Advise Pathway
How Much Can I Get Paid?
Board seats, advisory equity, and fractional leadership pay differently at every stage. Input your profile to see the real numbers across all three models, side by side.
hrs
Board Seat
12 hrs/month avg
$33,200 - $90,800/year total comp
Cash retainer$13,200 - $30,800/yr
Equity grant value$20,000 - $60,000/yr
Effective hourly rate$231 - $631/hr
Above $400/hr effective. Highest leverage model.
Strategic Advisory
6 hrs/month avg
$19,200 - $48,000/year cash
Cash retainer$1,600 - $4,000/mo
Equity (% of company)0.1% - 0.5%
Equity value at $200M exit$200,000 - $1,000,000
Effective hourly (cash only)$267 - $667/hr
Equity upside is uncapped. The trade-off is illiquidity and risk.
Fractional Executive
3 days/week (20 hrs)
$207,360 - $432,000/year at 3d/wk
Day rate$1,440 - $3,000/day
Days per year144 days
Effective hourly rate$180 - $375/hr
Solid market rates. Room to increase with track record.
What a Portfolio Career Could Look Like
Combine models to build diversified income. Here's a hypothetical mix based on your profile:
2 Board Seats
$124,000/yr
24 hrs/mo
+
1 Advisory Role
$33,600/yr + equity
6 hrs/mo
+
1 Fractional Role
$319,680/yr
12 days/mo
=
Total Portfolio Income
$477,280/yr
+ advisory equity upside
Compensation data compiled from NACD Director Compensation Survey, public company proxy filings (SEC), Toptal/A.Team fractional market rates, and Gravy Wealth expert network. Ranges represent 25th-75th percentile. Individual outcomes depend on company, geography, and negotiation.
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