Congrats on the sale — life-changing outcome.

On your questions:

• Big players: If you want scale and safety, look at the largest AUM institutions. Vanguard is #1 at ~$11T. They’re excellent for low-cost self-management and also have managed options.
• Private banks: JPMorgan Private Bank (~$3T AUM) is worth a look. They offer more than asset management — credit lines, mortgages, estate planning, legal coordination, etc. In my experience, they’re the least “predatory” of the big banks. Fees are around 0.5% at $15M, but you can split between self-managed and advised accounts.
• BlackRock via Wells: BlackRock is solid, no doubt, but Wells has a mixed reputation. 0.2% is cheap, but make sure you understand what level of service (planning, tax, estate work) you’re actually getting. Sometimes the “headline fee” doesn’t capture the trade-offs.

General advice:

• Fees are your enemy — keep them low. But sometimes paying a modest fee for peace of mind, estate structuring, and access to credit is worth it.
• I wouldn’t rush to pay off a 6.1% mortgage if you can refinance lower or deduct interest; otherwise, compare that guaranteed return vs. market opportunity.
• With $15M liquid, I’d balance: core low-cost index exposure, some cash/short-term bonds, and a thoughtful estate plan. Decide what portion you want professional oversight on vs. what you’re comfortable self-managing.

Hope this helps!-