Tax and Legal

What should you keep from day one of investing?

By Walid Mograbi · 2026-08-09 · 1 min read

A strong record starts before the first sale, not after it.

The lesson

Keep your investment records from the very first day. A complete file makes it easier to follow what you bought, what it cost, and what happened later.

What to keep

Save the purchase contract and the execution statement for every trade from the start. Keep invoices, fees, and any extra cost connected to the asset.

When you sell

Add the sale contract to the file, along with any valuations or documents that help prove the asset’s value. Those records help complete the picture when the time comes to dispose of the asset.

If paperwork goes missing

If an asset’s paperwork is lost, try to rebuild the record instead of relying on memory. A reconstructed file is better than an incomplete one.

Why it helps

This helps you calculate cost, profit, or loss accurately when you dispose of the asset.

Warning

This is a general explanation, and keeping records does not replace checking the requirements for your own case.

Checklist

• Purchase contract and execution statement
• Fees, commissions, and extra costs
• Sale contract and valuations