I use one spreadsheet and I track three things for each account.
You can download the spreadsheet here.

This is the baseline.

I include balances across assets and liabilities so I can see the full picture in one place. This tells me exactly where I’m starting the year and what I’m working with.

No judgment. Just reality.

This part can feel uncomfortable. Most of us would rather not look. But clarity only comes after honesty, and this is where it starts.

I track 2025 year-end balance and 2025 YTD performance to see what actually happened. This helps me answer simple questions:

I don’t react to this monthly. I let the data collect and review it intentionally every few months so I can see patterns, not noise.

The most honest column is performance since investing.

This shows whether patience has paid off or whether capital has been sitting without doing much. One off year doesn’t matter. A pattern does.

From this single view, I decide:

If something is steady and performing, I don’t touch it.
If something has stalled both this year and over time, that’s a signal.

Most people only look at balances.

Balances show where you are, not whether you’re moving forward.

Tracking year-to-date and long-term performance shows direction. It tells me what’s compounding and what’s just sitting still. That clarity keeps me from reacting too fast and helps me recognize real opportunities when they show up.

Here’s the spreadsheet I use.

Make a copy.
Fill in what you know.
Leave the rest blank.

You don’t need perfect data to get useful insight.
You just need the willingness to look.

If you know someone who keeps saying, “I should probably look at my money,” forward this to them.

Remember clarity is a choice.