How to Do a Portfolio for Stocks

Start by reviewing your current holdings.

Investing in the stock market can be a smart move, but it pays to track your investments carefully. Before you can build your stock market holdings, you need to assess your current stock market portfolio. Reviewing your current holdings and using them to determine your future strategy is one of the best ways to make money in the long run.

Instructions

1. Review the latest statements from any retirement accounts you hold, including any IRA accounts and 401k plans. Check the statements to determine how much of the portfolio is invested in the stock market. The account statement often includes a pie chart that shows the exact percentages allocated to each asset category.

2. Check the brokerage statements you receive from your stockbroker. Note the names of the individual stocks you own and record them in a spreadsheet. Record the number of shares you own, the purchase price you paid and the current value.

3. Add any stock mutual funds you own to your spreadsheet. Record the number of mutual fund shares you own, the dates you purchased those shares and the price you paid.

4. Total the value of all the stocks and stock mutual funds you own. Compare that total to the total value of your investment portfolio to find the percentage you have invested in the stock market. For instance, if you have a total portfolio of $100,000 and $60,000 of that total is in stocks, your total stock market allocation is 60 percent.

References

• Securities and Exchange Commission: Beginner's Guide to Asset Allocation
• CNN: Money 101 -- Stocks