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Investment Fee Calculator — How Much Are Fund Fees Costing You?

See how investment fees compound against you over time — and how much more you keep with low-cost index funds.

Quick answer: Investment fees compound against your portfolio every year. Even a small advisory or fund-fee difference can become a large dollar drag over long horizons.

SWReviewed by SwitchWize Research Desk · Last reviewed July 16, 2026
Signed Comparison Value Difference
$168,566
Signed Comparison Value Difference
$168,566
Portfolio Value With Fees
$1,001,123
Portfolio Value With Comparison Fee
$1,169,688
Signed Difference as % of Comparison Value
14.41%
Projected Value by Fee Scenario
Diagnostic

Over 30 years, the signed comparison value difference is $168,566, or 14.41% of the comparison value.

A positive result favors the comparison-fee scenario; a negative result favors the current-fee scenario. Investment choices differ in more than fees.

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What to do next

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Your action plan
  1. 1

    Compare the leading option against your current setup

    Compare two entered annual-fee scenarios while holding gross return and contributions constant.

  2. 2

    Pressure-test one alternate scenario before deciding

    Assumptions change the answer, especially when rates, taxes, or timing matter.

  3. 3

    Use the linked guide or product page for the next step

    Turn the result into a prioritized action instead of treating it as a one-off number.

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This is an educational estimate, not tax, legal, investment, or lending advice. Tax rules, rates, and eligibility change and depend on your full situation. Confirm with a qualified professional or the provider before acting.

Calculator action path

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Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know.

What is a good expense ratio for a mutual fund?
Index funds: 0.03–0.20% is excellent. Actively managed funds: 0.5–1.5% is common, but research shows most active managers underperform their benchmark after fees. Target-date retirement funds: 0.10–0.75%. Avoid anything above 1% unless you have a specific reason.
Are advisor fees worth paying?
A fiduciary advisor charging 1% AUM may add value through tax optimization, behavioral coaching, and estate planning — studies suggest good advisors add 1.5–3% in net returns annually. A non-fiduciary broker recommending high-fee products is almost never worth the cost.
Is the Investment Fee Calculator — How Much Are Fund Fees Costing You? free to use?
Yes. SwitchWize calculators are free, and you do not need an account to run scenarios or view the result.
Does using the Investment Fee Calculator — How Much Are Fund Fees Costing You? affect my credit score?
No. Using a calculator does not trigger a credit check. A credit impact can occur only if you apply directly with a lender, card issuer, or provider.
Are the results personalized financial advice?
No. Calculator outputs are educational estimates based on the inputs you enter. Review assumptions and confirm terms directly with providers before making a financial decision.
What should I do after seeing the result?
Use the recommendation module on this page to compare brokerage accounts, or run Money Map to compare this investing & retirement decision with your other opportunities.
How does SwitchWize choose related offers?
Related offers are matched by the calculator surface (brokerage) and ranked using SwitchWize data such as rate, fees, trust signals, product fit, and switching friction. Paid relationships do not change organic ranking order.
How fresh are the rates and offers shown?
Rate and offer data is reviewed on a recurring cadence and every offer module shows review context or links to the methodology and disclosure pages.
Where can I see the ranking methodology?
The SwitchWize methodology page explains how rate freshness, editorial review, affiliate disclosure, and category ranking factors work.
Can Money Map use this result?
Yes. Money Map is the broader diagnostic path: it compares savings, mortgage, cards, and debt so you can see whether this calculator result is your highest-impact next move.

Why This Matters

A 1% annual fee vs 0.05% index fund fee on $100,000 over 30 years costs you $164,000 in foregone wealth. Fund fees are the most reliable predictor of future returns — lower fees consistently outperform.

How to Use It

  1. 1Enter your investment amount and annual return
  2. 2Enter your current fund expense ratio
  3. 3Enter a comparison expense ratio (e.g., Vanguard index fund: 0.04%)
  4. 4See the cumulative fee drag over your investment horizon
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