Compound Loss From Fees Calculator
Fees don't just cost you the fee; they cost you the decades of growth that money would have earned. This calculator separates the excess fees you paid from the compounding growth those fees quietly cost your retirement.
Is your 401(k) quietly costing you money?
Most people have no idea what their workplace retirement plan charges them — or how much it quietly adds up to over the years. These free tools spell it out in plain English. No jargon, no cost, and nothing you need to look up.
Compound Loss From Fees Calculator
Here's the part that surprises people: a fee doesn't just cost you the fee. It also costs you all the growth that money would have earned if it had stayed invested — year after year, for decades. This shows the full damage, not just the sticker price. Everything's pre-filled, so you can use it knowing nothing about your plan.
Most of the damage usually isn't the fee — it's the decades of growth you never got to keep. If your plan's fees are high, that's worth looking into, for free.
Worried by what you see? Talk to an attorney — free.
You don't have to understand any of this. If these numbers look off, a free, confidential review will tell you in plain English whether your employer's plan may owe you money. You pay nothing unless money is recovered, and your employer is never contacted without your okay.
A quick note. These tools give rough, illustrative estimates based only on what you enter and on simple assumptions (steady yearly growth, no taxes). They are not financial or legal advice, not a prediction of any outcome, and they don't prove that anyone did anything wrong or that any money can be recovered. Any actual recovery is decided by a court and depends on facts these tools can't capture. Using this tool doesn't make us your lawyers, and prior results don't guarantee a similar outcome. Attorney Advertising.
How to read your result
- The 'fees paid' figure is what left your account directly.
- The 'lost growth' figure is what those fees would have earned if invested.
- The lost growth piece is usually larger than the fees themselves over a career.
- Both pieces matter when an ERISA case quantifies harm.
Common reasons plans get reviewed
If your result looks concerning, these are the practice areas that most often line up with what this tool measures.
Frequently asked questions
Does this tool cost anything?
No. It's free, anonymous, and there's no obligation. You don't have to share your contact info to use it.
Is this a guarantee of how much I can recover?
No. It's an illustrative estimate, not legal advice or a prediction of any individual outcome. Actual results in ERISA cases depend on the facts of the plan and the court.
What should I do if my result looks concerning?
Request a free, confidential case review. An ERISA attorney will tell you honestly whether your situation looks like a case.
How are the figures calculated?
Using transparent, illustrative formulas — compounding projections, published fee benchmarks, or weighted self-assessment scoring. The component shows its assumptions inline.
Why does the lost-growth figure get so big?
Because returns compound on returns. A small annual drag, sustained for decades, removes a large portion of final value.
Related calculators
All calculators →Was your 401K plan named in a lawsuit?
A licensed ERISA attorney from ERLG will respond within one business day. Confidential. No cost to consult.
- Speak directly with an ERISA attorney.
- Contingency representation — no fee unless we recover.
- Confidential. Your employer is never contacted without your consent.
A few quick questions — no legal or financial know-how needed. We'll give you an honest read on whether your situation is worth a closer look.
What kind of retirement plan do you have through work?
Don't worry if you're not sure — just pick the closest one.