1. Enter the name for each investment

This is simply a label to help you differentiate between the two investments in the results. You can choose any name, such as "Investment A" or "My Retirement Fund."

2. Initial Investment Amount

This is the amount of money you initially invested or plan to invest at the start. If you're unsure of this value, check your investment account statements or consult with your financial advisor.

3. Annual Contribution

This is the amount you contribute to the investment each year. If you make regular monthly or quarterly contributions, add them together to find the total yearly contribution. You can usually find this information in your account transaction history or investment plan.

4. Years Invested

Enter the number of years you plan to keep the investment. For existing investments, this would be the number of years since you started. For future investments, enter the number of years you intend to hold onto the investment.

5. Historical Rate of Return

This is the average percentage return on the investment each year. You can find the historical rate of return in the fund's performance summary, which is typically available on the website of the investment provider. You can also ask your financial advisor if you're unsure.

6. Fee Percentage

This is the annual fee charged on the investment, usually expressed as a percentage. This includes management fees or administrative fees. You can find this information in the investment's fact sheet or fee disclosure document, or by consulting with your financial advisor.

Once you've filled out all the fields, click the "Compare Investments" button to see the results. The calculator will display the projected value of each investment with and without fees, along with the total impact of the fees over the investment period.

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