Tracking Investments Without a Brokerage

Not ready to connect a brokerage, or using a broker that isn't supported? You can create a manual portfolio and enter your holdings directly. This guide explains how.

Creating a manual portfolio

1. In the sidebar, click Portfolios, then Add portfolio.
2. Choose Enter holdings manually.
3. Give the portfolio a name (e.g., "Questrade TFSA") and select the account type (TFSA, RRSP, taxable, etc.).
4. Click Create portfolio. You will be taken to the empty portfolio where you can add holdings.

Adding holdings

1. On the portfolio page, click Add holding.
2. Search for the stock or ETF by ticker symbol or company name.
3. Enter the quantity (number of shares) and your average cost per share in your reporting currency.
4. Click Save. Market prices are pulled automatically.

Repeat for each position in your portfolio. Holdings can be edited or deleted at any time from the portfolio view.

Recording transactions

For ACB and capital gains tracking to work correctly on a manual portfolio, you need to record individual transactions rather than just current quantities. To log a transaction:

1. On the portfolio page, select a holding and click Transactions.
2. Click Add transaction.
3. Select the transaction type (Buy, Sell, Dividend, or Transfer).
4. Enter the date, quantity, price per share, and any commission paid.
5. Click Save. ACB is recalculated automatically.

Keeping your data current

Unlike a connected brokerage, a manual portfolio does not sync automatically. You are responsible for keeping it up to date by adding new transactions as you trade. Market prices for your holdings update automatically — only quantities and transactions require manual entry.

A good habit is to log transactions at the time of trade while the details are fresh. The ACB calculation depends on the correct ordering of buys and sells, so accuracy matters.

Limitations vs. connected brokerage

• No automatic transaction history — you must enter every buy, sell, and dividend manually.
• Dividends are not detected automatically. Record them as Dividend transactions to keep your total return accurate.
• Contribution room tracking for RRSPs and TFSAs relies on transactions being entered correctly. For registered accounts, ensure you log contributions accurately.

Converting to a connected brokerage later

If your broker becomes supported or you decide to connect, you can delete your manual portfolio and create a new connected one. There is currently no automated migration path from a manual portfolio to a brokerage connection.