How much could investment fees cost you?
Compare two annual fee levels on the same investment plan and see the estimated gap over time.
Your numbers
$10,000
$500 per month
8.0%
30 years
0.20%
1.50%
Your estimated results
Balance with Fee A (0.20%)
$818,639
After 30 years
Balance with Fee B (1.50%)
$623,007
After 30 years
Estimated difference
$195,632
Gap between the two scenarios
Total money lost to the higher fee
$195,632
Fees paid plus the growth those fees would have earned
Share of potential wealth lost
23.9%
Compared with the 0.20% scenario
Both scenarios assume the same return before fees. In real life two options with different fees may also hold different investments and offer different services, so cost is only part of the decision.
Explain my results in plain English
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The widening gap
A small annual fee can have a large long-term effect because you also lose the future growth that money could have generated.
Chart summary: after 30 years the lower-fee scenario is estimated at $818,639 and the higher-fee scenario at $623,007 — a gap of $195,632.
Year-by-year breakdown
Frequently asked questions
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