Fund expenses
An MER or expense ratio is deducted inside a fund and reduces the return received by investors.
Focused decision guide
How do fees affect long-term investing?
A fee is paid whether markets rise or fall. Small annual differences can compound over a long period, but cost is only one part of evaluating an investment.
Understand the choice
What changes—and what you give up.
Advice and platform costs
Advisory, administration, trading and currency-conversion costs may be separate from the fund expense.
Value received
A higher cost is not automatically poor and a lower cost is not automatically suitable. Services, diversification, tax and behaviour may also matter.
Before comparing
The assumptions that matter most.
- The current published fund expense
- Any advisor, platform, trading or foreign-exchange costs
- Whether fees differ by account or share class
- How long the investment is held
Test the question
Use the guide with a planning tool.
Enter or confirm published fees. Unknown costs remain visibly marked rather than being guessed.