06.12.26

RIAs Trail Other Wealth Channels in Advisor Pay

by: Andrew Cohen

Financial planner compensation reached a median of $195,000 in 2025, up 15% from the previous year, according to a CFP Board study. The survey found that professionals holding the Certified Financial Planner (CFP) designation earn about 11% more than those without it, reinforcing the credential’s growing importance, particularly among younger advisors entering the industry. Compensation rose significantly with experience, ranging from $115,000 for planners with fewer than five years in the field to $360,000 for those with more than 20 years. Among wealth management channels, registered investment advisors (RIAs) reported the lowest median compensation at $175,000, trailing independent broker-dealers, wirehouses, banks and hybrid RIAs. Industry experts attribute the gap to RIAs’ smaller scale and narrower revenue sources, which often require tighter control of compensation costs to maintain profitability.

Read the full article on InvestmentNews