Fees and Expenses on Mutual Funds and ETFs: A Complete Guide
Investing plays a massive role in growing and preserving your wealth over the course of your lifetime. Along with defining your investment philosophy and selecting appropriate investments, it’s essential to have an understanding of the various expenses you may come across while investing, as every expense you incur will diminish the growth on your investment earnings.
Common Fees Associated with Actively Managed and Passive Funds
When it comes to investing in mutual funds and ETFs, there are common fees and expenses that you should be aware of. These fees can vary depending on the type of investment and the platform you use.
Investment Platform Impact on Costs
Whether you are self-managing your investments through a platform like Vanguard or seeking guidance from a robo-advisor or financial advisor, it’s important to be mindful of the more common kinds of investment expenses and fees. Understanding these costs will help you make informed decisions about your investments.
Understanding Investment Expenses and Fees
Here are the relatively well understood fees that are typically associated with investing in mutual funds and ETFs:
Administrative Costs for Self-Managing Investments
When you invest on your own, there are additional administrative costs you should understand before trading your investments. These expenses may include transaction costs and account maintenance fees.
Transaction costs will vary depending on where you do your investing, what you invest in, and how often securities are bought and sold. Account maintenance fees may also apply, but they can often be waived depending on the minimum requirements set by the custodian.
For example, while Fidelity charges no account fee, Vanguard may charge a $20 fee for certain accounts. However, this fee can be waived with $1,000,000 in Vanguard assets or through email delivery of statements. It’s important to do your research when choosing a custodian as a DIY investor.
Advisor Fees for Managed Investments
One of the biggest fees anyone pays when investing in mutual funds and ETFs are advisor fees. The amount you pay will depend on the type of advisor you use, how much money you are investing, and the type of fee structure the advisor charges.
If you prefer a completely hands-off investment approach and work with a financial advisor to manage your money, you’ll need to account for their fees as well. For the majority of advisors managing money today, an AUM (Assets Under Management) fee is still prevalent.
Other Fees Associated with Managed Funds
Besides fees for advice and trading, there are a whole host of other fees that are associated with both actively managed funds and even passively managed funds and ETFs. These fees can include:
- Management fees
- 12b-1 or distribution fees
- Marketing fees
- Administrative fees
Pros and Cons of Actively Managed Funds
An actively-managed mutual fund is managed by professional fund managers who utilize their expertise and research to hand-select stocks, bonds, or other holdings for the fund. These managers actively trade the holdings in the fund with the goal of outperforming a specific benchmark or market index.
While actively managed funds can offer the potential for higher returns, they also come with their downsides. Some of the cons include:
- Higher fees
- Lower tax efficiency
- Potential for underperformance
Understanding the fees associated with actively managed funds can help you make informed decisions about your investment strategy.
Investing in mutual funds and ETFs can be a rewarding way to grow your wealth, but it’s important to be aware of the fees and expenses involved. By understanding these costs, you can make informed decisions and ensure that your investment earnings are not unnecessarily diminished. Remember to do your research, compare fees across different platforms, and consider seeking professional advice if needed.
