Find every fee layer
Find each fund expense ratio, advisory fee, platform fee and surrender charge.
INVESTING FLIGHT SCHOOL
Reduce drag.
Recurring fund, advisory, insurance, trading, and tax costs compound against the investor.
Match fees to actual service
Convert the total annual cost to dollars using the current balance.
Translate percentages into dollars
Replace cost only when the alternative preserves the needed exposure, tax treatment and features.
FLIGHT CHECK
Questions before acting.
Expense ratios
Advisory fee
Plan costs
Insurance charges
Trading and tax costs
PRIMARY REFERENCE
Investor.gov guide to fees↗THE ACTUAL SOLUTION
Leave with a decision—not another article.
Find each fund expense ratio, advisory fee, platform fee and surrender charge.
Convert the total annual cost to dollars using the current balance.
Replace cost only when the alternative preserves the needed exposure, tax treatment and features.
Write the rule in plain language and test whether you can follow it during a bad market.
Measure fee drag
OPEN →YOU ARE DONE WHENYou can state the portfolio’s annual all-in cost in both percent and dollars.
OPTIONAL DEEP DIVES