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Help! Adjusted-basis nightmare with dollar-cost averaging?

I want to invest frequently (weekly, if I can find a mutual fund with a relatively low minimum investment) in a mutual fund or set of mutual funds. However, I want to be able to track the cost/adjusted basis (for tax purposes) easily and I don't always keep the world's best records. This is complicated by the fact that (1) the cost will (obviously) be different per share each time and (2) there's that whole mess with undistributed gains (so, if I understand correctly, I pay the taxes on the shares and reduce my basis?)

So, I want a company that will do that stuff for me automatically and I'm not enthusiastic about paying GainsKeeper a bunch of money each year to do it.

Please provide any thoughts you have on this subject (and, if you don't know what adjusted-basis is and/or don't really understand my question and are just trying to get 2 points for answering a question, please don't waste my time.)

Many thanks!!

3 Answers

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  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago
    Favorite Answer

    You are in luck. Mutual funds will keep track of that information for you, so you do not have to give it any concern at all. You do not pay tax on undistributed gains. Only distributed gains. When you sell your shares, the mutual fund will tell you what your cost basis was on those shares. However, be sure to buy the mutual fund directly from the mutual fund company and not through a stock broker. If you buy through a broker, you will be relying on the broker to maintain that data, and it may or may not.

    Most mutual funds, once you make the initial investment will allow you to make much smaller subsequent investments, in the order of $50 at a time. The initial investment varies greatly from fund to fund. The general range is from $500 to $5000 with $2500 about average.

    Here is a suggestion. Do not place all your money into just one fund. Select 3 to 5 funds with good long term track records that have different investment objects, such as a small cap fund, a value fund, a foreign stock fund, and a large cap fund. That will give you a better chance of making consistant good long term gains.

  • Anonymous
    4 years ago

    Like an excellent form of human beings, my reductions disappeared alongside with the fairness in my domicile. If, despite if, i ought to sell my domicile for what I owe on it, i does no longer ideas shifting to a smaller place while my young toddlers depart the nest (very quickly). i could use the extra earnings for that and different significant purposes, which incorporate feeding hungry human beings and offering them with a place to sleep. we've a remarkable and nicely run homeless shelter and foodstuff pantry in our city, so I help them as much as possible. in addition they help human beings get preparation and jobs, besides as low priced housing. needless to say, there is not any way of counting the value of evangelizing. it can not be continually further up in money. Human kindness, justice, and actual help are continually portion of the equation. meanwhile, when you consider that i'm no longer able to sell my domicile, i'm going to apply the extra area to quickly domicile human beings in our community who've found themselves out of artwork or working for under it takes to pay hire around here.

  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    I use tdameritrade and they track the costs for me. i would think that schab and etrade do similiar things. so go with an e-broker.

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