Understanding Your Investment Performance

There are different ways to measure returns for assets. Understand which method is being used when reviewing your investment performance.

Your Rate of Return

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Gain or loss on an investment

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Over a specified time period

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Expressed as a percentage

Reviewing Your Returns

There are a number of ways to calculate an investment rate of return. Time-Weighted and Money-Weighted are two calculation methods that investors see when looking at their asset performance.

Time-Weighted Return (TWR)

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Measures the compound rate of growth in an investment as seen in the newspaper and online.

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Eliminates the effects created by deposits and withdrawals of cash.

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Used to evaluate the returns of the investment manager.

Money-Weighted Return (MWR)

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Measures the investor’s specific returns as seen on their statement. It’s a Personal Rate of Return.

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Incorporates the size of the investor's deposits and withdrawals.

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Incorporates the timing of deposits and withdrawals of cash.

The Annual Performance Report that you will receive for the period ending December 31, 2021 will reflect returns calculated using the money-weighted calculation method.

The Impact of Investor Behaviour

Investor behaviour can have a significant impact on

Money-Weighted Returns

A chart showing how Dan, Kate and Leon started investing in the same fund on January 1  . Each finished at the end of one year with the same amount of units but with different returns.
A chart showing how Dan, Kate and Leon started investing in the same fund on January 1  . Each finished at the end of one year with the same amount of units but with different returns.
Image of investor Dan that bought and held 100 units

Dan’s buy and hold strategy yielded him the same results as the fund. Cash flows are not a consideration, so the MWR and the TWR are the same.

Image of investor Kate that bought low and held 100 units

Kate bought additional units of the fund while it was underperforming, resulting in her MWR being higher.

Image of investor Leon that bought high and held 100 units

Leon bought additional units of the fund at a higher price, which caused his MWR to be lower.

The timing and size of investments makes a difference

Each investor finished with the same amount of units of The Fund. Although their Time-Weighted Returns are the same, their Money-Weighted Returns (or Personal Rate of Returns) are very different.


We can help you understand how your personal rate of returns can influence the outcomes of your long-term investment goals.

Contact Us

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