The firm was created through the merger of several established advisory practices, and it now operates across multiple states.
The firm’s core offering is wealth management, which combines ongoing financial planning with discretionary or non-discretionary portfolio management.
Planning may cover retirement, taxes, estate considerations, cash flow, education funding, and other long-term financial needs. Clients may also engage Modera solely for portfolio management if they want investment oversight without planning.
In addition to wealth management, the firm offers retirement plan consulting, investment monitoring, and stand-alone financial planning for clients who prefer project-based services.
Overall, Modera provides a comprehensive, advisor-driven service model focused on personalized planning and disciplined investment management.
What is Modera Wealth Management’s investment philosophy?
Portfolios are built using an evidence-based investment approach grounded in Modern Portfolio Theory.
The firm typically uses diversified allocations across mutual funds, ETFs, individual securities, and, when appropriate, Independent Managers or private placement investments.
Modera monitors accounts on an ongoing basis and performs periodic rebalancing to keep allocations aligned with each client’s goals and risk profile.
What are the pros and cons of Modera Wealth Management?
Modera Wealth Management’s offerings are suitable for those seeking a personalized, long-term relationship with a fiduciary advisor.
However, as with all firms, there are key advantages and drawbacks to be aware of before choosing to work with Modera.
Here are some of the key pros and cons to help you determine if they’re the right fit for you.
Pros of Modera Wealth Management:
Fee-only, fiduciary structure: Modera does not accept commissions or product-based compensation. It acts as a fiduciary when providing investment advice, reducing potential conflicts of interest.
Comprehensive, integrated wealth management: Clients receive both portfolio management and ongoing financial planning, including retirement, tax, estate, education, and cash-flow planning.
Evidence-based investment approach: Portfolios are built using Modern Portfolio Theory, diversification, and factor-based tilts, with access to mutual funds, ETFs, individual securities, Independent Managers, and, when appropriate, private placements.
Ongoing monitoring and rebalancing: Modera provides continuous oversight with periodic rebalancing supported by automated tools and its investment team.
Flexible service options: Beyond full wealth management, clients may choose portfolio management only, stand-alone financial planning, or retirement plan consulting.
Cons of Modera Wealth Management:
High minimum quarterly fees: Quarterly minimums of $2,500–$5,000 for wealth management and $2,000–$4,000 for portfolio management can make the service costly for smaller portfolios.
Complex fee structure with varying legacy pricing: Modera maintains prior fee schedules for clients from acquired firms, meaning some clients pay rates outside the firm’s published ranges.
No automated or robo-advisor features: Modera’s services are fully advisor-led, with no automated investing or algorithm-driven portfolio tools for clients who prefer a digital-first experience.
Private placement options involve complexity and limited liquidity: For qualified clients, recommended private placements may have delayed valuations and long lock-up periods.
Modera Wealth Management fees: How much does Modera Wealth Management cost?
Modera Wealth Management operates on a fee-only basis.
Depending on the engagement, clients may pay an annual advisory fee based on assets under management (AUM), as well as hourly or fixed fees for certain planning or consulting activities.
Advisory fees for ongoing wealth and portfolio management are billed quarterly in advance and include a required minimum quarterly charge.
It’s important to note that your final costs will depend on your account size and the complexity of your needs.
Here is a breakdown of some of Moderna's fees.
Wealth management fees:
Annual advisory fee: Typically, 0.15%–1.00% of AUM
Minimum quarterly fee: Typically, $2,500–$5,000
Portfolio management fees:
Annual advisory fee: Typically, 0.10%–0.80% of AUM
Minimum quarterly fee: Typically,$2,000–$4,000
Hourly and fixed fees (within the fee-only structure):
For certain planning or consulting activities beyond the standard ongoing wealth management relationship, Modera may charge the following fees:
Fixed fees: Typically, from $2,000 and up, depending on complexity and scope
Hourly or negotiated fees: These are used for specific consulting engagements when applicable
Additional costs paid to third parties:
Mutual fund and ETF operating expenses
Custodial and recordkeeping fees
Brokerage commissions and transaction charges
Independent Manager fees typically range between 0.10% and 0.25% annually
What is Modera Wealth Management’s minimum account size?
The firm is technically open to investors at any portfolio level. However, its required quarterly fees of $2,000–$5,000 function as the practical entry point, making the service far less accessible than platforms with low initial requirements.
Here are Modera’s minimum requirements by service type:
| Service type | Minimum quarterly fee |
|---|---|
| Wealth management | $2,500–$5,000 |
| Portfolio management | $2,000–$4,000 |
| Stand-alone planning (optional) | Minimum $2,000 fixed fee |
This structure is better suited to clients with larger portfolios or more complex planning needs, in contrast to lower-cost advisory solutions designed for beginners or investors starting with limited funds.
