Getting started Reviewing your investments

Track your progress instead of the market

Whether you manage your own investments or use a financial professional to keep you updated, it’s always a good idea to keep track of how your portfolio’s investments are doing. Staying informed helps you avoid unwelcome surprises that could throw you off track and delay progress toward your investment goals.

Eyes on the finish line

When you check your investments too often, it’s easy to lose sight of your long-term goals. This is especially true on days when a major market index, like the S&P 500 Index, makes a big move. Reviewing your portfolio at the end of each quarter keeps you in the loop while helping you maintain a long-term perspective.

Big-picture view

Consider reviewing all your account statements at once, rather than individually, as you receive them. If you use multiple accounts for the same goal — like an IRA (individual retirement account) plus a 401(k) for retirement — you may need to review more than one statement.

Time for a change?

When it comes to investment results, it’s all relative. If you’re considering making a change after a few disappointing quarters, start by comparing one fund to others with similar investment objectives. Look at how your current investment measures up to its peers over longer time frames. Remember, however, that selling investments can affect your taxes.

LEARN HOW

What and when to evaluate

Learn more about investing

Now that you know how to review your investments, explore other important investment concepts.

RISK AND TIME HORIZON

S&P 500 Index is a market capitalization-weighted index based on the results of approximately 500 widely held common stocks. This index is unmanaged, and its results include reinvested dividends and/or distributions but do not reflect the effect of sales charges, commissions, account fees, expenses or U.S. federal income taxes.

Investments are not FDIC-insured, nor are they deposits of or guaranteed by a bank or any other entity, so they may lose value.
Investors should carefully consider investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses. This and other important information is contained in the prospectuses and summary prospectuses, which can be obtained from a financial professional and should be read carefully before investing.
The indexes are unmanaged and, therefore, have no expenses. Investors cannot invest directly in an index.
Each S&P Index ("Index") shown is a product of S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC and/or its affiliates and has been licensed for use by Capital Group. Copyright © 2026 S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC, a division of S&P Global, and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. Redistribution or reproduction in whole or in part is prohibited without written permission of S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC.
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This content, developed by Capital Group, home of American Funds, should not be used as a primary basis for investment decisions and is not intended to serve as impartial investment or fiduciary advice.