Once you transfer funds into your Invest account, we automatically invest them based on your portfolio's target allocation. You can track your balance, activity, and returns from the Invest dashboard. You can also deposit or withdraw funds at any time.
If your financial situation changes, we recommend reviewing your portfolio allocation to ensure it still fits your goals.
Maintaining your target allocation
As the market fluctuates, your portfolio may drift from its original allocation. For example, if your target is 60% stocks and 40% treasuries, market gains might shift it to 65% stocks and 35% treasuries.
We aim to keep your portfolio close to its target by rebalancing strategically – especially when:
- You deposit or withdraw money
- Your portfolio receives dividends
Here’s how it works:
- When you deposit funds or receive dividends, we buy more of the underweight assets (those below your target).
- When you withdraw funds, we sell more of the overweight assets (those above your target).
Example:
Your target: 60% stocks / 40% treasuries Current: 65% stocks / 35% treasuries
- If you deposit $1,000, we’ll invest more in treasuries to correct the imbalance.
- If you withdraw $1,000, we’ll sell more stocks since they’re over their target weight.
This ongoing approach helps nudge your portfolio back toward your target—without triggering unnecessary taxes.
Note: Withdrawals may have tax implications.
How do you minimize taxes when selling investments?
Whenever we sell shares (for a withdrawal or rebalancing), we use a method called tax lot optimization. This means:
- We prioritize selling shares with losses first (to offset gains).
- If we must sell gains, we prefer long-term holdings (typically taxed at lower rates).
This balances reducing your overall tax burden while keeping your portfolio aligned with your goals.
Can I change my portfolio allocation?
We’re working on adding in-app tools to let you adjust your portfolio directly from your dashboard. In the meantime, email us at personal@mercury.com and we will gladly help you make changes.
How do I track investment performance?
You can track your returns from the Performance section of your dashboard. You’ll see returns for:
- The past week
- The past month
- All-time (since you started investing)
How does Mercury calculate my performance?
We use a simple return calculation to show how much your money has grown compared to how much you’ve invested.
This approach:
- Calculates the change in your account value over time
- Accounts for deposits and withdrawals
- Presents your return as a percentage gain or loss
Example:
- You invest $10,000
- Later, you add $5,000 (total contributions = $15,000)
- Your account is now worth $16,500
- Gain = $1,500 → Simple return = 10% ($1,500 / $15,000 = 0.10 or 10%)
You can view your simple return in the Performance section of your dashboard.
How do I access tax documents for my investment account?
If your Investment Account had certain taxable activity – like dividends or investment sales – you’ll receive a Consolidated Form 1099. This includes:
- Form 1099-DIV – for any dividends paid to your account
- Form 1099-B – for any sales of securities
If your account didn’t have any dividends or sales during the year, you won’t receive a tax form.
You’ll be able to access these tax documents from your Settings > Documents page.
Mercury is a fintech company, not a bank. Banking services provided through Choice Financial Group; Member FDIC. Mercury Investment accounts are offered by Mercury Advisory, LLC. This is not an offer to sell or a solicitation to buy any security. Investments involve risk, including possible loss of principal. Investment accounts are not FDIC insured and are not deposits or obligations of, or guaranteed by, Choice Financial Group. See full disclosures at mercury.com/legal.