Yes, you can avoid some fees just by knowing they exist, and for the rest it's being mindful of it. Factor it in when you're comparing and lean into technology. Digital banks often have fewer fees and certain budget apps will isolate your fees so you can track it like any other category.

Resources:

AARP Study on Fees - https://assets.aarp.org/rgcenter/econ/401k-fees-awareness-11.pdf

Expense Ratio Calculator - https://www.nerdwallet.com/blog/investing/mutual-fund-calculator/

Expense Ratio definition - https://www.investopedia.com/articles/investing/062113/mutual-funds-management-fees-vs-mer.asp

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