💰 Calculator

Fee Drag Calculator

A 1% annual fee sounds small. Over 30 years it can quietly steal 25% of your retirement. See the exact dollar cost of your expense ratios — and what switching to low-cost index funds would save you.

Your Fees

Current Account Balance

Your Expense Ratio / Annual Fee Rate

Find this on your statement or at your fund's website. Average active fund: ~0.85%. Average index fund: ~0.05%.

Monthly Contribution

Years Until Retirement

25 years

Gross Annual Return (before fees)

Compare Against (low-cost alternative)

The True Cost of Your Fees

📈 With Low-Cost Alternative

—

📉 At Your Current Fees

—

Switching saves you — over — years

Low-cost Your fees

Annual fee on current balance —

Total fees paid over period —

Compound growth lost to fees —

Effective annual cost —

⚡ Escape the Fee Trap — Low-Cost IRAs

Best for fees

Fidelity ZERO

0% expense ratio funds · No account fees

Switch to Fidelity →

Vanguard

0.03% avg expense ratio · No minimums on ETFs

Switch to Vanguard →

M1 Finance

Free automated portfolios · $0 trades

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Projections are illustrative. Assumes constant return and contribution. Does not account for tax drag, turnover costs, or load fees. Low-cost alternative rates are approximate and subject to change.