What Are Tracking Accounts?

Tracking accounts are accounts that contribute to your net worth but don't participate in budget categories. They're perfect for assets and investments you want to monitor without budgeting from.

Transactions in tracking accounts don't require category assignment
Your budget stays focused on day-to-day money
Tracking accounts capture the full picture for net worth calculations
Ideal for long-term assets, investments, and non-spending accounts

When to Use Tracking Mode

Use tracking mode for accounts where you don't make regular spending decisions:

Investment accounts: Brokerage, Roth IRA, 401k
Retirement accounts: Pensions, employer plans
Property value: Home, rental property
Vehicle value: Cars, motorcycles, boats
Other assets: Collectibles, crypto holdings
Separate loans: Mortgages or loans you track independently from your daily budget

A good rule of thumb: if you don't make regular spending decisions from an account, it's a candidate for tracking mode. You want to see it in your net worth, but you don't need to envelope the money.

Budget vs. Tracking Comparison

Feature	Budget Account	Tracking Account
Transactions need categories	Yes (required)	No (optional)
Affects Available balance	Yes	No
Appears in budget table	Yes	No
Affects net worth	Yes	Yes
Supports reconciliation	Yes	Yes
Bank sync compatible	Yes	Yes

Setting Up a Tracking Account

Navigate to Accounts
Click "Add Account"
Enter account name (e.g., "Fidelity 401k")
Select account type (Investment, Other Asset, Loan, etc.)
Toggle "Tracking" mode (instead of Budget mode)
Enter current balance
Save

Choose carefully between budget and tracking mode when creating an account. Converting between modes after creation may not be supported for all account types, so it's best to decide upfront.

Transaction Handling

Transactions in tracking accounts are simpler than budget account transactions - no category is required. Common transaction types include:

Value adjustments: Investment went up or down in value
Contributions and withdrawals: Adding or removing funds
Interest and dividends: Earnings from investments
Fee deductions: Management fees, expense ratios

You can still add notes and clear transactions for reconciliation, just like budget accounts.

Net Worth Impact

Tracking accounts appear in your net worth calculations alongside budget accounts, giving you a complete financial picture without cluttering your budget.

Asset-type tracking accounts increase your total assets
Liability-type tracking accounts (loans) increase your total liabilities
The Net Worth Trend dashboard widget charts all accounts together
You get a complete financial picture while keeping your budget clean and focused

By combining budget accounts for daily spending with tracking accounts for long-term assets, you get a complete picture of your finances. Your budget stays clean and focused while your net worth reflects everything.

Common Scenarios

Tracking a 401k

Create a tracking account named "Company 401k"
Add a transaction each pay period for your contribution amount
Periodically update with a value adjustment transaction to reflect market changes
Watch your retirement savings grow on the Net Worth Trend widget

Tracking Your Home Value

Create a tracking account named "Home" with current estimated value
Update periodically with a value adjustment (annually or when market changes significantly)
The loan against it (mortgage) can be a separate tracking account
Net worth accurately reflects your home equity

Tracking a Vehicle

Create a tracking account with the purchase price or current value
Depreciate periodically with negative adjustment transactions
If you have an auto loan, create a separate tracking liability account
See the true net impact of your vehicle ownership

Tips

Update regularly: Update tracking account balances at least monthly for accurate net worth
Use value adjustments: Record changes as value adjustment transactions rather than editing the balance directly - this preserves history
Leverage bank sync: If you have bank sync for an investment account, it can auto-import activity
Be descriptive: Keep tracking account names descriptive: "Fidelity Roth IRA" not just "Investments"

Related Guides

Learn about all account types in the Understanding Accounts guide, or explore analytics with Reports & Analytics.

See Your Full Financial Picture

Tracking accounts let you monitor investments, property, and assets alongside your budget. Get a complete net worth view without complicating your day-to-day budgeting.

Start Budgeting Today Understanding Accounts →

Tracking Accounts

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