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Portfolio user guide

The basics – how to set up a portfolio

To create a portfolio you first need to create an FT Account. Once you have an account, creating a portfolio is easy.

Create Portfolio

1. Select “Create Portfolio” from the All Portfolios page.





Fig 1.1

Name & Currency

1. Enter a name for the portfolio. And select a currency from the dropdown which you want to view your holdings in.

2. Select ‘Save this Portfolio’ to save the portfolio and then you can begin adding assets.

Adding Items to your Portfolio

Select the portfolio that you want to add items to – this can be done from the All Portfolios page. Once you have opened your selected portfolio, click on the ‘Add – Buy – Sell’ links which can be found at the top and the bottom of each page. The page will expand, and the holdings module will be displayed at the bottom of the page.





Fig 1.2

Using this module you can add items to your existing portfolio. Then, click on the ‘Save to Portfolio’ button to save this item to the portfolio, or you can select the ‘Cancel’ button which will make the module disappear.

Equities

1. To add an Equity, select ‘Equity’ in the Asset Type (see figure 1.2)

2. Enter the name or symbol of the equity (see symbol look up below)

3. Select the type of transaction (‘Buy, Sell, or Watch’)

4. Enter the position being held (‘Long’ or ‘Short’) and the number of shares

5. Enter the purchase price. Use the last price link to populate with the latest price

6. Enter any known fees for Buy and Sell Transactions

7. Ensure that the purchase date is correct. If not alter as required. (It defaults to today’s date)

8. Click ‘Save to Portfolio’ if you wish to update any changes to your portfolio.





Fig 1.3

Symbol look up

1. Enter the name of the company or symbol. The Symbol Lookup search will return data for Equities and Managed Funds. As you type in the company or symbol the results will appear.




Fig 1.4




Fig 1.5

Managed Funds

1. Select ‘Managed Fund’ in the Asset Type dropdown box (see figure 1.2).

2. Enter the name or symbol of the managed fund.

3. Select the Transaction Type (‘Buy, Sell, or Watch’).

4. Enter the number of units held.

5. Enter the purchase price. Use the last price link to populate with the latest price.

6. Enter any known fees for Buy and Sell Transaction Types

7. Ensure that the purchase date is correct. If not alter as required. (It defaults to today’s date)

8. When you have entered all the details, click ‘Save to Portfolio’ and your portfolio will be updated.

Cash

1. Select ‘Cash’ in the Asset Type dropdown box (see figure 1.2)

2. Enter a name or description for the cash entry

3. Select the Transaction Type (‘Open’)

4. Enter the quantity of the cash entry

5. Select a currency from the dropdown menu

6. Select the date on which the cash was added

7. When you have entered all the details, click ‘Save to Portfolio’ and your portfolio will be updated.

Watch positions for Indices

1. Select ‘Index’ in the Asset Type dropdown box (see figure 1.2)

2. Enter a name or symbol of the Index

3. Click ‘Save to Portfolio’ and your portfolio will be updated.

Other

1. Select other in the Asset Type dropdown box (see figure 1.2)

2. Enter a name or description for this asset

3. Select the Transaction Type (‘Buy, Sell)

4. Enter the quantity for this asset

5. Select a currency from the dropdown menu.

6. Enter any known fees

7. Ensure that the purchase date is correct. If not alter as required

8. When you have entered all the details, click ‘Save to Portfolio’ and your portfolio will be updated

Adding from Company Tearsheet




Fig 1.6

1. From the company tearsheet page, click on the ‘Add to Portfolio’ button and then select the portfolio that you would like to add the chosen company to.

2. Select the Transaction Type (‘Buy (Long)’, ‘Sell (Short)’, or ‘Watch’).

4. Enter the number of units/shares held.

5. Ensure that the purchase price is correct. If not, alter the amount.

6. Enter any known fees for Buy and Sell Transaction Types

7. Ensure that the purchase date is correct. If not alter as required.

8. When you have entered all the details, click ‘Add to Portfolio’ to update your portfolio.

9. Click ‘Ok’ to save these changes or click ‘Go to portfolio’ to view the portfolio you just added to.




Fig 1.7

Updating Portfolio

1. Select a portfolio from the All Portfolios page or from the drop down menu found at the top of each page.




Fig 1.8

2. Select ‘Add – Buy – Sell’ and enter the following information:

a.Asset Type

Select one of the following assets from the drop down menu:

-Equities

- Exchange Traded Funds

- Managed Fund

- Index

- Cash

-Other (User defined items such as jewellery or artwork).

b.Name or Symbol Lookup

Enter the name of the company or symbol (refer to Symbol Lookup section for more details).

c.Transaction and Position

The different options for the different assets are listed below:

-Equity transaction: Long Buy, Long Sell, Short Buy, Short Sell and a Watch position.

