​​Cost basis

Understanding cost basis

Your stock or ETF's cost basis is the purchase price, including reinvested dividends or reinvested capital gains distributions, plus additional costs such as commission or other fees you paid to complete the transaction. This information is typically found on a trade confirmation sent to you immediately after you buy a stock or ETF. However, gathering old trade confirmations is time-consuming, and may be near impossible to locate depending on when you completed the purchase.

Instead, the firm that holds your stocks or ETFs retains the cost basis for you. Below, we'll show you how to locate that information so we can review how you might use Frec's platform with your current investments.

Why Frec asks for your cost basis

We compare the price at which you bought specific stocks and ETFs with their current value, to determine how much in capital gains or losses you'd incur if the position were sold. We then work with you on which indices you'd like to invest into, and how you want to use your current investments: to seed the index, diversify concentrated positions, move out of highly appreciated positions, or other situations specific to your investment goals.

Finding your cost basis

If you transfer whole shares into Frec via ACATS from another brokerage, that cost basis information typically transfers with them, though it can take a few extra business days to arrive. Keep in mind your external brokerage firm may charge you a fee to transfer assets into Frec.

Below are instructions for downloading your cost basis from a few different brokerage firms. Contact us if you have any issues finding a stock or ETF's cost basis for your particular account. These instructions are subject to change.

Fidelity

1. Log in to your Fidelity account.
2. On the left-hand side, select the specific account you wish to locate cost basis information for.
3. Select Positions on the top row.
4. Select the download button in the top-right corner.

Charles Schwab

1. Log in to your Schwab account.
2. Select the specific account you wish to locate cost basis information for.
3. Select Positions on the top row.
4. Select the export button in the top-right corner.

Vanguard

1. Log in to your Vanguard account.
2. Go to My Dashboard and Portfolio.
3. Select Cost basis, then choose Unrealized or Realized gains & losses.
4. Find your fund and select Show details (or Show lot details) to see individual purchase lots.
5. Select Export (usually near the top right of the table) to download a CSV.

Wealthfront

1. Log in and view the account overview page.
2. Select an investment account.
3. Select Manage at the top right of the page.
4. Select View cost basis details at the bottom of the page.
5. Select Download CSV at the top right of the page.

Betterment

1. Log in to Betterment through a web browser (not the mobile app).
2. Select Documents in the main menu.
3. Select the Taxes tab.
4. Find the Cost basis section.
5. Select Download CSV cost basis report.

Morgan Stanley

1. Log in to Morgan Stanley.
2. Select Accounts on the top menu, then select your account.
3. Select Unrealized Gains and Losses.
4. Select the download button in the top-right corner.

E*TRADE

1. Log in to E*TRADE.
2. Select your account.
3. Go to Positions.
4. Select the download button in the top-right corner.

Merrill Edge

1. Log in to Merrill Edge.
2. Select your account from the top dropdown menu.
3. Select Positions or Holdings (it may vary based on your setup).
4. Select the download button in the top-right corner.

UBS

1. Log in to UBS.
2. Find your account by selecting Portfolio.
3. Select Holdings to view all holdings with cost basis.
4. Select the download button in the top-right corner.