What term is used to describe transaction costs for buying and selling shares?

The term used to describe transaction costs for buying and selling shares is defined as sales charges. Sales charges, also known as "loads," are fees that mutual funds or investment firms charge investors when they purchase (front-end load) or sell (back-end load) shares of a fund. These costs are directly related to the transaction of buying and selling investment products, affecting the total return on an investment.

In contrast, management fees refer to the ongoing costs of managing a fund's portfolio and are typically expressed as a percentage of the assets under management. Administrative expenses cover the day-to-day operations of the fund but do not specifically relate to the buying or selling of shares. Performance fees are charges based on the investment manager's ability to generate profits, which also does not directly correlate with transactional costs involved in buying or selling shares. Understanding these distinctions is crucial for evaluating the costs associated with investing in mutual funds and other investment vehicles.