your investment account/portfolio, or

a single investment (stocks, real estate, etc.)

Enter the beginning market value, including any cash balances in the account, as of the start date.

Enter the ending market value, including any cash balances in the account, as of the end date.

Enter deposits you make to the account as positive amounts.

Enter withdrawals you make from the account as negative amounts.

Do not enter transactions made within the account, such as purchases, sales, dividends, etc.  The only entries should be your deposits to and withdrawals from the account.

Enter the the start date and the value on that date.  If this is the original purchase, enter the purchase date and purchase cost.

Enter the end date and the value on that date.

Enter the cost of additional purchases as positive amounts (deposits).

Enter proceeds from sales as negative amounts (withdrawals), unless the entire investment is sold.

If you have sold the entire investment, use the proceeds as the end value, and the date of sale as the end date.

Income received from the investment should be entered as a negative amount on the date received.

Expenses paid related to the investment should be entered as positive amounts on the date paid.