This Is Why My Retirement Portfolio Is Simple and Balanced

January 25, 2015 By Jonathan Ping 10 Comments
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Via The Reformed Broker, investment manager Research Affiliates shares how a simple, balanced 60/40 portfolio (specifically 60% S&P 500 stocks, 40% 10-Year US Treasuries) did pretty darn good in the past 100, 50, and 25 years:

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It even did well over the last 10 years, considering that “blip” we had in 2008. The 60/40 portfolio outperformed 9 of 16 core asset classes, all while maintaining lower-than-average volatility.

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Of course, they also predict (using sound reasoning, in my opinion) that the same 60/40 portfolio will only produce a 1.2% inflation-adjusted return for the next 10 years. Still, I don’t know of any better options.

Filed Under: Investing
Last updated: January 26, 2015
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Comments

  1. Phillip says
    January 26, 2015 at 4:28 am

    Is it possible to find an equivalent for us military members on TSP? All I’ve been able to do so far is match up the 3-way split recommended from “If You Can”, which worked out close to your stock to bond ratio, but I want to be sure that I’m doing it right. (I currently have it as 33% Int’l Stocks, 34% Smallcap, 33% Fixed).

    Reply
  2. Andy says
    January 26, 2015 at 5:48 am

    80% (in the recent periods more like 90%) of the returns of equities with only 60-70% of the risk.

    Reply
  3. Mihir says
    January 26, 2015 at 10:36 pm

    These numbers don’t mean much without a standard deviation column.. But I assume that a 60/40 portfolio had much less deviation than a more equity-heavy portfolio (and definitely more than a 100% equity portfolio).

    Reply
  4. michael poulakis says
    January 28, 2015 at 5:53 am

    Jonathan, do you have any charts related to a 50/50 split? just curious, thank you.

    Reply
    • Jonathan Ping says
      January 28, 2015 at 12:30 pm

      No, but it really won’t look that different. A bit lower return, a bit lower volatility. I think only once you get below 30 or 40% equities then things start looking a bit off. Historically it is not efficient to be 100% bonds, it is better to have a least 20% equities or so.

      Reply
  5. Mabel @ Teach Me To Invest says
    January 29, 2015 at 2:35 pm

    I applaud this allocation. I think is the perfect combination of stocks & bonds. I would say for someone in their 20s or 30s; I would recommend a higher percentage in stocks (say 70-80%) and the rest in “safer” securities. However, all in all, I rather have a portfolio giving me consistently solid returns over one that would make me anxious. With that said, everyone is different and everyone has different tolerance for risk. But all in all, consider the 60/40 allocation a good one.

    Reply
  6. Alan says
    January 31, 2015 at 11:51 am

    The concept of the benefits of a diversified portfolio is to take advantage of economic cycles, and leveraging the value of investment vehicles as they revert to their mean value over time. This allows you to by assets below the mean, and sell them above their mean value over time.

    With that in mind an even more diversified portfolio, considering more than just stocks and bonds, could leverage these cycles to an even greater extent. I’ve read many of the articles on this blog, and the ones referencing the work of Malkiel, seem to resonate with me in this context.

    After reading these works I’ve settled in on a portfolio that diversifies in more investment classes. This has reduced my exposure to bonds, which have performed rather poorly over the last few years, while still getting the benefits of diversification.

    33% fixed income (VIPIX,VBITX,TIHRX,TPINX)
    30% U.S. stock (TRGIX,FCNKX,VDIGX,VINIX,MERDX,VMCIX,VSCIX,FSEVX)
    17% developed foreign markets (RERGX,TRIEX,HIAOX)
    8% emerging markets (VEMIX,DFEVX)
    12% publicly traded REIT (QREARX,TRRSX,CSRIX)

    Note that my primary investment vehicle is a 403b, and EFT’s are not allowed.

    I don’t claim to have all the answers, so I am open to a critique of this strategy.

    Reply
  7. Phil says
    January 31, 2015 at 12:21 pm

    Research Affiliates and others are projecting low expected 60/40 portfolio returns because of U.S equities’ high current valuations (also see Shiller’s CAPE or cyclically-adjusted price/earnings research). Diversify internationally, or increase your allocation to these stocks for a likely better LT expected return.

    Reply
  8. BeSmartRich says
    February 5, 2015 at 5:13 pm

    I agree 60/40 is excellent however I feel that I am missing some great opportunities if I invest my money in bonds.

    Reply

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