-Managed Fund transaction: Buy, Sell, Watch

-Cash: Open, Debit, Credit

d.Quantity

Enter the number of shares/units to be bought or sold.

e.Price

Enter the price at which the shares/units were bought or sold.

And if you do not know the price click on the ‘Use Last’ link and this will populate the field with the price quoted by the exchange.

f.Fees

Enter any known fees for Buy and Sell Transaction Types.

g.Date

Enter the date on which the shares/units were bought or sold. Select the correct month, day and year from the drop down boxes.

3. When you have completed all the details, click the ‘Save to Portfolio’ button to update your portfolio.

Watch List

A watch list allows you to set up a list of shares, indices and funds that you are interested in or are considering investing in. This list allows you to keep tabs on these assets’ prices and they can be included in your portfolio. View company news and easily add/delete shares or funds from your watch list in your portfolio.

Editing Items in your Portfolio

Editing a transaction

1. Select and open the portfolio that contains the holding(s) you would like to edit.




Fig 1.9

2. Click the ‘Edit link’ (this link is found on every portfolio page). This will take you to the Edit page (see below).




Fig 1.10

3. To edit a holding select the pencil icon (which is found alongside the holding).

- Upon selection of this icon, you will see the edit asset module append to the page and from here you can make changes to the holding.

- After you make your changes, click on the ‘Save Changes to Portfolio’ link to update your portfolio. And click on the ‘Finish’ link if you are done making changes.

Deleting a holding

1. Select the portfolio containing the holding(s) you wish to delete.

2. Click on the ‘Edit’ link, this will redirect you to the Edit page and from here you can delete a holding by clicking on the button.

3. An alert box will appear to confirm your action.




Fig 1.11

Changing a cash position - Cash Credits & Debits

1. To credit or debit cash entries, click on the ‘Add-Buy-Sell’ link or the ‘Edit link’

2. Select ‘Cash’ in the Asset Type dropdown box (see figure 1.2)

3. Select the Transaction Type (‘Credit’ or ‘Debit’)

4. Enter the quantity of the cash entry

5. Select the date on which the cash was added or withdrawn

6. When you have entered all the details, click ‘Save to Portfolio’ and your portfolio will be updated with the changes

If you credit or debit cash holdings this will automatically be calculated and additions/deductions will be made from your cash holdings. And a breakdown of the transaction can be viewed in the Transactions tab. but in the Performance tab this will be consolidated and will appear under one cash holding.

Selling and adding to an Existing Holding

1. To sell an item, click on the ‘Add-Buy-Sell’ link

2. Select the asset type

3. Enter the name or symbol of the holding

4. Enter the position being held and the number of shares (‘Long’ or ‘Short’)

5. Ensure the purchase price is correct. If not alter the amount

6. Enter any known fees for Buy and Sell Transaction Types

7. Enter the transaction date.

8. Click ‘Save to Portfolio’ if you wish to update any changes to your portfolio.

Generally, if you add to an existing holding the details of this additional transaction can be viewed under the Transactions tab. But in the Performance View the ‘Quantity’ should automatically be updated to reflect the addition.

If you sell a holding and enter a ‘Long’ position this will automatically be updated in your portfolio and a breakdown of the transaction can be viewed in the Transactions tab.

If you sell a holding and enter a ‘Short’ position this will automatically be updated in your portfolio. In the Performance View the ‘Quantity’ should have a negative value to reflect the short sell position.

All portfolio View

Portfolio summary bar




Fig 1.12

Current Value

This is the total value of all of the holdings in your portfolio, including cash. This value is updated when the page is refreshed and will be displayed and calculated in the currency the portfolio was set up with.

Today’s Value Change

This is both the absolute and the percentage change in the total value of your portfolio. This is shown in green if its appreciated, red if declined.

