Project your portfolio's future value — and see exactly how much fees quietly cost you.
This projects a portfolio's value using your expected annual return, reduced by the annual fee you pay (fund expense ratios and advisor fees). The fee field matters more than most people realize — it compounds against you every single year, just like returns compound in your favor.
The "lost to fees" figure shows the cumulative drag of that fee over the full period. On a 30-year horizon, even a seemingly small 1% fee can consume a six-figure chunk of your final balance.
Fees are the silent portfolio killer. The difference between a 0.05% index fund and a 1% actively managed fund doesn't sound like much, but over 30 years it can cost you 20–25% of your final balance. This is why low-cost index funds are the default recommendation of most independent financial experts — you keep more of your own returns.
Historically, a diversified US stock portfolio has returned roughly 7% per year after inflation (about 10% before). Many planners use 6–8% for long-term stock-heavy projections and lower figures for bond-heavy or shorter-horizon portfolios. Using a conservative number means reality is more likely to pleasantly surprise you than disappoint.