See how expense ratios, sales loads and taxes reduce your mutual fund returns over time.
Please do not make financial decisions based on these results.
What is the Mutual Fund Calculator?
A mutual fund calculator shows how expense ratios, sales loads and tax drag reduce your growth compared with a no-fee investment.
Where the Mutual Fund Calculator fits
See how expense ratios, sales loads and taxes reduce your mutual fund returns over time. The main figure it returns is the Ending balance after fees, worked out from the values you enter.
It belongs with the other investment tools. If you are comparing options or checking a result from another angle, try the Expense Ratio Calculator, Compound Interest Calculator or the Sinking Fund Calculator.
How to use the Mutual Fund Calculator
- Enter your numbers. The inputs are Initial investment ($), Additional contribution ($), Time: years, Gross annual return (%), Expense ratio (% per year). Use a rate of return you consider realistic; small changes compound into large differences. Fields marked optional can stay at zero.
- Choose your options. Contribution frequency change how the result is worked out, and the form updates to match your choice.
- Read the result. The highlighted box gives the Ending balance after fees, and the cards below show Total invested, Balance with no fees or taxes, Total cost of fees & taxes. Tables and charts break it down further.
- Test other scenarios. Results update as you type. Change one value at a time to see what drives the answer, and press Reset to go back to the defaults.
Formula and how it works
Example with real numbers
Here is the Mutual Fund Calculator using the default values shown in the calculator above:
Inputs
| Initial investment ($) | 10,000 |
|---|---|
| Additional contribution ($) | 300 |
| Contribution frequency | Monthly |
| Time: years | 20 |
| Gross annual return (%) | 8 |
| Expense ratio (% per year) | 0.75 |
Results
| Ending balance after fees | $203,554.58 |
|---|---|
| Total invested | $82,000.00 |
| Balance with no fees or taxes | $225,974.15 |
| Total cost of fees & taxes | $22,419.57 |
| Net return on investment | $121,554.58 |
| Net annual return after costs | 7.25% |
With these inputs the calculator returns Ending balance after fees: $203,554.58. Change any value in the calculator to see how the result moves.
What the results tell you
The results panel of the Mutual Fund Calculator reports Ending balance after fees, total invested, balance with no fees or taxes, total cost of fees & taxes, net return on investment and net annual return after costs. Compare these figures while changing one input at a time, and use the related calculators below to look at the same situation from another angle.
Tips for better results
Method and limits. This calculator applies the formula in the section above to your inputs, in your browser; nothing you enter is stored on our servers. Investment returns are not guaranteed. The result shows what the numbers you enter would produce, not what the market will do. It is for information, not financial, tax or legal advice.
Frequently asked questions
Why do fees matter so much?
Small yearly fees compound into large dollar costs over decades.
What is an expense ratio?
The yearly percentage of fund assets taken to run the fund. It is deducted automatically from returns.
Are investment returns guaranteed?
No. Real returns vary. Use these tools to compare scenarios, not to predict results.
What rate of return should I assume?
There is no guaranteed rate. Test a range of conservative and optimistic rates, and remember that fees and inflation reduce your real return.
Are the results guaranteed?
No. Results depend entirely on the numbers you enter and the formulas shown on this page. Please do not make financial decisions based on them alone; confirm important figures with a licensed professional.
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