Investment Fee Impact Calculator
See exactly how much a 1% fee difference silently drains from your portfolio over 10, 20, and 30 years.
Investment Fee Impact Calculator
See exactly how much fees silently drain from your portfolio over decades — and why expense ratios matter so much.
Low-fee portfolio (0.05% fee)
$2,339,377
After 30 years
High-fee portfolio (1% fee)
$1,894,755
After 30 years
Fee drag (wealth lost)
$444,622
19.0% of your potential wealth
Portfolio growth comparison
| Year | Low-fee (0.05%) | High-fee (1%) | Fee drag |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 5 | $216,922 | $209,264 | $7,658 |
| Year 10 | $388,322 | $362,513 | $25,809 |
| Year 15 | $639,581 | $577,451 | $62,130 |
| Year 20 | $1,007,911 | $878,914 | $128,996 |
| Year 25 | $1,547,855 | $1,301,732 | $246,124 |
| Year 30 | $2,339,377 | $1,894,755 | $444,622 |
💡 Rule of thumb: A 1% fee difference on a $100K portfolio compounds into hundreds of thousands of dollars in lost wealth over 30 years. Index funds with sub-0.1% expense ratios are one of the highest-return decisions an investor can make.