Financial advisors and broker-dealers increasingly adopted fee-for-service pricing models in 2025 as firms expanded access to financial planning and pursued scalable revenue strategies, according to Wealth Management.
Data from the 2026 AdvicePay Fee-for-Service Industry Trend Report shows that advisors processed approximately 525,000 fee-for-service transactions in 2025. The platform has now facilitated $1 billion in lifetime fees, and 11 of the top 15 broker-dealers use the service. As Wealth Management reports, these figures signal that fee-for-service planning has moved beyond a niche offering into a mainstream business model.
Alan Moore, co-founder and CEO of AdvicePay, emphasized the model's staying power. He stated, as reported by Wealth Management, that advisors continue to embrace fee-for-service as a core offering rather than a supplemental option.
Recurring revenue structures dominate the model. Approximately 86 percent of invoices in 2025 reflected subscription-based planning services, continuing a steady increase over prior years. This trend reflects a broader shift toward ongoing client relationships rather than one-time engagements.
Advisors also raised prices across service tiers. The average monthly subscription fee reached $291, reflecting a 4.7 percent increase year over year. Quarterly subscription fees averaged $1,074, while one-time planning engagements averaged $1,676. Despite these increases, advisors maintained client retention, which Wealth Management identifies as a key indicator of the model's durability.
Broker-dealers have played a significant role in this shift. As Wealth Management reports, large firms have begun integrating fee-for-service structures into their existing business models as they respond to advisor demand and evolving client expectations.
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