Mutual Fund Calculator – Estimate Investment Returns
Project mutual fund growth including expense ratios and sales loads.
About the Mutual Fund Calculator
What is the Mutual Fund Calculator?
A mutual fund calculator projects the value of a fund investment after accounting for the expense ratio and any sales load.
Why use this calculator?
Fees compound against you. A seemingly small expense ratio can consume a large share of returns over decades, so comparing funds on total cost is essential.
How to use it
- Enter your initial and monthly investments.
- Enter the gross return and the fund expense ratio.
- Add any front-end load.
- See the projected value net of fees.
Formula
Net return = gross return − expense ratio; load reduces the initial investment.
Assumes the expense ratio is deducted continuously from returns. Back-end loads and 12b-1 fees are not modeled.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an expense ratio?
The annual fee a fund charges, expressed as a percentage of assets. It is automatically deducted, so it reduces your return without a visible bill.
Do small fee differences really matter?
Yes, over long periods. A difference of 1% a year can reduce a multi-decade portfolio by a substantial fraction of its final value.
What is compound interest?
Compound interest is interest earned on both your original money and on previously earned interest. Over time it can make savings grow much faster than simple interest.
What is the difference between nominal and effective return?
The nominal return ignores compounding within the year, while the effective (annualised) return accounts for it. The effective figure is usually higher and better reflects real growth.
How does inflation affect my returns?
Inflation erodes purchasing power. The real return is the nominal return minus inflation, so an investment can grow in dollars yet still lose value in what it can buy.
What rate of return should I assume?
A common long-term assumption for a diversified stock portfolio is about 6% to 8% per year after inflation, but returns vary and are never guaranteed.
Does this account for taxes and fees?
Unless stated, the tool shows pre-tax, pre-fee growth. Subtract your fund expense ratio and expected tax rate to estimate what you keep.
Is this calculator free to use?
Yes. Every calculator on this site is completely free, with no hidden fees, no subscriptions and no limits on how many times you can use it.
How accurate are the results?
We use standard, widely accepted formulas and calculate in your browser using double-precision arithmetic. Results are rounded for readability, so treat them as reliable estimates rather than a guarantee. Real-world factors can vary the true figure.
Can I add this calculator to my own website?
Yes. Open this calculator page and use the "Add to your website" box in the sidebar to copy a ready-made iframe snippet, then paste it into any HTML page.