Front-end Sales Load
A front-end sales load, also called a front-end load or front-end sales charge, is an upfront fee investors pay when they buy mutual fund shares. Funds typically use these fees to compensate brokers who sell the fund’s shares. A front-end sales load is deducted from the purchase and reduces the amount available to buy fund shares.
Concept at a glance
Definition and explanation
A front-end sales load, also called a front-end load or front-end sales charge, is an upfront fee investors pay when they buy mutual fund shares. Funds typically use these fees to compensate brokers who sell the fund’s shares. A front-end sales load is deducted from the purchase and reduces the amount available to buy fund shares. [1]
Frequently asked questions
What does Front-end Sales Load mean in the cited reference?
A front-end sales load, also called a front-end load or front-end sales charge, is an upfront fee investors pay when they buy mutual fund shares. Funds typically use these fees to compensate brokers who sell the fund’s shares. A front-end sales load is deducted from the purchase and reduces the amount available to buy fund shares. [1]
Sources and review dates
Reviewed 23 October 2026. Historical dates and award-time affiliations retain their original context. A review date is not an event date. Background sources are identified separately from official records.