Investment Fee Calculator
A 1% fee sounds small. Over a lifetime of investing it can quietly cost you six figures. See what your fees really add up to.
Your investment
Enter your plan and the fees you pay
What you're investing today.
What you add every month.
Longer horizons make fees hurt far more.
The S&P 500 has averaged ~10% before inflation.
Index funds run ~0.03–0.1%. Advisors often charge ~1%.
What fees cost you
The same plan, with and without fees
Lost to fees
$128,667
Balance with fees
$562,483
Balance without fees
$691,150
Share of your gains lost to fees
25.7%
Why a 1% fee is a big deal
Fees look tiny next to your returns, but they are charged on your whole balance every year, and the money they take can never compound for you again. Over a few decades, a 1% annual fee often eats a quarter or more of the gains you would otherwise keep. The fix is usually simple: low-cost index funds charge a fraction of what actively managed funds and many advisors do, for returns that are frequently as good or better.
Results are estimates for educational purposes only. They assume a constant return and a fee charged evenly on your balance each year; real returns and fee structures vary. This is not financial advice.
Lost to fees
$128,667
With fees
$562,483