ETF Fee Drag Calculator

How to use this calculator

Enter starting investment, monthly contribution, expected gross return, and fund expense ratio. The tool compares gross growth with growth after the annual fund fee.

When this calculator is useful

• Comparing ETFs and mutual funds
• Understanding small annual fees over long periods
• Evaluating AI-themed or specialty funds with higher expenses

Important limitations

Expense ratio is only one cost. Trading spreads, taxes, tracking error, advice fees, and different holdings can matter more than a small fee difference.

For best results, run at least three cases: a conservative case, a middle case, and a stretch case. If a small change in inputs creates a big change in the answer, that is a sign the decision may be sensitive to rates, fees, timing, or market performance.