Sync broker history
A portfolio tracker is only as good as its transaction history. Manual exports work once; they break when you forget a file or overlap date ranges. Automatic sync pulls your broker activity on a schedule so deposits, trades and dividends land in Wolfora without a Sunday spreadsheet ritual. This guide covers what to include, how to set it up, and how to combine sync with CSV for older history.
Why automatic sync beats repeated CSV uploads
Broker statements are excellent for taxes and audits. They are awkward as a living portfolio feed: formats change, date windows are easy to get wrong, and weekly manual downloads do not match how you actually trade.
Automatic sync uses credentials or tokens you configure once. Wolfora stores them encrypted and refreshes history on your behalf so charts stay current.
Sync is especially strong for deposits, withdrawals and fills that manual position snapshots omit. Pair automatic history with periodic valuation updates for a complete picture.
What history you need
At minimum include trades and cash movements. Without cash, performance after funding events will lie. Without trades, positions drift from reality.
Dividends should arrive as cash transactions, not as hidden assumptions in a holdings snapshot.
This path is read-oriented for portfolio reconstruction. You are not granting Wolfora trading authority — you are allowing statement-like data into your portfolio account.
Setup checklist in Wolfora
Open Portfolio setup, choose your broker, and follow the in-app steps. Some brokers use OAuth; others ask for API tokens or export credentials — always use the method shown in Wolfora for your broker.
Store secrets like passwords: anyone with valid credentials can pull the configured data. Rotate them if you suspect exposure.
Run the first sync. Confirm a known deposit and a known trade appear under your linked Wolfora account. If the date window is too narrow, widen it at the broker and sync again.
After the first sync: hygiene
If the same brokerage account previously lived at another broker, import that older history into the correct Wolfora account (or keep accounts separate on purpose). Charts should start at the real economic beginning, not at the transfer date alone.
Re-run sync after funding days, large trades, or corporate actions. Automatic sync is periodic truth; it is not a millisecond blotter.
Keep your broker as the execution venue and Wolfora as the consolidation layer. When numbers disagree, broker statements win for executions; then fix mapping in Wolfora.
Combining sync with other accounts
One broker is rarely your only envelope. PEA often stays at a bank; a second account may hold global ETFs. Use separate Wolfora accounts per venue/envelope, then the global view for net worth and allocation. See the PEA vs brokerage guide for envelope strategy.
Do not merge PEA and a global brokerage into one Wolfora account just to simplify. You will lose tax-envelope clarity the first time you ask how much is in the PEA.
Common sync pitfalls
Date window too narrow: you only pull the last month and wonder why inception charts look empty. Widen the historical window once, then keep an incremental habit.
Cash omitted: trades sync but deposits do not, so returns after funding look miraculous or catastrophic. Always include cash movements.
Credentials rotated at the broker but not updated in Wolfora: sync fails quietly until you paste the new values.
Mixing multiple sub-accounts into one sync without labelling: start simple — one clear account story per Wolfora account — then expand.
FAQ
Is automatic sync read-only?
Wolfora uses broker connections for portfolio data — positions, transactions and valuations — not for placing orders. Follow the in-app setup for your broker.
What if sync returns empty?
Check credential validity, date range, and whether trades and cash are included in the export configuration at the broker first.
Can I mix sync and CSV?
Yes. A common pattern is CSV for older history and automatic sync from a cut-over date forward. Avoid overlapping the same period in both sources.
Does sync replace my tax reporting export?
Treat Wolfora as portfolio analytics. For official tax filings, keep using broker statements and your accountant’s required formats.
Related guides
- Connect your broker
Link a brokerage account to Wolfora: what syncs automatically, read-only setup, PEA vs CTO labels, and how one broker fits a multi-account portfolio.
- Why a multi-broker wealth tracker
PEA, bank brokerage, neo-brokers and crypto in one place: why a multi-broker wealth tracker beats Excel for performance, allocation, dividends and real net worth.
- PEA vs brokerage account
PEA vs ordinary brokerage (CTO) in France: eligibility, contribution ceilings, tax after five years, withdrawals, US stocks, and how to track both envelopes in one portfolio.