1% here, 2% there ? it's barely anything in the long run, right? It turns out, however, that the power of compound interest is so great, that even 2% can be the difference between financial freedom and financial ruin. Put $1 in the stock market for 50 years at a 7% rate of return, and you'll end up with nearly $30. Get charged a 2% fee to bring your returns to 5%, and your fortune is one-third the size!