I ran $3000, $4000, $5000, yearly saving goals every year with 5% increase every year till age 65.

No matter what your savings levels are, you'll end up paying 47% of your net worth to mutual fund industry over your lifetime.

With 5K start, a great saver will end up with close to $2M at age 65. He/She will pay close to $1M (magic number in my spreadsheet is 47%) to mutual fund industry during these years!!

I constructed low cost ETF portfolios for some of funds I own. Methodology:

Use M* to find asset value mix & find equivalent ETFs. For example took TRowe target retirement fund, used SPY, EFA, AGG to construct equivalent portfolio. I did not find "low cost" options did any better (for me to throw in towl) than actively managed fund in last 5-10 years. Keeps me interested in funds. I unfortunately also own OAKLX, where low cost option is no brainer.

As academia preaches, fund costs (and taxes) do eat a lot into your lunch. I am finding ways to convince myself through this random musing :- )