Firms compared · Updated October 10, 2026
Morgan Stanley vs. UBS: Grids, growth awards and 550% deals
The short answer
Morgan Stanley reported $8.08 trillion in wealth management client assets at June 30, 2026, versus about $2.4 trillion for UBS's Global Wealth Management Americas unit, which had 5,644 advisors on that date. Both pay employee advisors on revenue grids: Morgan Stanley's runs from 28% to 55.5%, while UBS's 2026 plan raised its top rate to 60% for $20 million producers and lifted a $1 million producer to 49.5%. UBS began offering recruiting packages of up to 550% of trailing revenue to large teams in March 2026, while Morgan Stanley carried nearly $4.9 billion in forgivable advisor loans at year-end 2025.
Wirehouse
- Wealth Management client assets (advisor-led plus self-directed) · Jun 2026
- $8.08 trillion1
- Advisor-led client assets · Jun 2026
- $6.27 trillion1
- Wealth Management net revenues, second quarter 2026 · Jun 2026
- $8.9 billion1
- Net change in experienced wirehouse advisors, first half 2026 (Diamond Consultants) · Jun 2026
- +2312
- Parent company
- Morgan Stanley4
- Ownership
- Public (NYSE: MS)4
- Headquarters
- New York, N.Y.4
How advisors affiliate
Full Morgan Stanley profile and news →Wirehouse
- Financial advisors, Global Wealth Management Americas · Jun 2026
- 5,6443
- Client assets, Global Wealth Management Americas · Jun 2026
- about $2.4 trillion2
- Net change in experienced wirehouse advisors, first half 2026 (Diamond Consultants) · Jun 2026
- -18213
- Parent company
- UBS Group AG (Zurich, Switzerland)5
- Ownership
- Public (SIX and NYSE: UBS)5
- Business unit
- Global Wealth Management Americas5
How advisors affiliate
Full UBS profile and news →Key differences
- Size: Morgan Stanley reported $8.08 trillion in wealth management client assets at June 30, 2026, including $6.27 trillion advisor-led. UBS's Global Wealth Management Americas reported about $2.4 trillion in client assets and 5,644 advisors at June 30, 2026, down 2.2% from a year earlier.1,2,3
- Ownership: Morgan Stanley is listed on the NYSE (MS). UBS Wealth Management USA is part of Zurich-based UBS Group AG, listed on the SIX and NYSE (UBS).4,5
- Payout grid: Morgan Stanley's grid ranges from 28% to 55.5%, with a $1 million producer keeping 44%, Financial Planning reported in September 2026. UBS's 2026 plan raised the top rate to 60% for individual producers at $20 million or more and moved a $1 million producer from 49% to 49.5%, AdvisorHub reported in September 2025.6,7
- 2027 changes: Morgan Stanley is raising grid revenue thresholds 10% for 2027 while keeping rates unchanged. UBS is leaving its grid unchanged for 2027 and making growth awards for net new money easier to earn.6,8,9
- Recruiting and retention: UBS began offering packages of up to 550% of trailing-12-month revenue to advisors producing about $7 million or more in March 2026, with roughly 250% upfront and a 16-year commitment. Morgan Stanley's forgivable advisor loans reached nearly $4.9 billion at year-end 2025, typically amortizing over nine to 12 years.10,11
- Advisor movement: Diamond Consultants counted a net gain of 23 experienced advisors at Morgan Stanley and a net loss of 182 at UBS in the first half of 2026.12,13
Which pays advisors more, Morgan Stanley or UBS?
At the $1 million level, reported grid rates favor UBS: 49.5% under its 2026 plan (AdvisorHub and InvestmentNews, September 2025) versus 44% at Morgan Stanley under its current grid (Financial Planning, September 2026). UBS's top rate is 60% for $20 million producers; Morgan Stanley's top rate is 55.5%. Deferred pay, awards and thresholds differ, so total compensation can vary.
Is Morgan Stanley bigger than UBS in the U.S.?
Yes, by client assets. Morgan Stanley reported $8.08 trillion in wealth management client assets at June 30, 2026, while UBS's Americas wealth unit reported about $2.4 trillion. UBS reported 5,644 advisors in that unit; Morgan Stanley doesn't publish an advisor headcount.
How big are UBS recruiting deals?
AdvisorHub reported in March 2026 that UBS was offering up to 550% of trailing-12-month revenue to advisors and teams producing about $7 million or more, with roughly 250% upfront and a 16-year commitment. The prior industry high was about 435% over 12 years, according to the same report.
Built only from each firm’s sourced Financial ADVSR profile; figures carry their own as-of dates and may measure different things at each firm. Not investment or career advice. Spot an error? Tell the editors.