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What is a Money-Weighted Return?

Let’s unpack what Money-Weighted Return means, how it compares to other types of returns, and why it matters for long-term investing and retirement planning.

Money-Weighted Return

Money-weighted return (sometimes called an internal rate of return) measures your personal rate of return on an investment. It takes into account when you added money, when you withdrew money, and how your investments performed during those times.

In simpler terms, the money-weighted return shows the real return you earned based on when you moved your money in and out as well as the fund’s performance during those times. 

How Money-Weighted Returns Are Calculated

Money-Weighted Returns can be calculated using the Modified Dietz method, a widely recognized approach in the investment industry. This method takes into account the timing and size of contributions and withdrawals throughout the period, giving an accurate reflection of your personal return. PensionBee uses this method within its platform to calculate your Money-Weighted Return (MWR) for investment performance. This approach factors in contributions and withdrawals, helping to better reflect your personal return.

Real World Example

Here’s how this works in practice. Imagine you open a Roth IRA and invest a lump sum at the start of the year. After a few months, your balance grows. Feeling confident, you add more money. If the market experiences a downturn after those new contributions, the drop affects your newer contributions the most because they were invested right before the decline.

  • Fund performance: Gains from earlier in the year are later offset by the downturn.
  • Your personal result: Because you added money before the drop, your account ends up a bit lower than the fund’s overall return. This shows how money-weighted returns reflect not just performance, but when you make contributions.

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What is a Time-Weighted Return (TWR)

A time-weighted return (TWR) focuses only on how the investment itself performed, as if no money moved in or out.

Money-Weighted vs. Time-Weighted Return: What’s the Difference?

Feature Money-Weighted Return (MWR) Time-Weighted Return (TWR)
Focus Measures your personal return, including contributions and withdrawals Measures the investment’s return regardless of cash flows
Useful For Individual investors tracking personal performance Comparing mutual funds, ETFs, or portfolio managers
Impact of Timing Affected by when you add or withdraw money Ignores timing completely
Use Tracking retirement account performance Fund performance reports

Why Money-Weighted Returns Matter for Retirement Planning

When you’re saving for retirement, it’s not just about what the market does, it’s about when you put your money in. Your returns depend heavily on timing, especially if you make regular contributions to an IRA, 401(k), or brokerage account.

Here’s why understanding Money-Weighted Returns matters:

  • Reflects your real performance: Shows what you personally earned, not just what the investment did.
  • Identifies timing habits: If your returns seem lower than expected, it might be because you added money when markets were high or withdrew during downturns.
  • Keeps you focused on the big picture: Seeing your personal return over time can help you stay patient during market dips.

Two investors holding the same fund could have completely different Money-Weighted Returns (MWRs) depending on their contribution timing. Consistent investing through highs and lows can typically lead to a smoother and often better long-term MWR.

How to Improve Your Money-Weighted Return

While you can’t control the market, you can control your investing behavior:

  • Invest consistently: Contributing consistently can help smooth out market ups and downs.
  • Avoid emotional decisions: Withdrawing during market dips can lock in losses and potentially drag down your MWR.
  • Stay invested: Staying invested for the long term can help out with short-term ups and downs.
  • Roll over old accounts: Consolidating old 401(k)s or IRAs into one IRA makes it simple to view all your retirement accounts in one place and can help you stay on top of your progress. 

Simplify Your Savings and See the Bigger Picture

Your money-weighted return gives a personalized, realistic view of how your investments are performing. It’s a reminder that your results aren’t just about market averages, they’re also about your timing, contributions, and consistency. By focusing on steady investing habits and resisting the urge to react to every market swing, you can help your Money-Weighted Return (MWR) and work toward your long-term financial goals.

PensionBee helps make it simple to roll over your old 401(k)s and IRAs into an IRA, giving you a clearer picture of your savings. Many rollovers happen automatically, but if yours needs extra attention, our personal rollover managers (called BeeKeepers) are ready to guide you every step of the way. Your investments are in diversified portfolios with ETFs like SPY and MDY from State Street Investment Management, one of the world’s largest asset managers. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Why Are Money-Weighted Returns Useful?

Money-Weighted Returns (MWR) show the return you actually earned, including the timing of your contributions and withdrawals. They help you see how your investing decisions, like adding or withdrawing money can impact your overall retirement savings.

2. Should I Use Money-Weighted or Time-Weighted Returns?

  • Money-weighted returns (MWR): Shows your personal return, including the timing of deposits and withdrawals. Useful for tracking your own accounts.
  • Time-weighted returns (TWR): Shows how the investment performed on its own, ignoring your deposits and withdrawals. Useful for comparing funds or managers.

3. Which is Better, Time-Weighted or Money-Weighted?

Neither is better, they just show different things. MWR shows how your actions affect your return. Time-weighted returns (TWR) show how the investment itself performed. Using both gives a full picture of your investments.

4. Can Money-Weighted Returns (MWR) be used for retirement and investment accounts?

Yes! Money-Weighted Returns (MWR) can be used for any account where you add or withdraw money, like IRAs, 401(k)s. 

5. How Money-Weighted Returns Are Calculated?

Money-weighted returns (MWR) can be calculated using the Modified Dietz method. This method takes into account the timing and size of contributions and withdrawals throughout the period. PensionBee uses this method within its platform to calculate your Money-Weighted Return (MWR) for investment performance. This approach factors in contributions and withdrawals, helping to better reflect your personal return.

Information contained herein has been obtained from sources considered reliable, but its accuracy and completeness are not guaranteed. It is not intended as the primary basis for financial planning or investment decisions and should not be construed as advice meeting the particular investment needs of any investor. This material has been prepared for information purposes only and is not a solicitation or an offer to buy any security or instrument or to participate in any trading strategy. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

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Roll over all your old 401(k)s into a PensionBee Individual Retirement Account (IRA). It takes just a few minutes to sign up.

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