Understand costs. Explore what you could keep.
Explore how fees, taxes and inflation could affect your investments, and how account tax treatment could change what you keep. Open a question to see its planned calculator and what to have ready.
What would you like to work out?
These three calculators are in preparation. Open a question to see its planned purpose and what to have ready. You can keep more than one open.
Investment Fee Impact Calculator How much could investment fees reduce my balance?
Investment Fee Impact Calculator
Explore how investment fees could affect a balance over time. The planned calculator will compare fee scenarios using the same investment assumptions and distinguish fees paid from the growth those dollars could have earned.
Before you start
Gather your starting balance, contribution schedule, time horizon and fee disclosures. Identify ongoing percentages, fixed charges and upfront costs. Check whether your chosen return assumption already reflects any fees so they are not deducted twice.
Calculator in preparation
After-Tax & Inflation-Adjusted Return Calculator What could my return be after taxes and inflation?
After-Tax & Inflation-Adjusted Return Calculator
Explore what a return could mean after modeled taxes and changes in purchasing power. The planned calculator will distinguish nominal returns from after-tax and inflation-adjusted results under stated assumptions.
Before you start
Have your return assumption, time period, income and gain components, tax assumptions and inflation assumption ready. Identify which gains are realized, when taxes would be paid and whether fees are already reflected.
Calculator in preparation
Taxable vs. Tax-Advantaged Growth Calculator How could account tax treatment change what I keep?
Taxable vs. Tax-Advantaged Growth Calculator
Compare investment growth under supported account-tax scenarios. The planned comparison will show contribution assumptions and distinguish account balances from estimated amounts available after withdrawal taxes.
Before you start
Gather starting balances and tax basis, planned contributions, time horizon, fee and growth assumptions, and current and withdrawal-tax assumptions. Decide whether you are comparing equal contributions or the same household out-of-pocket cost; note account and withdrawal conditions.
Calculator in preparation
A few useful distinctions
Do fee comparisons predict which investment will perform best?
No. Using the same assumed investment results helps isolate the modeled effect of fees. Actual performance, risk and services can differ. A projection is a scenario, not a guarantee or a recommendation to buy or sell. Check which costs are already included in any return you enter.
How are the two tax-related calculators different?
The return calculator focuses on how taxes and inflation affect a return’s meaning and purchasing power. The account comparison explores balances over time under different contribution and account-tax assumptions. Investment income, realized gains and unrealized growth can receive different tax treatment; neither illustration replaces a full tax calculation.
Does a tax-advantaged account make every withdrawal tax free?
No. Account rules, contribution treatment and withdrawal conditions matter. Tax-deferred balances can carry future tax obligations, while tax-free treatment may depend on qualifying conditions. A fair comparison must state whether contributions are equal or adjusted to the same household cost. Check eligibility and current rules separately.
Official guides for a closer look
Investor.gov: understand investment fees
Review ongoing charges, transaction costs and their potential effect on a portfolio.
Investor.gov: explore allocation and diversification
Learn about investment mix, time horizon and rebalancing as you consider your broader plan.
IRS: investment income and expenses
Review investment-income concepts and check the publication year and current guidance.
IRS: traditional and Roth IRA guidance
Explore official account rules, contribution considerations and distribution requirements.