Fees compound against you
A fee isn't a one-off. Every dollar paid in fees is a dollar that stops compounding for you. Over 40 years, a 1% higher fee can cost more than most people expect — often tens of thousands of dollars off the final balance.
FundfinderLifetime fee calculator
A 1% fee difference can cost you a house deposit by retirement.
Fund fees look tiny — half a percent here, a percent there. But they're charged every year on your whole balance, and every fee dollar stops compounding for you. Compare two funds and see the real cost.
Assumptions checked September 2026. Uses 2025 contribution settings: 3% employer match and the government contribution of 25c per $1 up to $260.72 a year.
Compare two funds
Set your situation, then drag the fee sliders to your funds' actual total fees. Everything updates live. Nothing is stored.
Assumes a 3% employer match, the government contribution (25c per $1, max $260.72), and 2% salary growth. Constant returns for illustration only.
Balance with Booster Socially Responsible Balanced Fund (1.33%)
$826,923
Balance with Fund B (1.50%)
$789,711
Cost of the fee gap
$37,211
Fees paid: $180,486 vs $165,178 — $15,309 more in Fund B
Balance over time
The shaded line is cumulative fees paid to Fund B.
Fund A balance Fund B balance Cumulative fees
Educational illustration only. Fees, returns and contribution settings vary; this is not financial advice. Find your fund's actual total fee in its product disclosure statement.
What to know about fees
Compare the total fee, not just the management fee
Providers quote a management fee, but funds can also carry administration, membership and performance-based fees. The fund's product disclosure statement shows the total. Compare like for like.
Cheaper is not always better
Fees matter, but so does whether the fund's risk level suits your timeframe. Paying slightly more for a fund you understand and stick with through downturns can beat a cheap fund you panic out of.
Returns are never guaranteed
This calculator uses one constant return for illustration. Real returns vary year to year, and past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance.
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Fee questions
Where do I find my fund's actual fee?+
Your fund's product disclosure statement and the annual fund update list the total annual fund charges as a percentage. Sorted.org.nz and the Disclose register (companiesoffice.govt.nz) also publish them.
Does the government contribution still exist?+
Yes, but it was halved in July 2024: 25 cents per dollar you contribute, up to $260.72 a year, once you contribute at least $1,042.86. This calculator uses those settings.
Why does a 0.5% fee difference matter so much?+
Because the fee is charged every year on the whole growing balance. A small percentage of a large balance, repeated for decades and removed from the compounding, adds up to far more than the same percentage of your early balance.
Is this financial advice?+
No. It is an educational illustration using assumptions you set. Real fee structures and returns differ. Talk to a licensed financial advice provider before making decisions.