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Guide

Fund charges and the ongoing charge figure (OCF)

Fund charges are quoted as a percentage, which can hide what they cost in pounds. This guide shows how to read them and what they leave out.

See what your funds charge

What the OCF is

The ongoing charge figure is the yearly cost of running a fund, taken from the fund's value as a percentage. You do not receive a bill for it. It is deducted inside the fund, so it shows up as slightly lower returns rather than as a payment.

Turning a percentage into pounds

Multiply the amount you hold in a fund by its ongoing charge to see the yearly cost in pounds.

A worked example (invented figures)
£10,000 held in a fund with a 0.20% ongoing charge
£20 a year
£10,000 held in a fund with a 0.75% ongoing charge
£75 a year
Difference between the two
£55 a year

The charge is taken whether the fund rises or falls, and it applies every year, so it adds up over time. The figures above are only an illustration of the arithmetic.

What the OCF does not include

The ongoing charge is separate from platform or account fees, dealing costs and spreads. Ownsight's cost page applies each fund's ongoing charge to what you hold in it and does not include these other costs. A fund's key information document is the official source for its charges.

Reading charges alongside everything else

A lower charge is not the same as a better fund, and a higher charge is not automatically worse. Funds differ in what they hold and how they are run. Charges are one piece of information about a fund, and Ownsight shows them for information only. Ownsight is in private preview. Fund holdings come from a demo dataset of each fund's largest holdings, so company-level totals cover the part we have data for, and the results say how much that is.

Questions

Is the OCF the total cost of owning a fund?
No. It covers running the fund. Platform fees, dealing costs and spreads are separate.
Where can I find a fund's charges?
In its key information document or factsheet, which the fund provider publishes. Ownsight shows approximate charges from provider factsheets with the date they are as of.
How do I see the charges on my whole portfolio?
Add your holdings to the portfolio check and open the costs page. It applies each fund's ongoing charge to what you hold in it and totals the yearly amount.

Try it on your own holdings

Add what you hold and see the companies, overlap, concentration and charges behind it. Ownsight never connects to your broker or bank.

See what your funds charge
Ownsight is not authorised by the FCA. This page is information only, not financial advice.