# Morgan Stanley vs. UBS: Grids, growth awards and 550% deals

URL: https://www.financialadvsr.com/compare/morgan-stanley-vs-ubs
Updated: 2026-10-10
Publisher: Financial ADVSR (https://www.financialadvsr.com)

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.

## 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. [8] [6] [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]

## Questions

**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.

Sources:
[1] Morgan Stanley: Second Quarter 2026 Earnings Results Quarterly Financial Supplement (https://www.morganstanley.com/content/dam/msdotcom/en/about-us-ir/finsup2q2026/finsup2q2026.pdf)
[2] Financial Planning: UBS advisor headcount falls (https://www.financial-planning.com/list/ubs-advisor-headcount-falls)
[3] InvestmentNews: UBS sees 2.2% decline in advisor headcount during the past 12 months (https://www.investmentnews.com/wirehouses/ubs-sees-22-decline-in-advisor-headcount-during-the-past-12-months/267602)
[4] Morgan Stanley: Morgan Stanley Second Quarter 2026 Earnings Results (https://www.morganstanley.com/about-us-ir/shareholder/2q2026.pdf)
[5] UBS: UBS's second-quarter 2026 results (https://www.ubs.com/global/en/media/display-page-ndp/en-20260729-2q26-quarterly-result.html)
[6] Financial Planning: Morgan Stanley asks advisors to produce more to keep same pay (https://www.financial-planning.com/news/morgan-stanley-asks-advisors-to-produce-more-to-keep-same-pay)
[7] AdvisorHub: 2026 COMP: UBS Rolls Out Advisor-Friendly Plan Amid Rise in Defections (https://www.advisorhub.com/2026-comp-ubs-rolls-out-advisor-friendly-plan-amid-rise-in-defections/)
[8] ThinkAdvisor: Morgan Stanley Advisors Face Higher Revenue Hurdles in 2027 (https://www.thinkadvisor.com/2026/09/23/morgan-stanley-advisors-face-higher-revenue-hurdles-in-2027)
[9] AdvisorHub: 2027 COMP: UBS Keeps Grid Steady, Sweetens Retention Program (https://www.advisorhub.com/2027-comp-ubs-keeps-grid-steady-sweetens-retention-program/)
[10] AdvisorHub: Exclusive: UBS Dangles 550% Recruiting Offers to Stem Advisor Exodus (https://www.advisorhub.com/exclusive-ubs-dangles-550-recruiting-offers-to-stem-advisor-exodus/)
[11] AdvisorHub: Morgan Stanley Recruiting Loan Tab Nears $5 Billion (https://www.advisorhub.com/morgan-stanley-recruiting-loan-tab-nears-5-billion/)
[12] Wealth Solutions Report: Diamond Report Finds Accelerating Wirehouse Advisor Movement In H1 2026 (https://www.wealthsolutionsreport.com/diamond-report-finds-accelerating-wirehouse-advisor-movement-in-h1-2026/)
[13] Wealth Solutions Report: Diamond Report Finds Accelerating Wirehouse Advisor Movement In H1 2026 (https://www.wealthsolutionsreport.com/diamond-report-finds-accelerating-wirehouse-advisor-movement-in-h1-2026/)