[GNC] Need better documentation - and maybe more robust functionality - on using Lots

[David Carlson]

I think many users want the software to do all that thinking for them so
they don't have to think about short term vs long term, lots, etc.

GnuCash isn't at that level.

Developers that want to add that capability would be welcomed to join the
ranks.

David Carlson

On Mon, Jun 24, 2019, 9:25 AM Alton Brantley <alton.brantley at gmail.com>
wrote:

> If you’re a day-trader, I can sympathize, put you would probably find the
> same issues with other personal accounting programs.
>
> I use Gnucash to manage 7 different investment portfolios, including
> trading options, and I track commission fees, reconcile the lots, adjust
> for partial lot sales,  and  reconcile to the penny with my brokerage
> statement every month.
>
> When opening a transaction for stocks, enter the shares and stock price;
> for options, enter contractsx100 and option price.
> Create a subaccount for commissions under each brokerage account. I
> consider it a prepaid expense (to be realized when I close the transaction.
> I call it “Commissions-open.”
>
> When closing a transaction, do the same.
>
> On opening a lot, Go to Action->View Lots, Use “New Lot” button to create
> new lot, and move the open transaction into it with the double arrows, and
> “Close” button.
> On closing, select the appropriate lot, and do the same.
>
> You’ll get a “Realized Gain/Loss” transaction in your stock account. That
> will be the “gross gain/loss” based on shares/contracts and prices.
> You need to add a split to subtract the “Commissions-open” charges from
> the realized gain/loss to get your net realized gain/loss. (Note: easy
> check—rename splits for “Commissions-open” in the transactions to
> “Commissions-closed”. Commissions-closed should ALWAYS total 0.
> Commission-open should always hold unclosed positions.”
>
> Once I close out an active security, I move it to a subaccount
> (Positions-Closed placeholder) under brokerage account.
>
> For partial position closings, apportion the initial commission by
> replacing the commission split with two apportioned splits.
>
>
>
> > I luv GnuCash, but not for investments, certainly not for stock trading.
> Lot
> > selection, forget about it... clearly none of that was a priority for the
> > developers and I have zero expectation that will change. Use another
> program
> > for recording and maintaining bookkeeping for those investments.
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