Your numbers. A clearer picture.
401(k) Fee Drag
Compare two annual asset-based fee scenarios using the same balance, deposits, gross return, and horizon.
HiddenMeter's hand-set starter values are illustrative. Money amounts are in USD. They are not verified averages or current prices. No sourced price or price observation date is recorded for these starter values. Source context and dates below.
Adjust the inputs ↓Adjust the meter
Inputs
Use the sliders or type an exact amount from your own budget.
View result ↑-$77,231.09Your HiddenMeter scenario
Projected balance difference
-$77,231.09
Selected-fee scenario minus comparison-fee scenario.
The two scenarios use the same starting balance, monthly contribution, gross return, and horizon; only the entered annual asset-based fee changes.
Selected-fee balance
$572,816.71
Comparison-fee balance
$650,047.80
Your contributions
$150,000.00
Deposits, not spending.
Horizon
25 years
Projection assumptions
- Current balance
- $50,000.00
- Monthly contribution
- $500.00
- Gross annual return
- 7%
- Selected annual fee
- 0.75%
- Comparison annual fee
- 0.1%
Net modeled return: 6.20%.
Net modeled return: 6.89%.
Illustrative projection only: returns, contributions, and fees can change.
This compares the fees you enter; it does not estimate employer match, taxes, plan limits, or withdrawal rules.
The link includes your entered amounts, so others can reopen and adjust them. Share only what you are comfortable making public.
An educational scenario, not a quote, forecast, or personalized recommendation.
How this is calculated
- Contributions are added monthly at the end of each month.
- The entered gross annual return and annual asset-based fee are converted to a net effective annual return before monthly compounding.
- Both paths use identical deposits and return assumptions; contributions are not treated as spending.
What this does not tell you
- Does not model employer match, taxes, contribution limits, withdrawals, flat administration fees, or investment performance uncertainty.
- Review your plan's participant fee disclosures for actual fees.
Sources & assumptions
These sources support the approach described here. They do not make the illustrative starter prices verified averages. The source dates below record context checks, not starter-price observation dates. The linked material explains the method; it does not verify the example amounts.
Methodology and limitations- A Look At 401(k) Plan Fees
Investment fees are generally assessed as a percentage of assets and deducted from investment returns; plan fees can also include administration and individual service fees.
Source context checked