Fees · the silent KiwiSaver tax
Fee Impact Visualiser.
See the exact dollar cost of staying in a higher-fee fund. Same gross return, same contributions. just a different fee. and the gap at retirement is enormous. This is the single most under-appreciated number in NZ KiwiSaver.
Your situation
Tell us a few numbers
Higher-fee fund
$632,070
1.50% fees over 30 years on $60,000 starting balance + $4,560/yr in contributions.
Lower-fee fund
$809,697
0.50% fees over the same period. same returns, less drag.
The fee tax
+$177,627
Switching from a 1.50% fee fund to a 0.50% fee fund. same gross return, same contributions puts an extra $177,627 (28.1% more) in your retirement fund.
That's a holiday house, an early-retirement year, or a chunk of your kids' first home. Fees compound silently this is the cost.
Estimates only. Real returns vary year-to-year, fees can change, and we've simplified the contribution drag (employer ESCT + PIR is ~5% in this model). Not personalised advice. but the direction is right.
Talk to a real adviser