Financial literacy content

Expense Ratio Meaning in Personal Finance

The annual fee charged by a fund as a percentage of invested assets.

Glossary term

Expense Ratio

The annual fee charged by a fund as a percentage of invested assets.

Simple explanation

Lower fees can meaningfully improve long-term returns, especially over multi-year investing horizons.

Related Terms

Asset Allocation

How your money is divided across different asset types like cash, equities, and bonds.

Compound Interest

Interest earned on both the original amount and previously earned interest.

Diversification

A strategy for reducing risk by spreading money across different assets or sectors.

Emergency Fund

A dedicated cash buffer for unexpected expenses or temporary income disruption.