisors may use a flat-rate AUM fee schedule in some circumstances. That means the same rate would apply on every dollar you have in AUM. That could be an advantage, depending on your AUM. Here’s an example of what that could look like, which we pulled from Wealth Enhancement’s Form ADV:

  • Someone with $999,999 or less pays 1.5%.

  • Someone with $1 million to $2 million pays 1.25%.

  • Someone with more than $2 million pays 1%.

Based on that example, someone paying a flat-rate AUM fee who has $3 million in AUM would pay $30,000, making the cost slightly lower than it would be if the tiered fee schedule were applied. But the tiered-fee schedule would be the lower-cost option for someone with less than $1 million in AUM or more than roughly $5.5 million.

The firm also may charge flat fees or hourly rates for financial planning or consulting (without asset management).

» Learn more about financial advisor fees

Wealth Enhancement's advisor access


Wealth Enhancement has more than 600 fiduciary advisors across 182 offices in 35 states. Most of its advisors are certified financial planners (CFPs). You may also work with advisors who are certified public accountants, attorneys, certified fund specialists (CFSs), accredited asset management specialists (AAMS) or certified retirement counselors (CRCs).

The firm walks each client through an onboarding process and matches you with an advisor who is well-suited to your goals, stage of life and personal preferences. For example, the firm says it has advisors who specialize in providing financial advice to women. Your advisor becomes your primary advisor and meets regularly to understand your goals and review performance. You can connect with your advisor via email, phone, text, video and in-person meetings, which may occur on an annual, semi-annual or quarterly basis. Clients drive the cadence of those meetings.

Wealth Enhancement’s financial planning services


Wealth Enhancement offers comprehensive financial planning as part of its AUM fee. For example your advisor may cover:

  • Retirement planning.

  • Investment management.

  • Tax strategy.

  • College planning.

  • Estate planning.

  • Equity compensation planning.

  • Concentrated stock planning.

  • Charitable strategies.

  • Cash management strategies.

Additionally, Wealth Enhancement has a centralized group of specialists that support your advisor in financial planning, estate planning, tax planning, annuities, insurance, retirement plan consulting, business valuation and exit planning, employer-sponsored retirement account management, investments and more.

The firm also offers services that would be billed separately, such as tax preparation and filing and trust services.

More Nerdy Perspective
On Wealth Enhancement’s advisor collaboration

While I was researching Wealth Enhancement for this review, I spoke with John Overton, VP for new client development. He supervises the new-client onboarding process, which culminates in matching you with an advisor. He says the firm was founded by three advisors with varied expertise who wanted to work together to provide better, more thorough financial advice. And that spirit of collaboration remains intact, especially in the way specialists are used.

“We have experts in every area of financial planning that the advisor who’s really servicing the client can tap into when needed to help create better solutions or outcomes,” Overton says. “These are subject-matter experts, they’re highly credentialed, and they’re there to help support the advisor community.”

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Taryn Phaneuf

Other key Wealth Enhancement features


Portfolio construction

Clients must move investable assets to one of Wealth Enhancement’s custodians. Options include Fidelity, Charles Schwab, Raymond James and BNY Pershing.

Wealth Enhancement says its advisors practice “plan-led investing,” Advisors start by building a client's comprehensive financial plan based on retirement goals, values, tax situation and risk profile. Those factors influence investment decisions, including asset allocation, liquidity and withdrawal recommendations.

Investment portfolios are custom-built to be diversified and aligned with each client's needs and goals. Portfolios may include individual securities, ETFs and mutual funds, as well as investments in private markets and real estate. Advisors can accommodate personal preferences, such as faith-based, social or environmental considerations.

Wealth Enhancement also uses investment structures, such as separately managed accounts (SMAs) and limited partnerships, and more complex strategies (e.g., option overlays, structured notes, and long/short SMAs) — tools typically associated with high-net-worth clients.

Accounts supported

Wealth Enhancement can manage a broad range of account types, including:

  • Taxable accounts (individual, joint, and family registrations).

  • Retirement accounts, such as traditional and Roth IRAs, IRA rollovers and employer‑sponsored plan rollovers.

  • Trust, charitable, and business accounts, depending on structure and client needs.

Additionally, advisors may be able to directly manage workplace retirement accounts, depending on their plan parameters and custodians. Wealth Enhancement uses third-party technology and custodian-supported programs to incorporate eligible employer-sponsored retirement accounts into the advisory process.

Tax strategy

Wealth Enhancement uses tax-efficient asset location, tax-loss harvesting and direct indexing and other specialized strategies to minimize taxes. Advisors implement these strategies with guidance from a centralized tax team using proprietary technology.

Tax preparation and strategic tax planning and consulting services are also available from the firm’s Wealth Enhancement Tax and Consulting Services team and tax partners.

Good to know about Wealth Enhancement


Wealth Enhancement was founded in 1997 in Minneapolis. Today, the firm has more than $94.6 billion in assets under management. It works with high-net-worth individuals — a term used by the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission to identify clients with more than $1.1 million in AUM — but most of its clients don’t fall into that bucket. These factors can be useful indicators of the firm’s experience and stability, as well as who it may be designed to serve best.

Is Wealth Enhancement right for you?


Wealth Enhancement could be right for you if you have a complex financial picture and would be able to leverage the firm’s team of specialists.

If you’re sold on the firm but don’t know how to pick an advisor from Wealth Enhancement’s expansive roster, the onboarding process provides an opportunity to get matched to someone based on your financial picture, goals and preferences. That could save a lot of effort on the front-end of the financial advisor search. But keep in mind you could use an advisor matching service for free, which does something similar and includes advisors from multiple firms. Some of these services may have higher minimum balance requirements than Wealth Enhancement.