Should the expense ratio be high or low?

Asked by: Giovani Beatty  |  Last update: February 28, 2026
Score: 4.6/5 (17 votes)

Typically, any expense ratio higher than 1 percent is high and should be avoided. Over an investing career, a low expense ratio could easily save you tens of thousands of dollars, if not more. And that's real money for you and your retirement.

Is it better to have a low or high expense ratio?

Lower expense ratios are better if the investments are otherwise the same. All published performance data is net of costs. So if you're comparing two s&p index funds, the difference in performance will be pretty close to the same as the difference in cost.

Is 0.75 expense ratio too high?

A good expense ratio, from the investor's viewpoint, is around 0.5% to 0.75% for an actively managed portfolio. An expense ratio greater than 1.5% is considered high.

Is .04 expense ratio good?

It can depend on the type of fund. Equity mutual fund expense ratios average 0.42%, according to 2023 data from the Investment Company Institute. Hybrid funds average 0.58% and bond funds average 0.37%. 4 A mutual fund expense ratio that is at or below the average is ideal.

Is a .15 expense ratio good?

Depends on whether we are talking about index funds or actively managed funds. I consider less than . 15% is low for index funds and . 5% or less is low for an actively managed fund.

Expense Ratio Explained - How Investment Fees are Costing You THOUSANDS

18 related questions found

Is a 2% expense ratio high?

Ratios above 1.5% are considered high. In this article, we explore the meaning of the expense ratio, its formula, how it works, and its impact on returns with relevant examples.

What is a healthy income to expense ratio?

50% of your net income should go towards living expenses and essentials (Needs), 20% of your net income should go towards debt reduction and savings (Debt Reduction and Savings), and 30% of your net income should go towards discretionary spending (Wants).

Is it better to buy SPY or VOO?

SPY is more expensive with a Total Expense Ratio (TER) of 0.0945%, versus 0.03% for VOO. SPY is up 28.31% year-to-date (YTD) with +$7.13B in YTD flows. VOO performs better with 28.36% YTD performance, and +$103.99B in YTD flows.

What does a 0.03 expense ratio mean?

Expense Ratios

For example, ticker symbol VOO, the Vanguard ETF that attempts to replicate the S&P 500, has an expense ratio of 0.03%, meaning that for every $1,000 you have invested in the fund, you will “pay” $3 a year in fees. You won't get a bill, it will just be deducted from the returns on the fund.

What is a good tax cost ratio?

If the fund had a 3-year annualized pre-tax return of 10%, an investor would have taken home roughly 8% on an after-tax basis. Tax cost ratios typically fall within the range of 0-5%. A 0% tax cost ratio means the fund had no taxable distributions, while a 5% ratio suggests the fund was less tax efficient.

Is 0.5 a good expense ratio?

What is a good expense ratio? Typically, ETFs have lower expense ratios than mutual funds. Generally, low-cost equity ETFs will have a net expense ratio of no more than 0.25%. Low-cost equity mutual funds will have expense ratios of 0.5% or lower.

Is .66 a high expense ratio?

From the investor's perspective, an effectively managed portfolio's expense ratio should be between 0.5% and 0.75%. A high expense ratio is one that is larger than 1.5 percent. This means that for every $100 you invest in the fund, you can expect to pay no more than $1 in fees and expenses.

Is 0.45 a high expense ratio?

According to Morningstar, the average ETF price is 0.45%. So, at first sight, any ETF expense ratio above that value has to justify its costs with an outstanding performance.

What should be the ideal expense ratio?

Nowadays, an expenditure ratio greater than 1.5% is usually regarded as excessive. A suitable range for an actively managed portfolio's expense ratio is 0.5% to 0.75%. The percentage for passive or index funds is typically 0.2%, however, it occasionally drops to 0.02% or less.

Are ETFs worth it?

For most individual investors, ETFs represent an ideal type of asset with which to build a diversified portfolio. In addition, ETFs tend to have much lower expense ratios compared to actively managed funds, can be more tax-efficient, and offer the option to immediately reinvest dividends.

What is a good expense ratio for a 401k?

For a typical 401(k) plan, the expense ratio should be no higher than 2% and more likely in the 1.0% to 1.5% range. The lower the expense ratio the better, with higher fees eating into profits.

Is a .35 expense ratio high?

Typically, any expense ratio higher than 1 percent is high and should be avoided. Over an investing career, a low expense ratio could easily save you tens of thousands of dollars, if not more.

Is 0.2 a good expense ratio?

Generally considered cost-efficient if the expense ratio is below 0.2%, with some options as low as 0.03%.

Is 0.8 expense ratio high?

Is 0.8 expense ratio high? For an actively managed fund, a 0.8% TER is considered relatively low. However, always compare TERs within similar fund categories. An index fund with a 0.8% TER might be considered slightly high compared to others in the same category.

What ETF does Warren Buffett hold?

Berkshire Hathaway owns two exchange-traded funds (ETF), The SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (NYSEMKT: SPY) and the Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (NYSEMKT: VOO). Both of these ETFs track the S&P 500.

Why do people trade SPY and not VOO?

For example, you might buy SPY if you want to trade actively, or even venture into day trading, because of its high volume. You might consider buying VOO to hold over the long term because of its lower expenses.

Is it wise to invest in VOO?

With an expense ratio of just 0.03%, it's among the least costly ETFs available, allowing investors to keep more of their returns. This cost-efficiency, combined with its broad market exposure, has made VOO a favorite among both novice and experienced investors alike.

What is the 50-30-20 rule?

Those will become part of your budget. The 50-30-20 rule recommends putting 50% of your money toward needs, 30% toward wants, and 20% toward savings. The savings category also includes money you will need to realize your future goals.

What is a good monthly income for a single person?

A good monthly income in California is $5,002, based on what the Bureau of Economic Analysis estimates that Californians pay for their cost of living. A good monthly income for you will depend on what your expenses are and how much you typically spend per month.

How can buying a house be considered good debt?

If the debt you take on helps you generate income or build your net worth, then that can be considered “good.” Loans like mortgages are usually considered good debt because they provide value to the borrower by helping them build wealth.