Being fleeced in name of portfolio costs? Here is how you can beat the fees

If not understood well, portfolio costs can dent your returns significantly in the long term

Do you know your portfolio costs? If not, you probably are killing your returns. The investment costs, including fees, are one of the most overlooked aspects of investing. Ultimately the net returns that you make would be after deducting transaction costs, brokerage, management fees, carry (profit sharing in layman terms) and taxes.
 
Over the past few years, the financial services industry in India has been mirroring its Western counterparts by bringing in exotic products with hidden fees, high costs and inefficient tax structures. This phenomenon is not only restricted to equities, but also seen increasingly in fixed income investments.