ETF vs Managed Portfolio Fees Calculator

Include the fund charge, platform fee, adviser or management fee, dealing costs and any fixed account charge. For an exchange-traded fund (ETF), the bid-offer spread and trading commission can matter, particularly on small or frequent purchases. The advertised fund fee is only one part of the cost. Add up what you would pay based on the platform you would use and how often you invest.

Fees are deducted repeatedly and the money paid in fees no longer compounds for you. A 1% yearly gap sounds modest, but across 20 or 30 years it applies to a growing balance. The calculator shows both the fees paid and the growth lost on those fees, which is why the end difference can be much larger than expected.

No. The ongoing charges figure (OCF) covers the published operating costs of the fund, but not every cost paid by the investor. Tracking difference, transactions inside the fund, platform charges, dealing commission and the market spread can all affect returns. Use the OCF as one standard measure, then add the costs around it.

It is the gap between an index fund’s return and the return of the index it aims to follow. It reflects fees, trading, tax, sampling and operational choices. A fund with a low published charge can still trail its index by more than expected, while efficient management can narrow the gap. Check several years rather than one isolated period.

It can, if the service provides value you need, such as advice, tax planning, rebalancing, behavioural support or a portfolio you will stick with. The comparison should be like for like. Paying more for a clearly defined service is different from paying more for a similar collection of funds with no useful additional support.

For a clean fee comparison, yes, because it isolates the cost difference. In real life, the portfolios may hold different assets and take different risks. If you change the return as well as the fee, explain why and run several scenarios. Do not reward one option with a higher assumed return just because it costs more.

A fixed fee is a larger percentage of a small balance and a smaller percentage of a large one. Percentage fees behave in the opposite way as the pot grows. Enter the actual charging structure at several portfolio sizes, especially if you expect to move from regular saving to a larger retirement pot.

They can, although frequency matters. A buy-and-hold investor making a few large trades may pay little relative to the portfolio. Monthly ETF purchases with commission and spread can be less efficient on a small account. Regular investing funds or commission-free plans may change the result, so model the actual transaction pattern.

Inside an ISA or pension, UK Income Tax and Capital Gains Tax are normally sheltered, although the product rules still apply. In a General Investment Account, distributions, realised gains and frequent trading can affect tax. A managed service that trades more often may create a different tax bill, so compare more than the fee.

First check that both portfolios have a similar purpose, asset mix and level of risk. Then ask exactly what the extra fee buys. Advice, tax planning, rebalancing or help staying invested may be worth paying for. The cheapest fund is not always the best option, but every extra fee should buy something you can name.

No, it focuses solely on the effect of investment fees. Tax rules vary depending on whether you use an ISA, pension, or GIA.

No, all tools run client-side, and nothing is saved.