You can even use the calculator to help you choose among different funds. So far, I've talked about investments. But some of the most important questions have to do with the people recommending the investments. Commissions reward a broker for the quantity of the trades, not necessarily the quality. There are other ways to do it.
Some firms offer such alternatives as a flat fee, or a percentage of the assets under management.
And any item that comes out of a firm's own holdings may have an extra incentive attached to it. The extra compensation may encourage the broker to sell that stock. That's in his interest. It may be in the firm's interest. But it may or may not be in your interest.