Recording Deposits and Withdrawals
Every time money moves in or out of your private trading account, record it. This keeps your P&L calculations accurate and maintains a complete financial history.
Why Record Deposits and Withdrawals?
The platform calculates your trading P&L using this formula:
Net Trading P&L = (Ending Balance − Starting Balance) − Deposits + Withdrawals
If you deposit $5,000 but don't record it, the platform thinks your balance increase came from trading—overstating your profits.
If you withdraw $3,000 but don't record it, the platform thinks your balance decrease came from losses—understating your profits.
Recording every capital movement ensures accurate performance tracking.
How to Record a Transaction
Method 1: From the Account Drawer
Click on the account in the table to open the detail drawer
Go to the Transactions tab
Click Manual Entry or Add Transaction
Select transaction type (Deposit or Withdrawal)
Enter amount and date
Add notes if helpful
Save
Method 2: Quick Entry (if available)
Some interfaces provide quick entry buttons:
Open the account drawer
Look for "Record Deposit" or "Record Withdrawal" buttons
Fill in the quick form
Save
Recording a Deposit
When you transfer money INTO your trading account:
Open the account
Add a new transaction
Select type: Deposit
Enter the amount (positive number)
Enter the date the deposit cleared
Optional: Add notes ("Transfer from savings," "Bonus from broker")
Save
What Counts as a Deposit
Bank transfer into trading account
Credit card funding
Wire transfer
Internal transfer from another account
Broker bonuses added to balance (if they're real, withdrawable money)
What's NOT a Deposit
Trading profits (that's P&L, not a deposit)
Interest earned (depends—if it's added automatically, you might not record it)
Paper gains
Recording a Withdrawal
When you transfer money OUT of your trading account:
Open the account
Add a new transaction
Select type: Withdrawal
Enter the amount (positive number)
Enter the date the withdrawal processed
Optional: Add notes ("To checking account," "Tax payment")
Save
What Counts as a Withdrawal
Bank transfer out of trading account
Wire withdrawal
Internal transfer to another account
Taking profits out (still a withdrawal, even though it's "profit")
What's NOT a Withdrawal
Trading losses (that's P&L, not a withdrawal)
Fees deducted by broker (depends on your tracking preference)
Paper losses
Transaction Details to Include
Required:
Type — Deposit or Withdrawal
Amount — The transaction value (always positive)
Date — When it occurred
Optional but Recommended:
Notes — Why you made this transaction
Example Entries:
Viewing Transaction History
The Transactions tab in the account drawer shows:
All deposits and withdrawals
Dates and amounts
Running totals
Filters by type (All, Deposits, Withdrawals)
You can filter by date range to see specific periods.
Impact on P&L Calculations
When you record a transaction:
A ledger entry is created
The P&L formula automatically adjusts
Your "Net Trading P&L" updates to reflect the capital movement
Example:
Starting balance: $10,000
Current balance: $11,000
Without recorded deposit: P&L shows +$1,000
If you then record a $2,000 deposit:
P&L recalculates: $11,000 − $10,000 − $2,000 = -$1,000
You actually lost $1,000 from trading; the deposit masked it
Editing and Deleting Transactions
To Edit:
Find the transaction in the list
Click to edit
Change the details
Save
To Delete:
Find the transaction
Click delete option
Confirm deletion
Warning: Deleting a transaction changes your P&L history. Only delete if the transaction was recorded in error.
Best Practices
Record Immediately
Record deposits and withdrawals when they happen. Don't wait—you'll forget details.
Use Consistent Notes
Develop a system for notes:
"Monthly funding"
"Profit withdrawal"
"Transfer to savings"
"Fee payment"
Verify Amounts
Use exact amounts from your bank statement or broker confirmation. Don't estimate.
Check Dates
Use the date the transaction actually cleared, not when you initiated it.
Reconcile Monthly
At month end, verify that your recorded deposits and withdrawals match your bank/broker statements.
Common Questions
Should I record broker fees? It depends. If fees are deducted from your balance, some traders record them as withdrawals. Others consider them part of P&L. Be consistent with your choice.
What about internal transfers between my trading accounts? Record as a withdrawal from one account and deposit to another. This keeps both accounts accurate.
What if I forgot old transactions? Estimate as best you can from statements. Approximate records are better than none for historical tracking.
Next: Importing Broker Statements →