Hidden mutual fund fees: Who’s affected?

Did you purchase new mutual fund shares from BlackRock, Fidelity, Dodge & Cox, Putnam, First Eagle, Columbia, Parnassus, Artisan or Principal within the past 3 years? You may have paid excessive or undisclosed mutual fund fees. Fill out the form to find out if you qualify to seek compensation for mischarged fund fees.

When you invest in a mutual fund, you expect your money to be handled responsibly — including fair, clearly explained mutual fund fees. But some companies may be charging investors more than they should, and many investors are unknowingly paying hidden investment fees.

If you purchased new mutual funds within the past 3 years, you could be affected. A class action lawsuit investigation is now underway to determine whether certain firms misled investors.If you suspect you have been overcharged, you may be eligible to take legal action for mutual fund overcharges.

Understanding mutual fund fees

Investing often involves various mutual fund fees and expenses that can significantly impact an investor’s returns over time. Some common fees associated with purchasing and maintaining mutual funds include:

Expense ratios: These are annual fees charged by the fund company to cover the costs of managing and operating the fund. Expense ratios are typically expressed as a percentage of the fund’s total assets and are deducted from the fund’s returns.

Load fees: These are upfront sales charges imposed when investors purchase or sell shares.

Redemption fees: Some funds charge redemption fees, also known as exit fees, when investors sell their shares within a specified time frame, typically a year or less.

Exchange fees: These fees are charged when investors transfer their holdings from one fund to another within the same fund family.

Brokerage commissions: Investors who purchase mutual funds may be subject to commissions or transaction fees.

Account fees: Some mutual fund companies charge annual account maintenance fees, which can range from a few dollars to hundreds of dollars, depending on the account size and the fund company’s policies.Investment firms are responsible for accurately calculating and properly disclosing these fees to investors. However, in some instances, investors may encounter hidden investment fees that can significantly reduce their returns.

Joining a mutual fund class action lawsuit 

If you feel that your mutual fund company overcharged you or miscalculated your mutual fund fees, or if it failed to disclose the full extent of the fees associated with purchasing mutual funds, you may have grounds to participate in a mutual fund class action lawsuit. This potential legal action seeks to hold mutual fund companies accountable for alleged deceptive practices and recover compensation for investors who were financially harmed.

If you purchased shares in any of the following mutual funds and believe you were misled about fees or overcharged, you are encouraged to fill out the form to see if you qualify. 

BlackRock

• iShares S&P 500 Index Fund (BSPAX, BSPIX, WFSPX)
• BlackRock Equity Dividend (MCDVX, MDDVX, MADVX, MRDVX, MSDVX)
• BlackRock Health Sciences Opportunities Fund (SHSAX, SHSCX, BHSRX, SHSSX, SHISX)
• BlackRock Technology Opportunity Fund (BGSAX, BGSCX, BGSRX, BGSIX, BSTSX)
• BlackRock Mid Cap Growth Equity (BMGAX, BMGCX, CMGIX, BMRRX, CMGSX)

Fidelity

• Fidelity 500 Index Fund (FXIAX, FXSIX, FUSEX, FUSVX)
• Fidelity Series Total Market Index Fund (FCFMX)
• Fidelity Total Market Index Fund (FSKAX, FSKTX, FSTMX, FSTVX, FFSMX)
• Fidelity Contrafund (FCNTX, FCNKX)
• Fidelity Blue Chip Growth Fund (FBCCX, FBCHX, FBCJX, FBCFX, FBGKX)
• Fidelity Growth Company Fund (FDGRX, FGCKX, FGRFX)

Dodge & Cox

• Dodge & Cox Stock Fund (DODGX, DOXGX)
• Dodge & Cox International Stock Fund (DODFX, DOXFX)
• Putnam
• Putnam Large Cap Value (PEYAX, PEQCX, PEQRX, PEIYX)
• Putnam Large Cap Growth (POGAX, POGCX, PGOMX, PGOYX)

Columbia

• Columbia Dividend Income (LBSAX, LBSCX, CDVIX, CDIRX, CDDRX, CDDYX)
• Columbia Contrarian Core (LCCAX, LCCCX, CCCIX, CCCRX, COFRX, COFYX)
• Columbia Seligman Technology & Information Fund (SLMCX, SCICX, SCIRX, SCIFX, SCMIX)

Other funds

• First Eagle Global Fund (SGENX, FESGX)
• Parnassus Core Equity Fund (PRBLX, PRILX)
• Artisan International Value Fund (ARTKX, APHKX, APDKX)
• Principal MidCap Fund (PEMGX, PMBCX, PCBIX, PMBPX, PMAQX)

No investor should have their hard-earned savings diminished by questionable fee practices or lack of transparency from financial institutions. Fill out the form on this page to see if you qualify for a mutual fund class action lawsuit.

Fill out the form on this page to see if you qualify for a free case evaluation.