Mutual Fund Calculator
Compound a starting balance at a net return equal to gross return minus expense ratio. Optional deposits each compounding period. Informational, not investment advice.
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How to project mutual fund growth
- Enter principal and the gross annual return you want to assume.
- Enter the expense ratio so the page can form a net return.
- Set years, compounding frequency, and any contribution per period.
- Read future value, interest, gross versus net return, and effective annual rate.
- Treat the projection as fixed-rate arithmetic, not a market forecast or investment advice.
Mutual fund projection
Compound growth after expense-ratio drag
| Net return | gross return − expense ratio |
|---|---|
| Lump FV | P × (1 + r/n)^(n t) with r = net return |
| With deposits | Adds an ordinary or due annuity of contributions |
| Expense field | expenseRatio from 0% to 5% |
| Omitted | Loads, taxes, and changing markets |
| Advice | Informational. Not investment advice. |
What this mutual fund page projects
Expense ratios reduce the return that compounds. This page subtracts the typed expense ratio from the gross return, then runs standard compound interest with optional periodic contributions. It does not enforce fund minimums or sales loads.
Formulas used
Net annual rate = gross rate − expense ratio. Future value of principal uses P × (1 + i)^N with periodic rate i equal to net rate divided by compounds and N equal to compounds times years. Contributions add an ordinary or due annuity of deposits at that same periodic rate.
Related money pages
Plain compounding without an expense field is on compound interest. Roth and traditional IRA-style wrappers sit on Roth IRA and traditional IRA.
Use cases
Compare a 0.75% expense ratio against a lower-cost fund on the same gross return. Sketch growth with monthly deposits. See how expense drag compounds over long horizons. Not a recommendation to buy or sell a fund.
Worked example
Start with $10,000, 8% gross return, 0.75% expense ratio, 20 years, monthly compounding, and $200 end-of-month contributions. Net return is 7.25%. The page compounds principal and deposits at that net rate and reports future value and interest earned.
Limits
No front-end loads, redemption fees, tax drag, or variable returns. Contribution limits are not enforced. Informational, not investment advice. See the disclaimer.