The tedious part of tracking a portfolio is getting your history in. Brokers make it worse by giving you different formats: a CSV here, a PDF there, a screenshot if you are unlucky. Here is how to get a clean history in with the least effort.
Pick the best source your broker offers
| Source | Strengths | Watch for |
|---|---|---|
| Full-history CSV or Excel export | Fastest, most complete, easy to check | Some brokers limit the date range per export |
| PDF statements | Always available; every month is on record | Many files, and the layout varies by broker |
| Screenshots | Works when nothing else does | Only as complete as what you captured |
If your broker offers one full export, use it. Our export guide covers where to find it at the major Canadian and US brokers.
What the history must include
- Every buy and sell, from the very first. A missing buy makes the cost too low and the gain too high.
- Deposits, withdrawals and transfers. They drive your return and your cash balance.
- Dividends and distributions, unless your tracker estimates them for you.
- Fees and interest.
Balance summaries and holdings snapshots are not transactions and should be left out.
A checklist before you import
- Export all accounts at that broker, and note which account each file belongs to.
- Check the date range covers the account's whole life,, or at least everything since you opened it.
- Review the rows the tool found before saving. It should flag anything it was unsure about.
- Compare totals with your latest statement. If share counts match, the history is probably complete.
Overlapping files and duplicates
If you import a January-to-June file and later an April-to-December file, April to June appears twice. A good importer detects a transaction with the same date, type, symbol and quantity or amount, and leaves it unticked. A second genuinely identical trade on the same day is the exception to review.
How Nimblewit does it
Nimblewit reads CSV and Excel files in your browser, and reads PDFs and screenshots with AI, then shows every row for review before anything is saved. Overlapping imports are matched for duplicates, and each import can be undone. It never asks for a brokerage password. Try it free.