FT MarketWatch

Fee Impact Calculator

Written by Greg, founder of FTMarketWatch — a former licensed commodities trader, self-directed investor since. Not a licensed financial advisor.

Last reviewed: September 2, 2026

What this tool does: shows how different annual fee levels (such as mutual fund MERs or ETF expenses) can change your long-term results when everything else – contributions and gross return – is the same.

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This calculator is for educational illustration only and uses simplified assumptions. Actual returns and fee structures vary.

How to use this insight

Even relatively small differences in fees can add up over decades. This is one reason why many long-term investors pay close attention to the costs of mutual funds and ETFs, as discussed in our ETF Basics and Mutual Funds guides.

The goal is not to chase the lowest fee at all costs, but to make sure that the fees you pay are reasonable for the strategy you are using and the value you are getting.