Investment Fees Visualizer
Compare how investment fees impact your returns using realistic market simulation. See how different fee levels affect wealth building and retirement timing with Monte Carlo analysis.
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Frequently Asked Questions
About This Calculator
The Investment Fees Calculator reveals the shocking long-term impact of management fees on your investment portfolio growth. Many Canadian investors don't realize that even seemingly small differences in Management Expense Ratios (MERs) can cost tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars over a 20-30 year investment timeline. This calculator compares high-fee actively managed mutual funds (often 2.0-2.5% MER) against low-cost index ETFs (typically 0.05-0.25% MER), showing you exactly how much wealth those extra fees consume over time. The math is significant: a 2% annual fee doesn't just reduce your returns by 2% — it compounds against you year after year, dramatically reducing your final portfolio value. For example, on a $500,000 portfolio over 30 years, the difference between a 2.5% MER and 0.20% MER could exceed $800,000 in lost wealth. Understanding fee impact is one of the most important financial literacy lessons for Canadian investors, especially those saving for retirement in RRSPs and TFSAs where every dollar counts.
Key Features
- Compare high-fee mutual funds vs low-cost ETF portfolios
- Calculate total fees paid over your investment timeline
- Show portfolio value difference with and without high fees
- Model MER impact on RRSP, TFSA, and non-registered accounts
- Calculate how many extra years you'll need to work to offset high fees
- Compare actively managed funds vs passive index investing costs
- Visual charts showing fee drag on portfolio growth over time
- Real-world Canadian mutual fund and ETF fee examples
When to Use This Calculator
- Investors comparing their bank's mutual funds vs discount brokerage ETFs
- DIY investors evaluating robo-advisor fees vs self-directed investing
- Retirees determining if their advisor's 1% AUM fee is worth it
- Young investors understanding the long-term impact of early fee decisions
- Financial advisors demonstrating the value of fee-conscious investing
- Individuals reviewing their workplace pension fund expense ratios