What is the real cost of owning a mutal fund? Are there hidden fees over and above the % management expenses ?

Question

Some financial advisors say the expense ratio given for any mutual fund in (IRA accounts)is nominal and that does not include my share of the funds transaction cost. There are transaction costs that are not stated as expense. The question is What is the truth or what is the true expense?

For example if I owned $30,000 worth of PRSCX
The transaction cost is $ 219 (.73%) + fund management expense (1.03%) for a total expense of 1.76% and not not the 1% cost as advertised by TROWE Price * Per $10,000 invested , see below:
FEES & EXPENSES

Expense PRSCX Category Avg
Total Expense Ratio: 1.00% 1.84%
Max 12b1 Fee: 0.00% N/A
Max Front End Sales Load: 0.00% 5.16%
Max Deferred Sales Load: 0.00% 2.72%
3 Yr Expense Projection*: $318 $824
5 Yr Expense Projection*: $552 $1,287
10 Yr Expense Projection*: $1,225 $2,518

Answer 1

You lead a complicated life.
You probably have a front end load, or a rear end load, or a combination, or a rear load that diminishes if tou keep the fund for a number of years.

it has been proved that LOAD FUNDS DO NOT GIVE BETTER RETURNS ON AVERAGE FROM NO LOAD FUNDS.

I only buy no load funds, I get them at the bank, I pay nothing to buy them, I pay nothing to sell them. There is a MER (Management expense ratio) AS THERE ARE IN ALL MUTUAL FUNDS. but this charge is hidden in the share price and is deducted every month. if it is 2.5% is ).23% per month. you never see it, you never know it has been paid, it is levied against the value of the fund before the NAV (net asset value) is calculated.