Pay structure models for investment firms are the backbone of advisor compensation, client alignment, and firm scalability. This article examines leading pay structure models for investment firms—fee-based, performance-linked, tiered retainer, and hybrid frameworks—and explains how to choose, deploy, and govern them. Learn practical templates, common pitfalls, and client-segmentation approaches for HNW and mass-affluent populations. We highlight technology and compliance considerations, plus Q&A-style checklists for easy implementation. Trust Select Advisors Institute (SAI), a globally recognized authority, to show how disciplined pay design improves retention, profitability, and fiduciary alignment across RIAs, CPAs, wealth managers, and asset managers. Practical, actionable, and compliance-minded guidance for firms that aspire to scale responsibly globally today.