How to register changes in investment properties?

[c4duser]

I'm a new client. I've been able to set up my portfolios and download positions and prices from my broker and internet.

I'm trying to get the asset allocation feature to work. I've reassigned names to the Asset Types (US Small Cap Stock, US Mid Cap Stock, etc.) and to the Investment Goal Category (Consumer Discretionary, Consumer Staples, Energy, etc.). Each of these category lists has a percentage column on the right. For now, the first item in each category is showing 100%.

I've run into the following problems:

1. I've set up the portfolio display to show columns for 'investment goal' and 'asset type'. I've tried to change the properties on individual investments by right clicking on the investment in the portfolio window and changing and saving the settings in the Investment Properties window of that investment. However, whatever I do, the portfolio window continues to display the first items in both the category lists.

2. I've also tried to modify the asset allocations in the Investment Properties window but these changes don't seem to stick, nor are they transferred to Investment Property windows for other investments.

I was rather enthusiastic about Fund Managers before I bought it, precisely for its ability to manage allocations. But now I'm not so sure.

I assume there must be some easy and practical way to get this asset allocation feature to work. Also, it would be nice to be able to change the top designations for the two category lists. For example, I would like to change "Investment Goal" to "Sector Allocation".

Any help you can give will be appreciated.

[Mark]

Hi c4duser,

It sounds like you are doing it correctly... I'm not sure why it isn't staying set. By "portfolio display", do you meant the "Portfolio Editor" window? If you add the category fields to the list view, when displaying for an investment, it will show the category name of the largest % assigned to that investment.

Here is how you assign an investment to a category. Right mouse click on the investment, and choose "Investment Properties...". Go to either the "Asset Type" or "Investment Goal" tab. Select the category you want to put this investment in, and choose "Change %". Enter the percentage (usually 100), and press OK. Now, you must remove it from the other category, so select the one you are removing it from, and choose "Change %" a second time, and set it to 0, and press OK. The "Total %" should read 100 in the lower/right part of the dialog. Press Apply, and then close the investment properties dialog. Go back into this same investment again, and double check the settings are still there, as you just assigned them. They should be. These % settings only apply to this one investment. The category names are global, and will apply to all investments. The names are set under "Options / Category Labels...".

Once you get your investments assigned to the categories you want, there are many things you can do with this. You can graph/report by category, so you can see how well each sector is performing, and how you have your money allocated among these sectors.

[c4duser]

Hi Mark,

Thanks for the prompt rely. You solved the problem for me. Does this mean that it's possible to allocate an investment between more than one category and that this subdivision will be recognized in the asset allocation and rebalancing reports? For example, can a stock be assigned 50% to one category and 50% to another and have this recognized in the appropriate allocation report? If so, that's pretty fancy.

Thanks, again.

[Mark]

Hi c4duser,

Great, glad that helped. Yes, you can assign an investment to multiple categories, and these percentages are recognized when reporting/graphing.