Getting Started
/5-Minute Quick Start
5-Minute Quick Start
Start from zero and build your first portfolio on PortfoliosLab in less than 10 minutes.
If this is your first time on PortfoliosLab, this guide helps you create a portfolio, run your first analysis, and understand what to look at first.
You do not need advanced finance knowledge to begin. Focus on completing one simple workflow first, then improve your setup over time.
Before You Start
Know your investment horizon
Decide whether you are building for short-term goals or long-term growth.
Prepare a small asset list
Start with 3-6 tickers you already understand (for example, AAPL, MSFT, GOOGL, AMZN, TSLA).
Pick a benchmark
Choose a market reference (for example, S&P 500 ETF) for comparison.
Step 1: Choose Portfolio Type
Static Portfolio
Best for beginners. You set target allocations directly and get instant analysis.
Transactional Portfolio
Use this when you want to track buys and sells over time.
NAV Import
Use this when you already have portfolio NAV history and want to analyze it quickly.
Beginner Recommendation
Start with a static portfolio. It is the fastest way to understand risk and return behavior.
Step 2: Add Your First Positions
Enter ticker symbols
Add a few assets, such as a broad market ETF, a bond ETF, and one sector exposure.
Set allocations
Assign portfolio weights and ensure your allocation is complete.
Set reporting currency and rebalancing
Choose your currency and rebalancing preference to keep assumptions consistent.
Step 3: Run Your First Analysis
Open Portfolio Analysis, choose a benchmark, and click Analyze Portfolio.
For your first pass, focus on these sections:
- Performance: Does long-term growth match your expectations?
- Drawdowns: How deep and long were historical losses?
- Return for Risk: Are returns efficient for the level of risk?
- Diversification: Are assets too correlated with each other?
Step 4: Save and Improve
After your first run:
- Save this as version 1 of your portfolio
- Change one input at a time (weights, benchmark, or one asset)
- Re-run analysis and compare outcomes
Avoid changing everything at once. Small adjustments make cause and effect easier to understand.
Common Beginner Mistakes
Using too many assets on day one
Start simple, then expand as you learn how metrics respond.
Looking only at total return
Always pair return with drawdown and risk-adjusted metrics.
Ignoring benchmark context
Without comparison, performance conclusions can be misleading.
Overreacting to short windows
Use sufficiently long periods and multiple market regimes before major decisions.