Investment Fee Calculator
See exactly how much money high fund fees cost you over time — and how much more you keep with a low-cost index fund.
Fund A — Low Cost
e.g. Vanguard Total Market ETF (VTI) 0.03%
Fund B — Higher Cost
e.g. Typical actively managed fund 1-2%
Total Cost of Higher Fees
Fund A (Low Fee)
Net return: %/yr
Total fees paid:
Fund B (High Fee)
Net return: %/yr
Total fees paid:
How Different Fee Levels Compare After 25 Years
| Annual Fee | Final Balance | Total Fees Paid | vs 0.10% |
|---|
Year-by-Year Fee Drag
| Year | Fund A Balance | Fund B Balance | Difference |
|---|
How the Calculation Works
Each fund's annual fee is subtracted from the gross return, giving a net return. Both funds are then compounded at their respective net return rates over the investment period.
Net Return = Gross Return − Annual Fee
FV = Initial × (1+r_net)n + Contribution × [(1+r_net)n−1] ÷ r_net × (1+r_net)
Example: $10,000 initial + $5,000/year at 7% gross return for 25 years. Fund A at 0.10%: $10,000 × (1.069)25 + ... = approximately $349,000. Fund B at 1.00%: ... = approximately $291,000. Fee drag cost: ~$58,000 — money that was yours but was taken silently each year.