Fee Impact Calculator
Small fee differences look harmless — 0.80% vs 0.20% doesn’t seem like much — but over decades they can quietly remove a surprising amount from your ending portfolio value. Use this calculator to compare two fee levels side by side.
Compare Two Fee Levels
All numbers are simplified and for illustration only. Actual returns and fee structures may differ.
Results
Returns here are simplified: annual contributions are assumed to be made at year-end and fees are treated as a simple reduction to the expected return.
Enter your numbers above and click “Calculate fee impact”.
How to Read These Numbers
The calculator shows what happens if you earn the same gross return, but pay different ongoing fees. The higher-fee investment has to work harder just to catch up — and often never does.
In the real world, returns are bumpy, not smooth, and taxes may apply. But the basic lesson holds: when you can choose between two similar investments, the lower-fee option often leaves more in your pocket over time.
For more background, see: Are ETF Fees Worth It? and ETF Expense Ratios and Fees.