Expense ratio impact,
in dollars.
A 1% fee sounds small. Over forty years, it is not. This tool compares two funds with different expense ratios and shows the dollar cost difference over the time horizon you enter.
The question it answersHow much do fund fees cost me over a full investing career?
Privacy: runs in your browser. What you enter stays on your device unless you copy a share link, which puts your inputs in the link.
VTI is 0.03%. FZROX is 0.00%. Low cost.
Typical actively-managed mutual fund. Some 401(k) plan defaults also carry fees in this range.
Projection, not a promise. The result follows the assumptions you enter. Real results will differ, sometimes by a lot.
What this tool assumes
- Expense ratio is deducted from the annual gross return; no additional tax drag modeled.
- Both funds are assumed to track the same underlying; difference is entirely fees.
- Monthly compounding at the net rate divided by 12.
- Contributions are at the end of each month; rate is constant.
Fees compound too. Educational only; not financial advice.
All-in cost worksheet
Compare more than the fund’s expense ratio. Write down each fund’s expense ratio and balance, adviser percentage or flat fee, retirement-plan administrative charges, trading commissions and expected bid–ask spread costs. Do not count a bundled charge twice.[1]
| Charge | Assumption | Annual dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Fund expenses | 0.05% | $50 |
| Adviser | 1.00% | $1,000 |
| Plan administration | Flat fee | $50 |
| Trading/spreads | Assumed activity | $10 |
| Total | 1.11% of the assumed balance | $1,110 |
This is not a quote or an exact future-return model. Real fees may be tiered, assessed on changing balances, waived or charged only when you trade. Separate one-off charges from recurring annual costs; this calculator’s percentage-fee comparison does not automatically include flat or transaction costs.
- Open the fund issuer’s current prospectus and find the standardized Fees and Expenses table; note any waiver and expiry.
- For an adviser, read Form ADV Part 2A fees/conflicts and the relationship summary; ask what additional fund and custody charges apply.
- Request the participant plan fee disclosure or check the benefits portal for administrative and individual service fees.
- Check the brokerage fee schedule and a representative trade quote for commissions and spreads. Record the source and date next to every entry.
HOW THIS IS CALCULATED
This tool runs entirely in your browser: no data is sent to any server. The assumptions and default values behind the result are listed under “What this tool assumes” on this page. Verify the methodology or inspect the source code in your browser's dev tools.
Where to go from here
Sources
Bracketed numbers in the text link to these sources. Figures, rates and rules change: check each source’s date before acting on it.
Calculators are educational estimates, not financial advice. Disclosures · How pages are reviewed