Experiment #2 – What Are You Actually Paying in Fees?

Most investors know they pay fees for their investments.

Many investors never calculate their total investment fees, especially when costs are spread across funds, platforms and advice.

But those costs are often spread across different layers.

A fund has a charge.

A platform may have a charge.

Advice may have a charge.

Which leads to a simple question:

What am I actually paying in total?

This isn’t about reducing fees or changing strategy.

It’s simply a curiosity worth exploring.

Try This Small Experiment

Open ChatGPT, Gemini or another language model.

Then paste the prompt below.

I have an investment portfolio that includes:

• A fund charge of approximately [insert % if known]

• A platform charge of approximately [insert % if known]

• An advice charge of approximately [insert % if known]

Please estimate:

Please present the answer clearly.

If you’re unsure of exact figures, you can use estimates.

It only takes a few seconds.

This experiment helps bring together costs that are often viewed separately.

It turns multiple small percentages into a single, clearer picture.

Sometimes the total is exactly what you expected.

Sometimes it’s higher or lower than anticipated.

Either outcome is useful.

The purpose of the Financial Curiosity Project is not to reduce everything to cost.

It is to encourage curiosity about how financial structures work.

Because clarity often starts with seeing things in one place.

If this experiment sparked further curiosity, you may find the following useful:

• Evoa – a structured environment for exploring financial questions independently

• The Wealth Coach – if you prefer to discuss your thinking with someone experienced

You can also subscribe to Letters, where we regularly explore ideas about financial thinking and decision-making.

Financial Curiosity Project | Exploring better questions about money.