Simple portfolio templates

Estimated time: ~3–6 minutes.

Quick summary

• A portfolio template is a starting point, not a prophecy.
• More stocks = more long-term growth potential, but bigger drawdowns.
• Adding bonds often makes it easier to stick to the plan.

Template A: 100/0 (all stocks)

100% stock ETFs, 0% bonds. Simple and growth-focused, but can be emotionally hard in crashes.

Template B: 80/20 (growth + some stability)

80% stocks, 20% bonds. Often a “still simple” middle ground for long-term investors.

Template C: 60/40 (stability-focused)

60% stocks, 40% bonds. Lower swings, but typically lower long-term expected return.

Common beginner mistake

Picking a template based on a good year’s returns. Choose based on what you can hold through a bad year.