How to Create a Portfolio to Track Stocks

You don't need a complicated spreadsheet program to track your stock portfolio. Many Web sites will do it for you.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Internet Access
• Brokerage Accounts
• Computers
• Personal Financial Software

1. Print out this information before you start, so you can keep it on hand as you create an online stock portfolio or spreadsheet.

2. Log on to the Internet.

3. Go to a finance Web site such as finance.yahoo.com.

4. Click Register/Sign In, then follow the prompts to register with Yahoo.

5. Click Create next to the word Portfolios.

6. Click the Create New Portfolio button.

7. Name your portfolio - for example, "Joe's stocks."

8. Indicate whether you want stock quotes given in U.S. dollars or other currency.

9. List the ticker symbols of the stocks you want to track. If you don't know a ticker symbol, click Look Up Symbol.

10. Indicate whether you wish to have your stocks listed in alphabetical order. Add other features to your portfolio, such as an indication of the number of shares you hold, the date purchased and other data.

11. Click the Finished button when you've set up the spreadsheet or portfolio.

12. Bookmark the page so you can readily find it.

13. Review the portfolio. You should see your stocks, listed in alphabetical order (if you chose that option), along with the latest sale price, the change in price from the previous day's close and volume. The block on the far right will provide links to a company profile (if available), a stock chart, recent news about the company and other data.

14. Make changes to the portfolio by clicking Edit.

15. Save changes by clicking the Finished button.

Tips & Warnings

• Many personal finance Web sites also let you set up an online portfolio.

[fallond]

on 2/18/2009 We have just launched a new Zignals Portfolio Manager. You can keep a full track record of trades and we support multiple currency accounts. Come try Zignals PFM today. http://www.zignals.com/main/pfm/tryportfolios.aspxDJF

[gr999]

on 8/17/2008 I would use Stockalicious.com instead of Yahoo Finance or Excel. It's such a breeze to use Stockalicious. I just import my transactions into it and i'm done. So easy

on 11/22/2005 A 'pearl' that I would like to share with readers, that I use in my blog, Stock Picks Bob's Advice, and I actually practice in my own trading portfolio, is to listen to what the market is telling you through the performance of the individual stocks in your own portfolio. What do I mean? First rule is to avoid losses, especially compounding losses. One method is to avoid repurchasing equities when one of your holdings has been sold either on bad news or on a price drop. Instead, 'sit on your hands' and wait for one of your other holdings to have a sale on good news, usually by reaching a sale point that you have pre-set.

Thus, by observing the market and listening to what your own stocks are 'telling you' you may well build a collection of stocks that will tend to be transformed into cash in a downward-moving market, and cash that will tend to be moved into equities as the overall market tone improves.