8
Mutual Fund Calculator: Growth and Fees
You’re our first priority.
Every time.
NerdWallet, Inc. is an independent publisher and comparison service, not an investment advisor. Its articles, interactive tools and other content are provided to you for free, as self-help tools and for informational purposes only. They are not intended to provide investment advice. NerdWallet does not and cannot guarantee the accuracy or applicability of any information in regard to your individual circumstances. Examples are hypothetical, and we encourage you to seek personalized advice from qualified professionals regarding specific investment issues. Our estimates are based on past market performance, and past performance is not a guarantee of future performance.
We believe everyone should be able to make financial decisions with confidence. And while our site doesn’t feature every company or financial product available on the market, we’re proud that the guidance we offer, the information we provide and the tools we create are objective, independent, straightforward — and free.
So how do we make money? Our partners compensate us. This may influence which products we review and write about (and where those products appear on the site), but it in no way affects our recommendations or advice, which are grounded in thousands of hours of research. Our partners cannot pay us to guarantee favorable reviews of their products or services. Here is a list of our partners.
Mutual Fund Calculator: Growth and Fees
Mutual fund fees can eat away at your returns. Make sure you know how much you're paying in fees with our mutual fund calculator, which also calculates fund investment growth.
Many, or all, of the products featured on this page are from our advertising partners who compensate us when you take certain actions on our website or click to take an action on their website. However, this does not influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own. Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make money.
The investing information provided on this page is for educational purposes only. NerdWallet, Inc. does not offer advisory or brokerage services, nor does it recommend or advise investors to buy or sell particular stocks, securities or other investments.
How is this page expert verified?
NerdWallet's content is fact-checked for accuracy, timeliness and relevance. It undergoes a thorough review process involving writers and editors to ensure the information is as clear and complete as possible.
More on our editorial rigor
Contributing Writer
Expertise CNN.com The Wall Street JournalKevin Voigt is a freelance writer covering personal loans and investing topics for NerdWallet. He previously was a reporter with The Wall Street Journal and business producer for CNN.com in Hong Kong, where he was based for nearly two decades.
Kevin Voigt is a freelance writer covering personal loans and investing topics for NerdWallet. He previously was a reporter with The Wall Street Journal and business producer for CNN.com in Hong Kong, where he was based for nearly two decades. Contributing Writer + more + more
Head of Content, New Verticals
11 years of experienceChris Hutchison helped build NerdWallet's editorial operation and has directed coverage across banking, investing, taxes and insurance. He now leads a team exploring new verticals. Before joining NerdWallet, he was an editor and programmer at ESPN and an editor at the San Jose Mercury News.
Chris Hutchison helped build NerdWallet's editorial operation and has directed coverage across banking, investing, taxes and insurance. He now leads a team exploring new verticals. Before joining NerdWallet, he was an editor and programmer at ESPN and an editor at the San Jose Mercury News. Head of Content, New Verticals + more + moreWith thousands of mutual funds on the market, how do you decide which fund to buy? Looking at the fees that can erode long-term returns is a good way to sift through your choices. Our mutual fund calculator will show you how your investment — and a mutual fund's expense ratio — will compound over time.
With thousands of mutual funds on the market, how do you decide which fund to buy? Looking at the fees that can erode long-term returns is a good way to sift through your choices. Our mutual fund calculator will show you how your investment — and a mutual fund's expense ratio — will compound over time.» Looking for something else? Check out our investment returns calculator
» » Looking for something else? Looking for something else? Check out our investment returns calculatorHow to use the mutual fund calculator
How to use the mutual fund calculatorEnter an initial investment amount.
Enter an initial investment amount.Enter an annual contribution if you plan to make regular new investments. Many mutual funds have minimum initial investments. However, brokers will often waive that minimum if you make monthly deposits.
Enter an annual contribution if you plan to make regular new investments. Many mutual funds have minimum initial investments. However, brokers will often waive that minimum if you make monthly deposits.Add how many years you plan to stay invested in the fund. The longer the time horizon, the greater the potential returns.
Add how many years you plan to stay invested in the fund. The longer the time horizon, the greater the potential returns.Input an estimated annual return for the mutual fund. (You can find information about the fund's past performance online. Remember, though, that past performance does not guarantee future results.)
Input an estimated annual return for the mutual fund. (You can find information about the fund's past performance online. Remember, though, that past performance does not guarantee future results.)Finally, add the annual fees, known as the mutual fund's expense ratio. Lower fees mean more of your cash will stay invested for potential long-term growth.
Finally, add the annual fees, known as the mutual fund's expense ratio . Lower fees mean more of your cash will stay invested for potential long-term growth.If you don't like the fees you're seeing, exchange-traded funds often have lower expense ratios than typical mutual funds.
If you don't like the fees you're seeing, exchange-traded funds often have lower expense ratios than typical mutual funds.An important note: This calculator presumes you are shopping only for no-load funds with no transaction fees. These are mutual funds that don't charge a sales commission or fees for purchasing or selling shares. (You can read more about mutual fund fees here.)
An important note: An important note: This calculator presumes you are shopping only for no-load funds with no transaction fees. These are mutual funds that don't charge a sales commission or fees for purchasing or selling shares. (You can read more about mutual fund fees here.)Before you buy a mutual fund (or any investment), you'll need to have a brokerage account. Opening an account is simple, but you have a few choices to make: Learn more from this primer on how to open a brokerage account.
Before you buy a mutual fund (or any investment), you'll need to have a brokerage account. Opening an account is simple, but you have a few choices to make: Learn more from this primer on how to open a brokerage account .» Ready to start investing? See our picks for the best brokers for mutual funds
» » Ready to start investing? Ready to start investing? See our picks for the best brokers for mutual funds