RIA Earnings Calculator
Compare current platform economics with an advisor-owned RIA structure using your own assumptions.
Platform economics are not always easy to compare. Headline payout, platform fees, advisor expenses, support, technology, compliance, custody, and long-term structure can all affect what an advisor actually experiences over time.
This calculator is designed to help you explore possible differences using your own assumptions. It does not predict results or recommend a platform. It is a planning tool for discussion.
Your inputs and results stay on this page unless you choose to print, save, or share them.
Calculator workspace
Build your comparison
Adjust the assumptions below to explore possible differences between your current structure and an advisor-owned RIA structure.
Comparison Inputs
Use an approximate amount for planning purposes only.
Use your best estimate before platform costs or payout adjustments.
Enter the approximate percentage you retain under your current structure.
Enter the current platform fee in basis points.
Starting estimate: $175 resource + $10 bonding + $75 core technology. Paid each month.
Starting estimate: $3,650 E&O + $600 compliance inspection + $75 FINRA renewal + $75 state renewal. Add $600 here if the additional E&O charge applies.
Estimated current-firm affiliation cost: $7,520 per year12 × $260 monthly charges + $4,400 additional annual charges. Optional current-firm costs not included here can be entered below.
Preloaded UAG planning defaults
These editable assumptions provide a starting point only. Confirm current terms and costs before relying on the comparison.
Editable planning assumption, not a guarantee.
Total AUM-based fee: 3 bps, including 1 bp for Black Diamond and 2 bps for UAG.
UAG monthly affiliation cost
Paid monthly; the separate annual charges are shown alongside.
Additional UAG annual charges
In addition to $295/month. Assessment estimates use annual gross revenue/production as a proxy for gross commissions.
Optional annual production-based bonus.
Applied as an editable planning assumption. Actual pro-rata RIA profit-sharing may vary.
Select a multi-year horizon to compare differences.
Percentage assumptions are limited to a range of 0% to 100%. Values outside that range are adjusted when you leave the field.
Add Cost AssumptionsInclude additional current-firm costs, UAG operating costs, and one-time transition costs.ExpandCollapse
01 / Current situation
Additional current-firm costs
These entries reduce only your current-firm estimate. Leave them blank unless you pay charges not included in the current estimate above.
Optional current-firm assessments
Enter annual amounts only if charged separately and not already included in your current payout, platform fee, or the monthly and annual estimate above. Leave blank if none apply.
Optional annual dollar amount; deducted only from the current-firm estimate.
Optional annual dollar amount, separate from the $75 FINRA renewal already included above.
Additional current-firm operating costs
Enter annual charges only if paid separately and not included in your current payout, platform fee, or the monthly and annual estimate above. Leave blank if none apply.
Additional annual technology costs beyond the core technology charge above.
Additional annual compliance costs beyond the inspection included above.
Additional annual costs paid by you, not already included above.
Additional annual costs paid by you, not already included above.
Additional annual costs paid by you, not already included above.
02 / With UAG
Additional UAG operating and transition costs
Operating costs reduce the UAG estimate. The one-time transition cost affects the multi-year comparison only.
Estimated annual cost.
Estimated additional annual compliance costs, excluding the separately listed $600 inspection.
Estimated annual cost.
Estimated annual cost.
Estimated single expense.
Estimated annual cost.
Results
Generated on October 1, 2026
Current structure estimate
$690,980
Advisor-owned RIA structure estimate
$903,685
Annual calculation details
- Current platform fees
- $1,500
- Current affiliation fees
- $7,520
- UAG AUM fees (3 bps)
- $30,000
- UAG monthly affiliation cost (12 payments)
- $3,540
- Estimated UAG profit sharing
- +$22,000
- Production bonus
- +$0
Current-platform fee: 15 basis points applied to annual gross revenue/production.
SIPC and FINRA assessments are calculated from the annual gross revenue/production entered above as the current estimate of gross commissions.
Combined SIPC and FINRA rate: 0.4175% of annual gross revenue/production; the two assessment amounts are listed separately above.
Estimated annual earnings difference based on assumptions entered
$212,705
+30.8% compared with the current estimate
Estimated multi-year earnings difference based on assumptions entered (5 years)
$1,063,525
Year-by-year breakdown
| Year | Annual net difference | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $212,705 | $212,705 |
| 2 | $212,705 | $425,410 |
| 3 | $212,705 | $638,115 |
| 4 | $212,705 | $850,820 |
| 5 | $212,705 | $1,063,525 |
Planning estimate based on the assumptions shown.
Assumptions used in this comparison
- Assets under management
- $100,000,000
- Annual gross revenue
- $1,000,000
- Current payout
- 70%
- Current platform fee
- 15 bps
- Current-firm monthly charges
- $260
- Additional current-firm annual charges
- $4,400
- Total current affiliation fee
- $7,520
- UAG payout
- 92%
- UAG custodian
- Schwab
- Total UAG AUM-based fee
- 3 bps
- UAG monthly affiliation cost
- $295 per month
- Estimated UAG profit sharing
- 2.2%
- Production bonus
- 0%
- Comparison period
- 5 years
Begin a confidential conversation
Use your calculator results as a starting point for a private conversation about platform economics, support, structure, and whether UAG's advisor-owned model is worth exploring.
Begin a confidential conversationBefore the conversation
Planning questions to discuss
Transitioning to a new structure is about more than economics. These questions can help guide your evaluation.
- What costs are included in each structure?
- What support is included?
- What responsibilities would shift to the advisor or firm?
- How would technology, compliance, custody, and operations be handled?
- How does the structure support long-term business direction?
- What should be reviewed with legal, compliance, tax, valuation, or other professional advisors?
Planning questions to discuss
- What costs are included in each structure?
- What support is included?
- What responsibilities would shift to the advisor or firm?
- How would technology, compliance, custody, and operations be handled?
- How does the structure support long-term business direction?
- What should be reviewed with legal, compliance, tax, valuation, or other professional advisors?
Keep planning
Related decision tools
This calculator is for educational and planning discussion only. It is designed to help advisors explore possible economic comparisons using assumptions they enter. It is not a prediction, guarantee, cost estimate, valuation, appraisal, transition recommendation, suitability determination, or confirmation that any specific structure is appropriate. It does not guarantee savings, payout, revenue, income, ROI, firm value, sale price, growth potential, or business outcome. Actual economics, costs, fees, revenue, payout, timelines, valuation, transition outcomes, succession options, and business results vary by advisor, firm, platform, custodian, client base, regulatory requirements, market conditions, and other factors. Advisors should review their situation with appropriate legal, compliance, tax, valuation, and professional advisors.