Stocks/Bonds 40/60 Portfolio: ETF allocation and returns (2024)

FAQs

Stocks/Bonds 40/60 Portfolio: ETF allocation and returns? ›

The Stocks/Bonds 40/60 Portfolio is a Medium Risk portfolio and can be implemented with 2 ETFs. It's exposed for 40% on the Stock Market. In the last 30 Years, the Stocks/Bonds 40/60 Portfolio obtained a 7.06% compound annual return, with a 6.99% standard deviation.

The 60/40 portfolio is the standard-bearer for investors with a moderate risk tolerance. It gives you about half the volatility of the stock market but tends to provide good returns over the long term. For the past 20 years, it's been a great portfolio for investors to stick with.

The typical 60% stock/40% bond portfolio declined about 16% in 2022—a painful period for balanced investors that has raised doubts about the viability of this strategy. But it helps to put this in perspective: The annualized return for the 10 years through 2022 was 6.1% for a globally diversified 60/40 portfolio.

As a result, 60/40 returned 17.2%, far above its historical annual median return of +7.8%. In 2022, central banks raised interest rates to tame the highest inflation rate in 40 years amid the tightest labor market in 50 years. This was the most aggressive rate-hiking cycle since the Paul Volcker era in the early 1980s.

This investment strategy seeks total return through exposure to a diversified portfolio of primarily equity, and to a lesser extent, Fixed Income asset classes with a target allocation of 60% equities and 40% Fixed Income. Target allocations can vary +/-5%.

Inflation is the biggest risk to a 60/40 portfolio because it can trigger central bank tightening which pushes up real rates, which weighs both on equities and bonds.

As our table below shows, the simple 60/40 portfolio is hardly dead. We believe the time-tested strategy adds value/return potential longer-term and remains a solid benchmark to test the merits of diversification, particularly in periods where the strategy is drawing near-term scrutiny.

Many financial advisors recommend a 60/40 asset allocation between stocks and fixed income to take advantage of growth while keeping up your defenses.

A Lazy Portfolio is a collection of investments that requires very little maintenance. It's the typical passive investing strategy, for long-term investors, with time horizons of more than 10 years. Choose your investment style (Classic or Alternative?), pick your Lazy Portfolios and implement them with ETFs.

The classic investment portfolio of 60% stocks and 40% bonds is doing very well at the moment — it's risen 17% in the past year. Why it matters: After more than a decade when interest rates were at or near zero, bonds provide real income again — without the volatility inherent to stocks.

What is the 40 60 portfolio rule? ›

Once a mainstay of savvy investors, the 60/40 balanced portfolio no longer appears to be keeping up with today's market environment. Instead of allocating 60% broadly to stocks and 40% to bonds, many professionals now advocate for different weights and diversifying into even greater asset classes.

1) Solid Historical Returns Since 1987, the 60/40 portfolio has posted annualized returns of roughly 9.16%. In the last 10 years, the portfolio achieved a 9.76% compound annual return, with an 8.45% standard deviation. This is in spite of ever-falling interest rates since the late 1980s.

Which Mix Is Right for You? If you're a younger investor with a long time horizon and are comfortable taking on more risk, the 80/20 portfolio may be a good fit. However, if you're closer to retirement or prefer a more conservative approach, the 60/40 portfolio may be a better option.

For instance, if you're an investor seeking moderate risk and decide that you want 60% of your portfolio in stocks and 40% in bonds, you could consider purchasing an all-country stock index ETF and then combine it with a bond ETF.

The common rule of asset allocation by age is that you should hold a percentage of stocks that is equal to 100 minus your age. So if you're 40, you should hold 60% of your portfolio in stocks. Since life expectancy is growing, changing that rule to 110 minus your age or 120 minus your age may be more appropriate.

The 70/30 portfolio targets a 70% long term allocation to equities and 30% in all other asset classes – the actual portfolio allocation at any point in time will fluctuate to reflect prevailing investment opportunities.

You can consider investing heavily in stocks if you're younger than 50 and saving for retirement. You have plenty of years until you retire and can ride out any current market turbulence. As you reach your 50s, consider allocating 60% of your portfolio to stocks and 40% to bonds.

In its simplest form, the 60/40 rule means having 60% of your portfolio invested in potentially higher risk, historically higher return, assets such as stocks and the other 40% invested in lower risk, but also traditionally lower return, assets such government bonds.

There are many adages to help you determine how to allocate stocks and bonds in your portfolio. One says that the percentage of stocks in your portfolio should equal 100 minus your age. So, if you're 30, such a portfolio would contain 70% stocks and 30% bonds (or other safe investments).

Many financial advisors recommend a 60/40 asset allocation between stocks and fixed income to take advantage of growth while keeping up your defenses.