THE WALKAWAY NUMBER · CHAPTER 2 · BROCHURE MATH MEETS THE FEE STATEMENT

The Compound Growth Reality Check

Compare the current, fee-optimized, and savings-optimized trajectories under one disclosed convention.

Output: Three auditable trajectories at 10, 15, and 20 years, plus a separate 3%, 5%, and 7% return-sensitivity grid.

Time: About 20 minutes after the inputs are gathered

Current at 15 yearsUnresolved

Fee lever at 15Unresolved

Combined lever at 15Unresolved

Current / optimized netUnresolved

Record statusOpen

1. Disclose the convention and current inputs

Monthly compounding with contributions at month end; real returns and targets in today's dollars. Blank numbers stay unresolved. Enter 0 only when a fee or contribution is truly zero.

Model dateStarting invested assetsCurrent monthly contributionSelected gross real return, percentCurrent fund expenses, percentCurrent advisory fee, percent

2. Name realistic optimization

Realistic optimized fund expenses, percentRealistic optimized advisory fee, percentMonthly acceleration amount from Chapter 3Source and assumption notes

3. Compare the three trajectories

Each output uses the same assets, horizon, and timing convention. Fee optimization changes fees. Savings optimization adds the acceleration amount without quietly changing the return.

Trajectory	10 years	15 years	20 years
Current trajectory	Unresolved	Unresolved	Unresolved
Fee-optimized trajectory	Unresolved	Unresolved	Unresolved
Savings-optimized trajectory	Unresolved	Unresolved	Unresolved

4. Run return sensitivity separately

The optimized contribution is held constant while the net real return moves. Three assumptions are a range, not a séance.

3% real · 10 yearsUnresolved

3% real · 15 yearsUnresolved

3% real · 20 yearsUnresolved

5% real · 10 yearsUnresolved

5% real · 15 yearsUnresolved

5% real · 20 yearsUnresolved

7% real · 10 yearsUnresolved

7% real · 15 yearsUnresolved

7% real · 20 yearsUnresolved

5. Record the next usable lever

Next lever you can use without inappropriate risk

A dated model output isn't a steady market path or a promised future return. Real markets won't deliver steady returns in a straight line.

Professional-review flags

Completion test

Record every current and optimized input, select the disclosed gross real return, run all three trajectories and all three sensitivity returns, date the model, and write the next lever.

Monday Move

Put the fee statement beside the contribution history. Brochure math tends to become less photogenic when both documents are in the room.

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