Idea: Add a Total Return Report (Treat Dividends and Cap Gains as Growth, Not Cost Basis)

Rob328

Quicken’s current performance metrics (ROI, Return %, IRR) treat reinvested dividends and capital gains as added cost basis, which is correct for tax reporting but misleading when evaluating portfolio growth. This approach understates performance and makes it nearly impossible to benchmark against indexes like the S&P 500, which use total return methodology.

I propose adding a new report option — or a toggle in existing reports — that treats reinvested dividends as growth rather than basis. This would align Quicken with industry standards, provide a clearer picture of “how my money grew,” and give users an accurate way to compare their portfolios against benchmarks.

Rob328

I know many of us have struggled with Quicken’s treatment of reinvested dividends and capital gains. This makes portfolio performance look weaker than it really is and creates confusion when comparing to benchmarks like the S&P 500.

If you’ve run into this issue too, please add your vote here and share your experience — the more voices we have, the more likely Quicken will prioritize a true total return report that reflects how our money has actually grown.