Choosing the right portfolio can feel overwhelming, especially if you are new to the world of investing.

Most beginners don’t even know where to start.

But here’s the thing: there are plenty of experienced investors out there who have figured it out. Why not take a page from their playbook?

Here are 8 popular investment portfolios for you to consider:

But first…

There is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to portfolios. What works for me, may not necessarily work for you. Your asset allocation should be based on:

• Goals

• Time horizon

• Risk tolerance

Now that we’ve got that covered, let’s dive into the portfolios:

1. The 1-Fund US Total Market Portfolio 

It’s as simple as the name implies. You buy one broad-market mutual fund or exchange-traded fund (ETF) that tracks the entire U.S. market.

From 1994 - 2024, the average annual return for this portfolio was 10.28%.

2. The Warren Buffett 2-Fund Portfolio

In his 2013 letter to Berkshire Hathaway shareholders, Warren Buffett famously said the money he was leaving in a trust for his wife would be invested in two funds: • 90% S&P 500 Index Fund • 10% US Short-Term Government Bonds

From 1994 - 2024, the average annual return for this portfolio was 9.82%.

3. Scott Burns Couch Potato Portfolio

Scott Burns is the creator of Couch Potato investing and a personal finance columnist. Similar to the 2-fund portfolio, Burns recommends only two funds:

• 50% U.S. Total Stock Market

• 50% U.S. Total Bond Market

From 1994 - 2024, the average annual return for this portfolio was 7.63%.

4. The Boglehead 3-Fund Portfolio

John Bogle is the founder and CEO of Vanguard. He was a fan of the 3-fund portfolio:

• 70% Total U.S. Stock Market

• 20% Total International Stock Market

• 10% Total Bond Market

From 1994 - 2024, the average annual return for this portfolio was 8.87%.

5. Dave Ramsey 4-Fund Portfolio 

Dave Ramsey is a financial expert and radio personality. His investing philosophy includes four types of funds:

• 25% Growth

• 25% Growth and Income

• 25% Aggressive Growth

• 25% International

From 1994 - 2024, the average annual return for this portfolio was 9.19%.

6. Bill Bernstein No Brain Portfolio 

Bill Bernstein is an American financial theorist and neurologist. Similar to Dave Ramsey’s 4-fund portfolio, Bernstein recommends a mix of four different funds:

• 25% Large Cap Blend

• 25% Small Cap Blend

• 25% International Stocks

• 25% Short Term Bonds

From 1994 - 2024, the average annual return for this portfolio was 7.78%.

7. Ray Dalio All Season Portfolio

Ray Dalio is a billionaire and founder of the hedge fund Bridgewater Associates. His all season portfolio consists of a mix of stocks, bonds, and commodities:

• 30% Domestic Stocks

• 40% Long-Term Bonds

• 15% Intermediate Bonds

• 7.5% Commodities

• 7.5% Bonds

From 1994 - 2024, the average annual return for this portfolio was 7.49%.

8. Bill Schultheis Coffeehouse Portfolio

Bill Schultheis is the founder and author of “The Coffeehouse Investor.” His portfolio is diversified across seven different funds:

• 10% Large Cap

• 10% Large Cap Value

• 10% Small Cap

• 10% Small Cap Value

• 10% REITs

• 10% Total International Stock Market

• 40% Total Bond Market

From 1994 - 2024, the average annual return for this portfolio was 7.56%.

Conclusion

As I mentioned earlier, there’s no “one size fits all” in investing. These portfolios are just examples to help you get started. Feel free to draw inspiration from them and tailor your choices to your own financial situation and goals.

Talk soon,

Darrell

P.S. – As you start thinking about your investment portfolio, don’t forget that budgeting is a crucial first step. To help you get organized, I’m giving away the budget template my wife and I use to track our finances in 2025. Reply with “Budget” and I’ll send it your way.