Fee Drag Calculator
A 0.03% expense ratio and a 1% expense ratio look almost identical on paper — but over 30 years the difference is tens of thousands of dollars. Enter your starting balance, expected return, and two expense ratios to see exactly what fees cost you. The math is standard: your return minus the fee, compounded yearly.
Results
$—
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— lost to the higher fee
Explained in: How to Invest Your First $1,000 in Index Funds — the article this calculator's math comes from.
Education, not advice: This tool is for education only and is not personalized financial advice. It assumes constant returns, which do not happen in real markets. Investing involves risk, including loss of principal. Past performance does not guarantee future results.