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Opportunity cost: after “Levers differ in how much control you have”, what about “Future value (annuity-ish savings)”?

Levers differ in how much control you have. Markets set many rates; households set savings rates, fee tolerance and whether they stay invested. The useful math is small: compound growth, present value, and adjustments for fees or inflation. Complexity usually arrives from products, not from the core identities.

At a glance

Opportunity cost · Levers differ in how much control you haveLevers differ in how much control you have. Markets set many rates;…
Opportunity cost · Future value (annuity-ish savings)With regular end-of-period contribution C: FV ≈ C × [((1+r)^n − 1) / r] when…
Opportunity cost · Lump sum path€10,000 at 6% for 20 years → about €32,100 before fees/tax. Halve the rate to…
Opportunity cost · Fee wedgeA 1% annual fee on a 7% gross path leaves ~6% net — over 30 years the…

With regular end-of-period contribution C: FV ≈ C × [((1+r)^n − 1) / r] when r ≠ 0. r_real ≈ r_nominal − i, with i the inflation rate; prefer the Fisher form for precision.

Weigh it for yourself

Mark each measure High, Any or Low for what you want. The fit number moves with every mark, and your marks follow you to the next page in this app.

MeasureOpportunity costAI advice caveatsYou want
Time sensitivity7850
Rate sensitivity7055
Contribution leverage6045
Behaviour risk6580
Tax & fee drag4560
Horizon fit7555

Mark at least one measure to see a fit number.

Scores are the atlas’s 0–100 teaching marks. They are not a live exchange rate or investment advice.

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Opportunity cost · Levers differ in how much control you have

Levers differ in how much control you have. Markets set many rates; households set savings rates, fee tolerance and whether they stay invested. The useful math is small: compound growth, present value, and adjustments for fees or inflation. Complexity usually arrives from products, not from the core identities.

Opportunity cost · Future value (annuity-ish savings)

With regular end-of-period contribution C: FV ≈ C × [((1+r)^n − 1) / r] when r ≠ 0. r_real ≈ r_nominal − i, with i the inflation rate; prefer the Fisher form for precision.

Opportunity cost · Lump sum path

€10,000 at 6% for 20 years → about €32,100 before fees/tax. Halve the rate to 3% and the same horizon yields roughly €18,100. €300 monthly at 5% for 25 years is on the order of €175k contributed-plus-growth (illustrative; timing conventions vary).

Opportunity cost · Fee wedge

A 1% annual fee on a 7% gross path leaves ~6% net — over 30 years the terminal gap versus a 0.1% fee is large, not “one percent”. 8% nominal with 3% inflation is roughly 5% real — the statement can look rich while purchasing power compounds slower.

These figures describe codes, history, or a teaching calculator. They are not a live exchange rate or investment advice. They do not replace the full topic page.

Questions

What is the next question after this?
€10,000 at 6% for 20 years → about €32,100 before fees/tax. Halve the rate to 3% and the same horizon yields roughly €18,100. €300 monthly at 5% for 25 years is on the order of €175k contributed-plus-growth (illustrative; timing conventions vary).
Does this page rank people or nations?
These figures describe codes, history, or a teaching calculator. They are not a live exchange rate or investment advice. They do not replace the full topic page.
Where is the longer entry?
A 1% annual fee on a 7% gross path leaves ~6% net — over 30 years the terminal gap versus a 0.1% fee is large, not “one percent”. 8% nominal with 3% inflation is roughly 5% real — the statement can look rich while purchasing power compounds slower.

Next question: AI advice caveats · Open the topic: Opportunity cost

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