Who should choose Modera Wealth Management?
Modera Wealth Management is best suited for clients who want an advisor-led, highly personalized approach to financial planning and investment management. It appeals to individuals and families seeking long-term guidance across multiple areas of their financial lives, rather than automated or self-directed portfolio tools.
Modera Wealth Management works well for:
Clients with larger portfolios: Due to its quarterly minimum fees that range from $2,000 to $5,000, Modera is most cost-effective for investors who maintain higher asset levels and can absorb these fixed advisory charges.
Individuals and families seeking comprehensive planning: Modera’s wealth management service includes ongoing support for retirement planning, tax strategy, estate planning, education funding, and cash-flow planning, making it suitable for clients seeking a holistic advisory relationship.
Long-term, relationship-based investors: Clients who value regular interaction with their advisor, customized guidance, and a fiduciary, fee-only model may find Modera’s service structure appealing.
Those who prefer disciplined, evidence-based portfolio management: Modera uses a research-driven investment approach grounded in Modern Portfolio Theory, diversification, and periodic rebalancing.
Modera Wealth Management may not be suitable for:
Investors with smaller portfolios: Even though Modera has no minimum account size, the required quarterly fees may result in disproportionately high effective advisory costs for modest account balances.
Digital-first or automation-focused users: Modera does not offer robo-advisor features or automated portfolio tools, which may not appeal to investors seeking low-cost, algorithm-driven investing.
Active traders or those wanting hands-on customization: The firm does not support frequent trading or highly customized, security-level portfolio construction such as direct indexing.
Clients wanting a low-cost advisory entry point: The fee structure, including quarterly minimums and additional third-party costs, is less aligned with users seeking an inexpensive or minimal-commitment advisor experience.
Modera Wealth Management: Is it secure?
Modera Wealth Management is considered a secure provider of advisory services.
Modera does not hold client assets directly; it uses well-established, SEC-registered custodians such as Charles Schwab and Fidelity to maintain client accounts. Assets held at these custodians are protected by SIPC insurance up to $500,000, including $250,000 for cash, which protects against custodian failure but not market losses.
Modera is also a Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)-registered fiduciary, meaning it is legally required to act in clients’ best interests and follow a Code of Ethics that governs personal trading and conflict-of-interest controls.
The firm highlights that electronic systems used for communications and trading may be subject to cybersecurity risks, operational delays, or outages, which is consistent with industry-wide disclosures.
While no digital or custodial system is entirely risk-free, Modera’s reliance on major custodians, its fiduciary obligations, and regulatory oversight align its security safeguards with standard practices across established wealth management firms.
Modera Wealth Management: Customer service
Modera Wealth Management provides a traditional, advisor-led customer service model built around direct communication with financial professionals.
The firm emphasizes accessibility to its advisory team. It encourages clients to contact their advisors with questions about financial planning, portfolio updates, or life changes that may affect their strategy.
Clients may reach their advisory team through phone, email, and scheduled meetings, and the firm maintains multiple office locations across the US to support in-person engagement where needed.
Modera Wealth Management: Mobile app
The Modera Wealth Management mobile app provides clients with secure, easy-to-use access to their accounts.
The app is designed to support existing advisory clients by consolidating key financial data rather than functioning as a self-directed investing platform.
The app includes a financial dashboard, document vault, interactive reports, budgeting tools and more that allows clients to access tax documents, statements, and other financial files directly from their mobile device. These features make it convenient for clients who want quick visibility into their net worth, holdings, and important paperwork without logging into a desktop portal.
Is Modera Wealth Management worth it?
Whether Modera Wealth Management is worth it depends on what you are looking for.
For clients seeking an advisor-led, highly personalized approach to financial planning and investment management, the firm offers comprehensive support, a fiduciary standard of care, and a disciplined investment philosophy grounded in long-term planning.
However, investors with smaller portfolios may find Modera less accessible due to its required quarterly fees, which range from $2,000 to $5,000 depending on the service.
While Modera provides diversified investment allocations tailored to client needs, it is not designed for investors who prefer hands-on trading or frequent transactions.
Investors seeking similarly comprehensive, high‑touch wealth management may also compare Modera Wealth Management with firms such as Mariner Wealth Advisors, Creative Planning or Hightower Advisors. For simpler, lower‑cost guidance, alternatives include Betterment, Empower Personal Strategy or SoFi Automated Investing.
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