Mutual Fund Fee & Cost Calculator
Enter your investment principal, expected annual return, expense ratio (annual fee), and holding period to see how ongoing costs affect your results. Compare the final value after fees with a fee-free scenario, and see the total fees paid, the gap in your final balance, and the effective annual rate after costs.
Input
$
%
%
yrs
Result
Gap in final balance from costs
$483,147
Effective annual rate after costs: about 3.95%
Final value after costs
$2,170,151
If costs were zero
$2,653,298
Total fees paid
$311,053
Profit after costs
$1,170,151
How it works
- Each year, the balance first grows by the expected annual return, then the annual expense ratio is charged on the year-end balance (balance ← balance × (1 + return) × (1 − expense ratio)), repeated for the holding period.
- The "value if costs were zero" compounds at the expected return with no fees deducted (= principal × (1 + return)^years). The gap between this and the after-cost value is the impact of fees on your final balance, including the lost compounding.
- "Total fees paid" sums the nominal fee deducted each year. It is smaller than the "gap in final balance," which also includes the lost compounding on those fees.
- Enter the expected annual return before fees. Actual results vary with price movements, distributions, trading costs, and taxes.
- Enter the expense ratio as an annual percentage. Real funds also incur trading commissions, audit fees, and other costs reported as the "total cost" in the annual report; use that figure for a more accurate estimate.
- This tool is an estimate only and is not investment advice. It does not guarantee future results, and loss of principal is possible. Confirm exact costs and terms with the fund prospectus and the latest information from the fund company.
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Mutual Fund Fee & Cost Calculator