Quick intro
Navexa doesn’t have a purpose-built “loan” feature.
However, you can model a private loan with Custom Investment. Labels are generic (e.g., the Dividend form is used for all income), but the method below works reliably.
Core idea: $1 = 1 unit and keep the price fixed at $1.00.
Units = outstanding principal
Interest = Income (via Add Dividend)
Principal repayments = Sell @ $1.00
When to use this
You’ve lent money privately and receive interest.
The borrower makes one or more principal repayments.
You want the loan’s value and cashflows reflected in your portfolio.
Before you begin
Have these details ready:
Loan start date
Original principal amount
Interest payment schedule & amounts
Each principal repayment date & amount
Any establishment/legal fees tied to the loan
Step 1 — Create the holding
Add Holding → Custom Investment
Name: e.g., Loan to Example Pty Ltd
Currency: the currency the loan is denominated in
Step 2 — Record the original principal
Trade type: Buy
Date: loan start date
QTY Units: enter the principal as units (because $1 = 1 unit)
Example: 100,000 units
Price: $1.00
Fees (optional): include establishment costs here if you want them in the cost base
Click 'Add Investment'
Don’t change the $1.00 price later. All principal movement should happen via units.
Click view loan:
Step 3 — Record interest receipts (Income)
Go to the Income tab. Use the Add Dividend form (it’s the generic income form for all holdings).
Ex-div date: use the same date (simple cash basis). If you prefer accrual, use the period end instead
Payment date: the day the interest hit your account
Franked amount: 0
Franking credits: 0
Unfranked amount: enter the interest amount (gross)
(Additional Fields Optional) TFN Withholding/Tax (if shown): enter any tax withheld so net equals what you received
Add Dividend
Why “Unfranked”? Interest isn’t franked, so it all goes in Unfranked with 0 credits.
Step 4 — Record principal repayments (reduce units)
Trade type: Sell
Units: dollars repaid (because $1 = 1 unit)
Price: $1.00
Date: repayment date
Fees (optional): costs tied to that repayment
Save
Repeat a Sell @ $1.00 for each repayment.
When fully repaid, Sell the remaining units @ $1.00 to close the holding.
Worked example (replace with your figures)
Buy: 100,000 units @ $1.00 on 1 Jul 2024
Income: $500 on 31 Jul 2024
Income: $500 on 31 Aug 2024
…continue Income entries as paid…
Sell: 25,000 units @ $1.00 on 30 Jun 2025 (principal repayment)
Outstanding principal after the sell: 75,000 units = $75,000
Fees & special cases
Upfront/legal fees
Option A (inside holding): add as Fees on the initial Buy
Option B (outside holding): record as a Cash Account fee/withdrawal
Capitalised interest
Record interest as Income, then Buy extra units @ $1.00 for the capitalised amount on that date
Partial write-off / default
Sell remaining units @ $0.00 on the write-off date to realise the loss and close
Different currency
Create the holding in the loan’s currency; FX effects will be reflected when viewed in your base currency
What Trade Types not to use for principal
Return of Capital: adjusts cost base, doesn’t reduce units
Cost Base Increase/Decrease: bookkeeping only, no cash or unit change
Cancellation: for closing with no value; for a loss, prefer Sell @ $0.00
Performance tips
Want a simple cumulative outcome? Toggle Annualised Returns = Off.
With Annualised = On, performance considers the exact timing of cashflows, so it won’t always match a nominal “X% p.a.” on paper.
Quick checklist (TL;DR)
Create Custom Investment
Buy [Principal] units @ $1.00 on start date
Each interest payment → Add Dividend: Unfranked = interest, credits = 0
Each principal repayment → Sell [Amount] units @ $1.00
Final repayment → Sell remaining units @ $1.00
Troubleshooting
Valuation looks wrong after a repayment
Confirm you used Sell @ $1.00 (not Return of Capital) and didn’t change the price
Units should equal your outstanding principal
Interest reduced my principal
You probably used Sell instead of Income. Edit the entry to Dividend/Income
Tiny residual units
Enter a final Sell for the small remainder to zero the position