Troubleshooting
Investment History Checker Common Mistakes
Most confusing results come from date range, currency, or expectation mismatches. Use these quick fixes to clean up runs and comparisons faster.
Published: December 26, 2025 · Updated: December 26, 2025 · By FinToolSuite Editorial
Disclaimer
- Educational purposes only, not financial advice.
- Examples are illustrative and simplified.
- Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results.
- Market returns can be negative.
- See the Privacy Policy for data handling details.
Open the Investment History Checker
Run clean inputs, then review these quick fixes if the numbers feel off.
Quick answer
- Most issues come from ticker choice, date choice, or return type.
- Always check currency and max drawdown.
- Backtests are illustrations, not promises.
10 common mistakes and quick fixes
1) Wrong ticker or wrong listing
What happens: You pull a different share class or market than intended.
How to spot it: Currency or exchange looks unfamiliar; name slightly off.
Quick fix: Confirm the exact listing and share class. Re-run with the correct symbol. See the how to use guide.
2) Mixing currencies when comparing
What happens: Profit amounts differ because listings use different currencies and no conversion is applied.
How to spot it: Detected currency differs between runs; percent returns look similar but amounts differ.
Quick fix: Compare percent returns and drawdown, label currency clearly, and avoid mixing amounts without conversion. Re-run both on the same dates.
3) Confusing price return vs total return
What happens: You expect dividends to be included when they are not.
How to spot it: Your number is lower than a source that reports total return with reinvested dividends.
Quick fix: Check whether the tool reports price or total return. See price vs total return.
4) Using too short a window
What happens: Results swing wildly based on start date luck.
How to spot it: Small date shifts change CAGR and drawdown a lot.
Quick fix: Re-run with longer windows and an alternate start date. See the how to use guide.
5) Ignoring max drawdown
What happens: A strong ending value hides deep mid-window drops.
How to spot it: Max drawdown is large even when total return is positive.
Quick fix: Read drawdown alongside CAGR and total return. See max drawdown explained.
6) Expecting broker statement matching
What happens: Backtest numbers differ from broker reports.
How to spot it: Broker includes execution timing, fees, taxes, and dividends; tool uses historical prices.
Quick fix: Accept differences from fees, taxes, FX, dividends, and rounding. See broker statement differences.
7) Misunderstanding principal vs contributions
What happens: Mixing one-time principal with contribution schedules changes totals.
How to spot it: Cash-in totals differ between scenarios.
Quick fix: Treat principal as a one-time illustration; contributions, if supported, add over time. Label scenarios with cash-in and dates.
8) Forgetting dividends and distributions
What happens: Price-only results look lower than total return sources.
How to spot it: Dividend-paying tickers show gaps vs total-return charts.
Quick fix: Check if dividends are included; if not, expect differences. See price vs total return.
9) Forgetting fees and taxes
What happens: Backtest looks higher than what an investor could keep.
How to spot it: Broker reports are lower after fees and taxes.
Quick fix: Remember fees, taxes, and trading costs may be excluded. Note this when comparing to statements.
10) Over trusting backtests as predictions
What happens: Treating past results as forecasts.
How to spot it: Assuming the same CAGR will repeat.
Quick fix: History does not predict the future. Use results as illustrations only.
Quick troubleshooting checklist
- [ ] Correct ticker and listing
- [ ] Same dates for comparisons
- [ ] Currency checked and labelled
- [ ] Price return vs total return understood
- [ ] Max drawdown checked
- [ ] Limitations understood (dividends, fees, taxes)
When to export data
Use the yearly breakdown to spot concentrated years and the daily export to inspect the series if something looks off. Both can be accessed after you run the checker.
See the how to use guide for where exports live in the tool.
FAQ preview
- Why does my result differ from my broker?
- Why is drawdown so high?
- Why does changing dates change CAGR?
- Does this include dividends?
- Can I compare two tickers fairly?
For details, read the price vs total return guide, max drawdown explained, and broker statement differences.
Ready to rerun with cleaner inputs?
Set the right ticker, dates, and currency, then read return and drawdown together.