High-Net-Worth Professional Services: 2025 Benchmark Report

1. Personal Well-Being Leads In Satisfaction

Among all service categories analyzed, those tied to well-being and family life consistently rank highest in satisfaction. Personal trainers (9.3/10), Golden Visa immigration attorneys (8.8/10), personal sports coaches (8.4/10), and private schools and therapists (8.3/10 each) all earned average satisfaction ratings above 8 out of 10. By contrast, more widely used services such as CPAs (7.1/10) and lawn care (6.7/10), which often feel transactional, scored notably lower.

This suggests that services enhancing personal well-being and family life generate more satisfaction than those focused on managing a portfolio or a property.

2. CPAs Are Highly Used, But Loyalty Is At Risk

CPAs remain the most universal professional relationship among high-net-worth households, with 82% of respondents relying on one for tax preparation or planning. Yet loyalty is far from secure: 42% of clients are considering switching providers and another 4% are considering stopping altogether, a combined 46% who aren't committed to their current CPA.

This dissatisfaction coexists with generally positive ratings. Three-quarters (74%) of clients say they're satisfied or extremely satisfied, and average satisfaction sits at 7.1 out of 10. The gap between satisfaction and switching intent suggests many clients are content enough with service quality but remain open to something better. The most cited complaints are slow response times and a lack of proactive, strategic guidance, pointing to CPA relationships that feel transactional rather than advisory.

3. Wealth Manager Usage Remains Low, and Retention Is Fragile

Just 32% of respondents use a wealth manager, the lowest usage rate among the three financial services measured in the study. Usage rises with wealth, from 22% among households under $5M in net worth to 44% among those with $25M or more, but even among the wealthiest respondents, more than half manage their own investments without an advisor.

Retention is weaker than for CPAs or estate attorneys. Among wealth manager clients, 26% are considering switching providers and 18% are considering stopping altogether, a combined 44%. Cost is the most common complaint. Over half of clients (56%) pay a percentage of assets under management, while a third pay a flat annual fee; median annual spending is $10K, the highest of any financial service in the study.

This suggests fee structure, not access to advice, is the primary friction point. As more advisors shift toward flat-fee models, cost transparency may matter more to this audience than credentials or track record.

4. Estate Planning Is Underutilized

Estate planning is far from universal: just over half of respondents (52%) report using a trust and estate attorney. Engagement rises steeply with wealth, reaching 69% among households with more than $25M in net worth.

Median annual spending on estate planning sits at $5K, and most clients pay project-based or hourly fees. Complexity of assets, rather than age, appears to drive adoption. Families managing multiple properties, private holdings, or generational wealth are more likely to formalize an estate plan.

5. Generational Trends Shape Wellness

Age plays a defining role in how wellness-oriented services are used. Among members under 40, over 40% attend therapy or counseling, more than any other age group by a wide margin. Participation drops to 25% among 40–49-year-olds and 13% for those 50 and older, suggesting younger generations are more proactive about mental health.

A quarter of respondents (24%) work with a personal trainer or sports coach. Engagement peaks in the 40s, where 29% report using one of these services, well above the 13–22% range seen in other age groups, suggesting fitness structure becomes a priority for many in that decade.

6. Golden Visa Attorneys Score Highest, U.S. Residency Attorneys Score Lowest

Immigration attorney usage is rare: just 4% of respondents used one for a Golden Visa program outside the U.S., and 3% used one for U.S. residency services. But the satisfaction gap between the two is among the widest in the study. Golden Visa clients rate their attorneys 8.8 out of 10, second only to personal trainers among all services measured, with every respondent in this group reporting satisfaction or extreme satisfaction. Clients most often cite speed, responsiveness, and turnkey service.

U.S. residency attorneys rate 5.0 out of 10, the lowest score in the study. Median annual attorney fees are $6,000 for Golden Visa services and $3,625 for U.S. residency work; both figures cover attorney fees only and exclude government filing costs or Golden Visa investment minimums.

Given the small sample size in this category, the gap is directional rather than definitive. The report doesn't establish a reason for the lower U.S. residency score beyond the contrast itself.

7. Education and Child Care Command the Largest Budgets

Among high-net-worth families with children, education and child care represent the single largest service expenditure. A full-time nanny costs a median $53,558 per year for one child, more than 2.5 times the $20,000 median for day care. Private school runs a median $30,000 per child, though costs vary sharply by region, from roughly $15K in the Midwest to roughly $35K in California and Texas.

Despite these costs, satisfaction remains high across all three categories. This suggests many parents see private education and full-time child care as investments in their family's future rather than simply as expenses. Reliability and quality of care emerge as the defining traits behind that satisfaction.

Methodology

This study draws on survey responses from 114 Long Angle members collected in August–September 2025. All participants have a net worth above $2.2 million, with 70% between $5M and $25M. Data was analyzed across 20 professional service categories, segmented by wealth tier, age, and region.

Respondents are a voluntary, self-selected sample of Long Angle members rather than a representative sample of all high-net-worth households, and findings should be read accordingly. Some categories, including immigration attorneys, reflect a small number of respondents (3–4%); findings in those categories are directional rather than statistically robust.