Investment Returns Calculator
Your growth before and after fees, and after tax drag in a non-registered account, using 2026 federal and provincial tax rates.
Investing $25,000 plus $500 a month for 25 years at 6% grows to about $458,121 before fees. A 1.5% yearly fee cuts that to $352,271, a $105,850 difference. At a 0.25% fee, typical of a low-cost index ETF, the same plan ends near $438,242.
Figures as of 2026-11-13.Investment returns
- Before fees
- $458,121
- Total contributions
- $175,000
- Cost of fees
- $105,850
- Gross minus after-fee balance
Estimate, not advice. Educational estimate only, not financial, mortgage, tax or legal advice. Lenders, insurers and governments set their own rules and can change them; confirm with a licensed professional before you decide.
After fees $352,271
Show the numbers
| Before fees | After fees | Contributions | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yr 1 | $33K | $32K | $31K |
| Yr 2 | $41K | $40K | $37K |
| Yr 3 | $50K | $48K | $43K |
| Yr 4 | $59K | $56K | $49K |
| Yr 5 | $69K | $65K | $55K |
| Yr 6 | $79K | $74K | $61K |
| Yr 7 | $90K | $83K | $67K |
| Yr 8 | $102K | $93K | $73K |
| Yr 9 | $114K | $104K | $79K |
| Yr 10 | $127K | $115K | $85K |
| Yr 11 | $141K | $126K | $91K |
| Yr 12 | $156K | $138K | $97K |
| Yr 13 | $172K | $150K | $103K |
| Yr 14 | $189K | $163K | $109K |
| Yr 15 | $207K | $177K | $115K |
| Yr 16 | $226K | $191K | $121K |
| Yr 17 | $246K | $206K | $127K |
| Yr 18 | $267K | $222K | $133K |
| Yr 19 | $290K | $238K | $139K |
| Yr 20 | $314K | $255K | $145K |
| Yr 21 | $339K | $273K | $151K |
| Yr 22 | $366K | $291K | $157K |
| Yr 23 | $395K | $311K | $163K |
| Yr 24 | $426K | $331K | $169K |
| Yr 25 | $458K | $352K | $175K |
Assumptions & sources
Assumptions
- Fees are a yearly percentage of the balance, taken monthly.
- Non-registered tax drag: the whole yearly return taxed at your 2026 marginal capital-gains rate, a simplification (interest is taxed more, deferred gains less).
- Tax rates from HighDividendPayingStocks.com's 2026 engine (CRA T4127, provincial tables).
Your saved scenarios
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| Start | $25,000 |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $500 |
| Return | 6% |
| Years | 25 |
| At 1.50% fees | $352,271 |
| At 0.25% fees | $438,242 |
| Difference | $85,971 |
Ask for the total yearly cost in dollars; Canadian dealers must report it on your annual charges statement.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do investment fees cost over time?
A fee is charged on the whole balance every year, so it compounds against you. On the example, a 1.5% MER costs about the difference between the gross and after-fee balances shown, far more than 1.5% of what you put in.
Are TFSA returns taxed?
No. Growth and withdrawals from a TFSA are tax-free. RRSP growth is tax-deferred: you pay tax when you withdraw. In a non-registered account, interest, dividends and realized gains are taxed each year.
What return should I assume?
No one knows future returns. Use a conservative figure and test a lower one; the calculator shows how sensitive the result is. This is education, not advice.
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