Calculate your portfolio's annual return

Date
Start Date

End Date

Contributions and Withdrawals

1-Jan-11

-$100,000.00

1-Feb-11

-$2,500.00

1-Sep-11

$10,000.00

31-Dec-11

$90,000.00

Annualized Return

-2.53%

How to use this spreadsheet

1. In cell F7, enter your portfolios start-of-year value as a NEGATIVE
number.
2. In cell F33, enter your portfolios end-of-year value as a POSITIVE
number.
3. Enter the dates and amounts of any contributions you made
during the year. These must be entered as a NEGATIVE number.
4. Enter the dates and amounts of any withdrawals you made during
the year. These must be entered as a POSITIVE number.
5. Ensure that all dates are entered in the proper format (e.g. 23Mar-11).
6. You can use this worksheet multiple times to determine your
returns from previous years. Make note of these annual returns and
enter them in the Benchmark Comparison worksheet (see tabs
below).
Troubleshooting
If you get a "######" error instead of an annualized return:
If you are using on older version of Excel, you may need to install an
Add-In. On the Tools menu at the top of your screen, click Add-Ins.
Select the Analysis ToolPak box, and then click OK. If necessary,
follow the instructions in the setup program.
If this does not fix the problem, you have entered an incorrect
format for either a date or a dollar value: double-check all your data
inputs to ensure you used the correct formats. (Look carefully: even
a tiny error will mess up the formula.)

Determine your benchmark

Enter your long-term asset allocation
Canadian equity
US equity
International equity
Emerging markets equity
Bonds
Cash

20%
20%
20%
0%
40%
0%

Total

100%

+
Adjust for the costs of investing
Your custom benchmark needs to be adjusted to reflect the
unavoidable costs of investing.
If you are a DIY investor, we suggest using a benchmark drag
drag of 0.50% to account for the management fees and trading
expenses of buying and holding passive index funds.
If you use an adviser for investment advice only (and not for
financial planning), consider using the same drag of 0.50%.
If you are use a financial adviser who also provides comprehensive
planning, consider using a drag of 1.50% to account for the extra
cost of these services.
Benchmark drag

0.50%

+
Your portfolio's return history (optional) *

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006
5.00%

2007
12.00%

2008
300.00%

2009
14.00%

*NOTE: If you enter previous years' returns, you MUST NOT have any blank years between
the first and last years. If you do, the bar chart results will be invalid. For example, if you enter a return for 2009
you must also enter a return for 2010 and 2011.

Calendar-Year Returns of Your Portfolio Versus Cu

2006

2007

2008

2009

Your Portfolio

5.00%

12.00%

300.00%

14.00%

Benchmark

13.22%

-0.12%

-15.06%

13.36%

Difference

-8.22%

12.12%

315.06%

0.64%

Annualized Returns of Your Portfolio Versus Cus

45.00%

Annualized Returns

40.00%
35.00%
30.00%
25.00%
20.00%
15.00%
10.00%
5.00%
0.00%

1 Year

3 Year

Your Portfolio

2.00%

7.89%

Benchmark

0.58%

7.17%

2010
8.00%

you enter a return for 2009

2011
2.00%

Your Portfolio

2.00%

7.89%

Benchmark

0.58%

7.17%

Difference

1.42%

0.72%

ortfolio Versus Custom Benchmark

350.00%

250.00%
200.00%
150.00%
100.00%
50.00%
0.00%
2009

2010

2011

14.00%

8.00%

2.00%

13.36%

7.96%

0.58%

0.64%

0.04%

1.42%

tfolio Versus Custom Benchmark

3 Year

5 Year

7.89%

41.27%

7.17%

0.87%

-50.00%

Calendar-Year Returns

300.00%

7.89%

41.27%

7.17%

0.87%

0.72%

40.40%