Your numbers
Educational tool only. Not financial, investment, tax or legal advice. Results are hypothetical, based on the numbers you enter, and do not predict real returns. Talk to a licensed professional before making decisions about your money.
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How this is calculated
Each month your balance grows by the return you enter, then one twelfth of the yearly fee is taken out. Your monthly contribution is added at the end of the month. The same steps run for both lines. The only difference is the fee. The result is the gap between the two ending balances. It is a simple model: no taxes, no inflation, no changes in fees or returns over time.
Common questions
What is an expense ratio?
It is the yearly cost of owning a fund, shown as a percentage of the money you have in it. It is taken out of the fund's value, so you never see a bill. An expense ratio of 0.75% means about $7.50 a year for every $1,000 invested.
What does a 0.75 expense ratio mean?
It means 0.75% a year, or about $7.50 for every $1,000 invested. On $50,000 that is about $375 a year, and the cost grows as your balance grows.
Is a 0.68 expense ratio high?
It is higher than the cost of many broad index funds, which often charge far less. Whether it is worth it depends on what the fund does and how it compares with similar funds. Use the calculator to see what the difference adds up to over your time frame.
Is a 1.5 expense ratio high?
It is high compared with many low-cost funds. On a $100,000 balance, 1.5% is about $1,500 a year. The calculator shows what that gap can mean after decades of compounding.
How do I calculate my 401(k) fees?
Look for the fee disclosure your plan sends you each year, or ask your plan administrator for it. It lists each fund's expense ratio and any plan administration fees. Add the fund's expense ratio and the plan fee to get your yearly percentage, then enter it in the 401(k) tab above.
How much fees does a 401(k) charge?
It varies by employer plan. Costs usually come from two places: the funds you pick and the plan's own administration fees. Your plan's fee disclosure shows your exact numbers.
Who has the cheapest 401(k) fees?
You usually cannot choose your employer's plan, so the useful comparison is between the funds inside it. Compare the expense ratios of the options you have, and check whether the plan charges extra administration fees.
How much will a financial advisor charge?
Many advisors charge a percentage of the money they manage for you each year. Others charge a flat fee or an hourly rate. Ask for the full fee in writing, including fund costs on top of the advisor fee.
How do financial advisors calculate their fees?
The most common method is a percentage of the assets they manage, billed from your account. So the fee grows when your balance grows. Use the Advisor fee tab to see what that percentage does over time.
Is paying 1% to a financial advisor a good idea?
That depends on what you get for it, such as planning, tax help or behavior coaching, and on whether you could do those things another way. This calculator shows the cost side only, so you can weigh it against the service. It is not advice.
Is a 1.5% fee high for a financial advisor?
It is more than the 1% many people quote as typical. Add it to the cost of the funds you hold to see your total yearly fee, then run the numbers in the Advisor fee tab.
Is a 1% management fee acceptable?
Only you can decide that. A useful step is to turn 1% into dollars over your time frame, and compare it with the services you actually use. The Advisor fee tab does that math.