Tracking Your Progress
What gets measured gets managed
Why Track Your Investments?
Tracking your portfolio keeps you accountable, helps you spot problems early, and shows you the power of compound growth in real-time. It's motivating to watch your wealth grow month after month.
How to Track Your Investments
Use Your Broker's Dashboard: Most platforms (Hargreaves Lansdown, Vanguard, Trading 212) show your total portfolio value, gains/losses, and performance charts. Check it monthly, not daily.
Track Your Contributions: Keep a simple spreadsheet: Date, Amount Invested, Total Portfolio Value. This shows your true return (not just market gains, but your actual contributions).
Compare to Benchmarks: Is your portfolio beating the S&P 500? If not, you might be better off in a simple index fund. Tracking helps you make smarter decisions.
The Numbers: Tracking Reveals Growth
| Month | Contribution | Market Growth | Total Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Month 1 | £200 | £0 | £200 |
| Month 6 | £1,200 | £50 | £1,250 |
| Month 12 | £2,400 | £180 | £2,580 |
Tracking shows you that £200/month + market growth = £2,580 in just one year. Imagine 10 years!
Why This Matters
Tracking your investments keeps you motivated and accountable. You'll see exactly how your money is growing, catch any issues early, and make informed decisions about rebalancing or increasing contributions.
Book a consultation and we'll set up a simple tracking system for you. We'll show you which metrics matter, how to interpret your performance, and when to make adjustments.
Book Your ConsultationImportant Investment Warning
This content is for educational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. We are not FCA-regulated financial advisers. Investments can go down as well as up, and you may lose some or all of your capital. Past performance does not guarantee future results.