Expense Ratio

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Definition of 'Expense Ratio'

An expense ratio is a fee that is charged by an investment fund to cover its operating costs. It is expressed as a percentage of the fund's assets under management (AUM). The expense ratio is deducted from the fund's returns on a daily basis, so it can have a significant impact on the fund's performance over time.

There are two main types of expense ratios:

* Management fees: These fees are paid to the fund's investment manager for their services.
* Other fees: These fees cover a variety of other costs, such as marketing, administration, and legal fees.

The expense ratio is an important factor to consider when choosing an investment fund. Funds with high expense ratios can have lower returns than funds with lower expense ratios. However, it is important to note that not all funds with high expense ratios are bad investments. Some funds may have high expense ratios but still outperform other funds with lower expense ratios.

When comparing funds, it is important to look at the expense ratio in relation to the fund's performance. A fund with a high expense ratio may be a good investment if it has a history of strong performance. However, a fund with a low expense ratio may not be a good investment if it has a history of poor performance.

It is also important to consider the other fees that a fund charges, such as trading fees and redemption fees. These fees can also have a significant impact on the fund's returns.

Overall, the expense ratio is an important factor to consider when choosing an investment fund. However, it is important to remember that not all funds with high expense ratios are bad investments. It is important to look at the expense ratio in relation to the fund's performance and other fees when making a decision.

Here are some additional tips for understanding expense ratios:

* The expense ratio is a percentage of the fund's assets under management (AUM). This means that the higher the AUM, the lower the expense ratio will be.
* The expense ratio is deducted from the fund's returns on a daily basis. This means that it can have a significant impact on the fund's performance over time.
* There are two main types of expense ratios: management fees and other fees. Management fees are paid to the fund's investment manager for their services. Other fees cover a variety of other costs, such as marketing, administration, and legal fees.
* When comparing funds, it is important to look at the expense ratio in relation to the fund's performance. A fund with a high expense ratio may be a good investment if it has a history of strong performance. However, a fund with a low expense ratio may not be a good investment if it has a history of poor performance.
* It is also important to consider the other fees that a fund charges, such as trading fees and redemption fees. These fees can also have a significant impact on the fund's returns.

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