Unrealised Gain/Loss

The profit or loss of all of the open positions in your portfolio, measured in currency amounts, resulting from comparing the current value of an asset to its cost. This amount reflects currency translations of underlying assets held in other currencies translated at historical rates.

Simple Return

This is the Unrealised Gain expressed as a percentage to cost if all the holdings were sold at their reported value.

Total Gain/Loss

This is the absolute amount, in the specified currency, of the gain or loss since inception of the portfolio or the holding. Total Gain/Loss in this portfolio with history includes both realised and unrealised gains/loses, to give a total picture of his/her holding’s (or portfolio’s) performance over time.

Money Weighted Return

This is the rate of return that approximates the position’s or portfolio’s Internal Rate of Return by taking cash flows into account. The calculation includes accounting for all cash flows, including purchased and sold positions, over the life of the portfolio. Cash flows into and out of the position/portfolio are time weighted to their economic impact to the portfolio.

Sections:

Performance

On the performance tab, view the performance of your holdings. This information includes the Last Price, Quantity, Today’s % Value Change, Current Value, Total Gain/Loss and Notes. Notes is an added feature that allows you to add personal notes to any portfolio holding.

News

This tab allows you to view company specific news in relation to your portfolio holdings.

Transactions

The transactions tab allows you to view specific information on your holdings. This information includes: ‘Transaction, Quantity, Price, Date and Total Gain/Loss’.

Fundamentals

The fundamentals tab allows you to view details relating to each portfolio holding for only Equities. This information includes: ‘Market Cap, PE (TTM), EPS (TTM) and 52 Week Range”.

Charting

This tab allows you to view charts for your holdings. You can easily set up performance benchmarks that will allow you to compare your portfolio holdings against an index.

My View

This tab allows you to create a customised view of your portfolio. Organise and define the most important information to you to help you manage your portfolio effectively. Create custom portfolio views based on specific information that includes: Fundamentals, Performance, Quote and Transaction data.

My View functions / functionality:

Setting up My View as default portfolio view




Fig 1.13

To set My View as the default portfolio view, select your portfolio and click on the ‘My View’ tab. After, click on the ‘Set My View tab as default view’. Each time you enter your portfolio the My View tab will be the first viewed page.

Note: The same can be done for the Performance tab, where this tab can be set as the default view.

To set up a particular portfolio to open up by default - open up your portfolio and click on the ‘Edit’ link. This will take you to the Edit page (see below). Select the check box and this should allow for your chosen portfolio to automatically open upon login.





Portfolio Widescreen View




Fig 1.14

Select the ‘Widescreen’ button which will expand the portfolio data to the right.




Fig 1.15

To return back to the normal view, select ‘Normal View’ and this will contract the view.

Edit My View – Sort Columns






Fig 1.16

Select the My View tab and click on the ‘Edit View’ link which will take you to the Edit View page. Select your My View column headers. Once selection is completed these headers can be reordered by dragging and dropping them.

Then name your view, and if you want this particular view to be your default My View, check the ‘Make default’ box. And finish by selecting the ‘Save’ link.

Other in page functions / functionality:

Download in CSV

This function allows the user to view their entire portfolio in Excel, by creating a .csv file. This feature can be found on both the Performance and the My view pages.


Fig 1.17

Handling Defunct stocks

The portfolio tool handles defunct holdings by excluding them from the overall portfolio return calculations and will not calculate the total / gain loss for that individual holding.

The last price will now indicate that there is no current price available.

You may delete these holdings using the edit function to permanently remove the listing. You could also create a cash account with any cash received from the transaction.

A * next to a holding indicates it’s now defunct and not active.

Handling stock splits

The portfolio tool intelligently handles stock splits, and will automatically adjust a holding using the split ratio. The transactions tab will show the original number of shares purchased and the split ratio, while the performance tab will show the new ‘adjusted’ amount.

In the example below, it shows the user purchased 696 shares in Jan 07, and a split occurred in May 07 (a 3 for 1 bonus issue), resulting in a holding of 2088 shares.

Transactions Tab:

Performance Tab:





Fig 1.18

Set Alert

To set up an email to update you on the summary performance of your portfolio, when you are in your portfolio, click on the ‘Set Alert’ text. Then in the pop-up box, select the frequency of the alerts (daily, weekly, monthly) and the time you wish to receive it.




Fig 1.19