Why Excel Falls Short for Passive Investors

For decades, Excel has been the default tool for financial analysis. But for passive investors, spreadsheets just don’t cut it. Tracking complex portfolios, irregular distributions, and performance metrics in Excel quickly becomes messy, time-consuming, and error-prone. Here’s why:

1. Investors don’t know what to track—or how

Spreadsheets leave you guessing. What do you graph? Which metrics matter most? Without clear templates or guidance, investors can miss trends that directly impact their returns.

2. Paying $400+ for a spreadsheet?

Believe it or not, custom passive investing spreadsheets can cost hundreds of dollars—and that’s before you buy Office or add-on tools. For something that still requires heavy lifting, that’s a steep price.

3. Distributions are a nightmare to track

Passive investments generate distributions—dividends, interest, return of capital—that drive real returns. In Excel, tracking them manually is a chore and easy to mess up. Online platforms like PSVTracker sync directly with your bank and brokerage accounts, so no distribution ever slips through the cracks.

4. Managing spreadsheets feels like a second job

Passive investors want automation, not another full-time task. Juggling formulas, updating contributions, and recalculating returns in Excel drains time and energy that should be spent analyzing results and planning your next move.
A Better Way: PSVTracker™

PSVTracker was built to solve all of these problems.

• Easy Data Import – Bring in your investments directly from brokers like Vanguard, Fidelity, or Schwab—or upload from CSV/Excel.

• Smart Visuals & Metrics – Interactive charts, XIRR, Cash-on-Cash, Equity Multiple, diversification views, and more.

• Automation First – Stop managing spreadsheets; start tracking contributions, reinvestments, and distributions automatically.

• Risk Awareness – See portfolio weights by asset class, sponsor, or account, and reduce overexposure before it becomes a problem.

The Bottom Line

Excel is powerful, but it was never designed for passive investors. PSVTracker gives you the automation, insights, and confidence to make better decisions—without turning portfolio management into a side hustle.