Investment fees are like a loose strap dragging on a rowing boat — barely noticeable on one stroke, but devastating over 250 strokes.

The difference: fees compound against you.

An extra 0.5% annually sounds trivial. Over 30 years on a lump sum? You end up with ~13% less wealth. That's real money lost to friction.

Most people know what a haircut should cost. With investing, they lack the information or experience to judge value. That asymmetry gets exploited.

This is why I focus on low-cost, high-quality growth vehicles and avoid unnecessary layers of fees. Every basis point matters when you're compounding over decades. Discipline on costs is as important as picking the right businesses.