How to Track Mutual Funds and Stock Portfolios Using Excel

Microsoft Excel, one of the best spreadsheet programs on the market, can track and filter almost any type of financial information with its wide variety of sorting and calculating tools. You can easily monitor your own mutual funds and stock portfolios using Excel. Instead of designing a complicated spreadsheet from scratch, simply download one of Microsoft's official Excel templates to get you started quickly. These Excel templates come with automatic formulas that allow you to conveniently track all of your investments in one file.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Microsoft Excel

1. Go online to Microsoft's official website for downloading Office software templates. (See References section.)

2. Scroll down the Web page to the bottom. Go to the "Search for templates by product" section.

3. Enter "stock portfolio" in the "Search" field. Select the "All products" drop-down menu and choose "Excel." Click the "Go" button.

4. Browse through the available mutual funds and stock portfolio templates for Excel. Choose the design and layout that closest matches your needs.

5. Click the title of the Excel template you want to download. Select the "Download" button. Click the "Accept" button for Microsoft's online service agreement. Your stock and mutual funds Excel template will automatically begin downloading to your computer.

6. Open your downloaded template in Microsoft Excel. Customize the wording, column headers, fields, colors, and fonts to suit your purposes.

7. Enter the data and information for your stocks, mutual funds and other investments into the appropriate Excel fields. Go to "File" in the top main menu, and click "Save as." Save the file to an easy-to-remember location on your computer.

8. Update your stock and mutual funds data in your Excel file every day. Review your data and track your investments at the end of the month or fiscal quarter.

Tips & Warnings

• Check the star rating on each template to determine the most popular ones and those with the best feedback.

References

• Microsoft: Download Office Software Templates