The method
How it is worked out
Final value = compound growth at (growth − fund charge − platform fee), with monthly contributions
- ongoing charge
- The fund's annual fee, taken from returns
Fund Fee Impact Calculator
See what a fund's ongoing charge costs you over decades against a cheaper alternative, in pounds and in years of retirement. The result updates as you type so you can compare scenarios quickly.
Keep in mind
What it leaves out
- Transaction costsFunds also incur trading costs not in the headline charge.
- Exit feesSome platforms charge to transfer out.
- PerformancePast outperformance rarely persists after fees; assume equal gross returns.
Use the calculator to compare scenarios rather than as a guaranteed forecast.
About the Fund Fee Impact Calculator
See what a fund's ongoing charge costs you over decades against a cheaper alternative, in pounds and as a share of your final pot. Fees compound in exactly the way returns do.
How it works and an example to tryShow less
How to use the result
Both funds are grown monthly at the gross return less their charge and the platform fee, with contributions added each month. The difference in final value is the cost of the dearer fund; its share of the cheaper fund's final value shows the proportion lost.
Example to try
£50,000 plus £300 a month at 7% for 25 years: a 1.1% fund ends near £394,000, a 0.15% fund near £480,000. The dearer fund costs about £86,000, 18% of the pot.
Put it to work
Try it on a real situation
Load an example
What moves the result most
Worked out from your figures above. Tap a row to try it.
Who uses it, and when
Pension and ISA investors reviewing holdings, anyone comparing an active fund with an index tracker and advisers demonstrating fee drag.
Mistakes worth avoiding
- Judging a fund on last year's return rather than fees over decades.
- Ignoring platform and transaction costs on top of the fund charge.
- Paying exit fees without checking they are less than the long-run saving.
Questions
What does the Fund Fee Impact Calculator do?
See what a fund's ongoing charge costs you over decades against a cheaper alternative, in pounds and in years of retirement.
How should I use the result?
Both funds are grown monthly at the gross return less their charge and the platform fee, with contributions added each month. The difference in final value is the cost of the dearer fund; its share of the cheaper fund's final value shows the proportion lost.
Does TechBullion store the information I enter?
The core calculation or transformation runs in your browser. Normal website security and analytics may still record page-level events, but the tool does not need to create a public record from your inputs.
What mistakes do people make with a fund fee impact calculator?
Judging a fund on last year's return rather than fees over decades. Ignoring platform and transaction costs on top of the fund charge. Paying exit fees without checking they are less than the long-run saving.
Is the result guaranteed?
No. Use the result as a practical check or planning aid and verify important decisions with the relevant primary source, provider or professional advice.
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Results are estimates based on the figures entered, for general information only, and not financial, investment, tax or legal advice. See our terms of use.