An expense ratio of more than 1.5% is considered high. The expense ratio for investment funds is generally higher than the expense ratio for ETFs. Some investment funds charge investors a front-end or back-end loading fee. Loading fees are selling fees that are charged when you buy stocks (front-end load fees) or when you sell stocks (back-end load fees)
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A typical front-end load fee in the mutual fund industry is 5.75% of the amount invested. Management fees, regardless of whether they are paid as an expense ratio for investment funds or as a fee to a financial advisor, are generally between 0.01% and over 2%. In general, the range of fee levels is due to management strategy. For example, more aggressive investment portfolios tend to incur higher management fees, as higher turnover in securities requires more work
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Passive funds may incur lower management fees because they select the assets within the portfolio and then stick with them. Funds that invest in smaller companies usually incur higher research and trading costs than the costs associated with funds that invest in larger companies
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