What are the fees really costing you?
A 1% fee sounds like nothing. Over a thirty-year climb it can quietly eat a sixth of your pot. And in Europe there’s a second, sneakier leak — dividend tax on distributing funds. Put your numbers in and see both, in euros.
The Fee Drag
Accumulating vs distributing
A distributing fund pays out dividends — which can be taxed each year. An accumulating fund reinvests them untaxed until you sell. Over decades, that gap compounds.
What the fee costs
€80,585
A 0.50% fee quietly takes 8% of the pot you’d have kept with no fees — over 25 years, on these numbers.
And a distributing fund leaks another €77k to dividend tax on the way — money an accumulating fund would still have working for you.
Illustrative, steady-return maths in real terms. It compares fund structures, not specific funds, and names none. Dividend tax varies by country and account type — treat it as a shape, not a quote. Not advice.
Nothing here is financial or investment advice — it’s arithmetic and education. Every tool runs in your browser; nothing you type is sent anywhere or saved. Decisions about your money are yours, ideally with a licensed adviser. I’m happily not one.
Bring me a challenge.
The Exit Audit, then ninety minutes: a straight verdict, real alternatives with their pros and cons, and your first move. If you want someone to nod along, I’m the wrong person to pay.