RealCostly
Financial Decision Calculators (MVP)

Investment Fees Impact Calculator

Fees look small… until they compound for decades. Compare two fee levels and see the money you lose over time.

Inputs

Starting balance.
Time horizon.
Before fees, nominal.
Added at end of each month.
Low-cost index fund / ETF.
Typical actively-managed fund/platform.

Year-by-year (first 30 years)

Year A (low fee) B (high fee) Gap (A − B)

Model: fees are treated as a drag on annual return (approx). Real-world fee mechanics vary by product.

Results

Reality check

This is not market risk. This is the cost of choosing a more expensive product:

Final value (A: low fee)
Final value (B: high fee)
Money lost to higher fees
Total contributed
Sponsored

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FAQ

Is a 1% fee really a big deal?
Over decades, yes. A 1%–2% annual fee compounds against your returns and can reduce your final balance dramatically.

How does this calculator model fees?
It treats fees as a drag on annual return (approx). Real products may charge fees differently, but the long-term effect is similar.