Quick Start Guide

Start experiencing Parallax's value in under 5 minutes. The fastest way to see what makes Parallax powerful is to upload your existing portfolio and get instant AI-powered insights.

Step 1: Access Parallax & Upload Your Portfolio

Your existing portfolio is your starting point. Parallax's core value comes from analyzing what you already own.

1. Navigate to the Platform: Go to parallax.chicago.global
2. Sign In: Click "Sign In" in the top right corner or "Get Started" for new accounts
3. Go Directly to Analyzer: Click the "Analyzer" tab in the main navigation
4. Upload Your Portfolio:
   • Click "Upload Portfolio" or "Import Holdings"
   • Enter your holdings manually (ticker symbols and quantities)
   • Or upload a CSV/Excel file with your positions

Step 2: Get Instant AI-Powered Insights

Once your portfolio is uploaded, Parallax's AI immediately analyzes your holdings and generates powerful insights:

What You'll See Instantly:

1. Portfolio Dashboard: Overall portfolio score, risk level, and performance metrics
2. Factor Analysis: How your portfolio scores on Value, Quality, Momentum, Defensive, and Size factors
3. Risk Assessment: Concentration risk, sector allocation, and diversification analysis
4. AI Insights: Personalized recommendations and risk alerts
5. Performance Attribution: Which holdings are helping/hurting your returns

Key Questions Parallax Answers:

• "What are my biggest risks right now?"
• "Which holdings should I consider selling?"
• "Where am I over/under-exposed?"
• "How does my portfolio compare to institutional strategies?"

Step 3: Chat with Your Portfolio

Ask your portfolio questions using natural language. Parallax's AI can answer complex questions about your investments.

Try These Questions:

• "What would happen to my portfolio if interest rates increase by 2%?"
• "Which of my holdings are most vulnerable to interest rate increases?"
• "Show me stocks similar to Apple but with better value scores"
• "What sectors am I under-weighted in compared to the S&P 500?"
• "Which of my positions have the worst momentum?"

Advanced AI Analysis:

• Scenario Analysis: "How would my portfolio perform in a recession?"
• Factor Exposure: "Am I too concentrated in growth stocks?"
• Risk Assessment: "What's my biggest single-stock risk?"
• Optimization: "How can I improve my risk-adjusted returns?"

Step 4: Explore Building New Portfolios

After understanding your current portfolio, explore creating optimized portfolios. Use AI or browse pre-built institutional strategies.

Option A: AI Portfolio Builder

1. Click "Portfolio Builder" in the main navigation
2. Describe Your Goal in natural language:
   • "Conservative portfolio for retirement in 10 years"
   • "Growth portfolio focused on technology with international exposure"
   • "Balanced portfolio avoiding ESG risks"
3. AI generates a complete portfolio with holdings, weights, and rationale
4. Customize as needed - add/remove stocks, adjust weights

Option B: Curated Portfolios

1. Click "Curated Portfolio" to browse institutional-grade strategies
2. Explore Themes:
   • Thematic: "Generative AI", "Breakthrough Bio Tech", "Founder-Led Tech"
   • Strategic: "Cash is King", "ESG Leaders", "Emerging Theme Radar"
3. Review Performance: See historical returns and risk metrics
4. Adapt to Your Needs: Use as-is or modify for your situation

Step 5: Discover New Opportunities

Use Parallax's research tools to find your next great investment. Systematic screening and market intelligence help identify opportunities.

Markets Dashboard:

1. Click "Markets" to get global market context
2. Review Sector Performance: See which sectors are rotating in/out of favor
3. Global Indices: Track major markets (US, Europe, Asia-Pacific)
4. FX & Trading: Monitor currency impacts on international positions

Stock Screener:

1. Use Preset Strategies: "High Value Stocks", "Momentum Picks", "Defensive Plays"
2. Advanced Screening: Set custom filters for Value, Quality, Momentum scores
3. Global Coverage: Screen across developed and emerging markets
4. Export Results: Save promising candidates to watchlists

Step 6: Stay Informed & Monitor

Set up ongoing monitoring and stay ahead of market changes.

Watchlists & Monitoring:

1. Create Watchlists: Build lists like "Portfolio Candidates", "Earnings Calendar", "Sector Rotation Plays"
2. Real-Time Alerts: Get notified when scores change significantly
3. Price Tracking: Monitor your holdings and watchlist candidates

News Intelligence:

• Portfolio-Relevant News: Parallax curates news specifically relevant to your holdings
• Market Research: Access institutional-grade research and market commentary
• Event Tracking: Economic calendar and earnings alerts

The Complete Parallax Workflow:

1. Upload Portfolio → Get AI analysis
2. Chat with Portfolio → Ask specific questions
3. Build New Portfolio → Use AI or curated strategies
4. Screen for Opportunities → Find complementary investments
5. Monitor & Research → Stay informed and track changes

Why This Approach Works

Traditional Platforms: Start with theory, endless research, build from scratch Parallax Approach: Start with what you own, get insights immediately, then optimize

The Key Difference:

• Most tools: "Here's how to pick stocks"
• Parallax: "Here's what's wrong with your current portfolio and how to fix it"

This portfolio-first approach means you get value in minutes, not months.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is my portfolio data secure when I upload it? A: Yes. Parallax uses bank-level encryption and never stores unnecessary personal information.

Q: How often should I check my portfolio analysis? A: Daily for quick insights, weekly for screening opportunities, monthly for major rebalancing.

Q: What if I don't have an existing portfolio? A: Start with the "Curated Portfolio" section to browse institutional strategies, then use Portfolio Builder to create your first portfolio.

Q: How are the AI recommendations generated? A: Our AI analyzes your portfolio against institutional-grade quantitative models, academic research, and real-time market data.

Next Steps

Week 1: Upload portfolio, explore AI insights, ask questions Week 2: Try building a new portfolio or explore curated strategies Month 1: Develop screening and monitoring routines

Platform Tour

Main Navigation Elements

Primary Navigation Bar:

Left Side - Core Features:

• Dashboard: Home base with overview and quick access
• Screener: Stock filtering and opportunity discovery
• Builder: AI-powered portfolio construction
• Analyzer: Comprehensive portfolio analysis
• Analytics: Advanced quantitative analysis dashboard

Right Side - Secondary Features:

• Watchlists: Monitor specific stocks and portfolios
• News: Market intelligence and company updates
• Settings: Account preferences and platform configuration

Quick Navigation Tips

Dashboard: Your command center with quick access to all features Feature Integration: Tools work together—screener results feed into builder, builder output goes to analyzer Context Preservation: Platform remembers your work across sessions Keyboard Shortcuts: Ctrl/Cmd + K for quick search, Ctrl/Cmd + D to return to dashboard

Ready to start? Upload your portfolio now and see what institutional-grade analysis reveals about your investments.