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Maths and Mechanics

The Hidden Cost That's Stealing Your Retirement

How a 1% fee difference costs the average investor $590,000 over 30 years—and why most people never notice until it's too late.

June 6, 2025
10 min read
The Hidden Cost That's Stealing Your Retirement

The Silent Wealth Killer

What if I told you that a seemingly small 1% difference in investment fees could cost you over half a million dollars in retirement? Most investors focus on picking the "best" funds or timing the market, but they completely ignore the silent wealth killer that's been draining their accounts for decades: fees.

Interactive Fee Impact Calculator

$
$

Typical index fund fee

Typical actively managed fund fee

Low Fee Portfolio

$0

@ 0.1% annual fee

High Fee Portfolio

$0

@ 1.5% annual fee

Cost of High Fees

$0

Lost to unnecessary fees

Visual Impact Comparison

Low Fee (0.1%)
$0
High Fee (1.5%)
$0
Fee Difference: $0
That's $0 less per month for 30 years!

Try these common scenarios:

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