Investing is a major part of building wealth and creating a nest egg that can work for you in the long-term. Unlike savings accounts, investing can result in remarkable returns on investment and can help beat the cost of inflation.
Investing is a key component to building wealth and paving your financial future. But there’s a not-so-hidden aspect that can slowly eat away at a nest egg if you’re not careful to guard against it: outrageously high investment fees.
The Serious Cost of Investment Fees
Investment fees may seem innocuous at first. But they become more detrimental over time. Ignoring costs is a huge mistake.
Some of the worst fees appear in employer-sponsored 401(k) plans, and most people don’t even know how much the plan is costing them each year. Many employers are in the same boat, and simply don’t know the costs associated with the plans they’ve chosen for their employees.
Investors trying to go it alone may also end up paying more than if they had hired a trusted advisor working in their best interest, if they don’t understand how to evaluate funds or if they don’t know to pay attention to things like turnover in management, mutual fund fee structures, and other factors that can increase their expenses.
It doesn’t have to be this way. You need to learn how to manage those fees so you can maximize your returns.
How to Minimize the Impact of Investment Fees
Many people choose to invest their money because of the magic of compound interest, failing to realize that investment fees compound too. How can you avoid the pitfalls of investment fees as an investor and hold on to as much money as possible?
Be financially smart and choose low-cost options and do your due diligence when choosing a professional to help you manage your investments.
You’ll want to choose wisely when it comes to who manages your money too. Some financial advisors may take a large commission, which will eat away at your earnings. Choose a financial advisor who works as a fee-only planner and upholds a fiduciary standard.
Also, don’t forget to speak up! If you have an advisor or an employer that manages your 401(k), ask them about what investment fees you will be paying. Ask about any expense ratios, internal fees, commission fees, annual fees, trading fees and administrative costs that might cut into your investments.
You have a right to know and are entitled to that information, but you have to do your due diligence and ask. If your advisor isn’t transparent about fees and how they’re compensated, it’s time to find a new one.
And before investing in anything, think about rates, commission fees, managements fees, trading fees, and so on. Consider the long-term implications of how it will affect your portfolio.
If you’re in a position to make decisions around your company’s retirement plan options, you can do the following to potentially save thousands of dollars in fees for the employees of the business:
- Establish a prudent process for selecting investment alternatives and service providers
- Ensure that fees paid to service providers and other expenses of the plan are reasonable in light of the level and quality of services provided.
- Monitor investment alternatives and service providers once selected to see that they continue to be appropriate choices
As an investor, empower yourself with information and do your research on any investment fees before funneling more money into any assets or funds. After all, it’s your hard earned money that you worked for — don’t you want to keep most of it?
