Latest Self-Managed Couch Potato Portfolio Returns
Couch Potato portfolio models are hypothetical models created by Scott Burns. These models are for educational purposes only and are not investment products offered or endorsed by AssetBuilder Inc. Due to the rapidly changing nature of the security markets, this data may quickly become outdated. All materials presented are compiled from sources believed to be reliable and current, but accuracy cannot be guaranteed. This information is distributed for education purposes only, and it is not to be construed as an offer, solicitation, recommendation, or endorsement of any particular security, product, or service.
Vanguard Couch Potato Information
As of August 2008
| As of August 2008 |
Last3 Months (period) Return |
Last1 Year (annual) Return |
Last3 Years (annual) Return |
Last5 Years (annual) Return |
Y-T-D(period) Return
| Since 8/2003 (annual) Return |
Since 8/2003 Standard Deviation |
| Vanguard Inflation -Protected Secs |
1.82 |
11.75 |
5.56 |
6.49 |
5.08 |
6.49 |
5.42 |
| Vanguard Total Stock Mkt Idx |
(7.46) |
(10.05) |
4.08 |
7.71 |
(10.20) |
7.71 |
10.59 |
| Vanguard Total Intl Stock Index |
(16.80) |
(14.43) |
9.19 |
14.93 |
(18.55) |
14.93 |
14.64 |
| American Century International Bd Inv |
(3.17) |
7.83 |
4.67 |
7.25 |
0.96 |
7.25 |
8.38 |
| Vanguard REIT Index |
(5.88) |
(7.46) |
5.56 |
13.71 |
1.91 |
13.71 |
20.03 |
| Vanguard Energy |
(16.13) |
11.48 |
16.87 |
29.11 |
(4.38) |
29.11 |
26.12 |
| Vanguard Value Index |
(8.33) |
(16.11) |
2.90 |
8.18 |
(13.50) |
8.18 |
10.63 |
| Vanguard Small Cap Value Index |
(4.45) |
(8.65) |
2.76 |
10.28 |
(2.84) |
10.28 |
14.41 |
| Vanguard Emerging Mkts Stock Idx |
(20.80) |
(11.02) |
17.74 |
22.86 |
(21.95) |
22.86 |
24.30 |
| Vanguard International Value |
(15.65) |
(13.45) |
9.59 |
15.08 |
(16.44) |
15.08 |
14.34 |
| Couch Potato |
(2.36) |
1.20 |
5.30 |
7.45 |
(2.07) |
7.45 |
4.97 |
| Margarita |
(7.25) |
(4.12) |
6.89 |
10.16 |
(7.72) |
10.16 |
7.59 |
| Four Square |
(6.13) |
(1.04) |
6.50 |
9.54 |
(5.43) |
9.54 |
6.55 |
| Five Fold |
(5.88) |
(2.08) |
6.44 |
10.51 |
(3.94) |
10.51 |
8.08 |
| Six Ways From Sunday |
(7.32) |
0.81 |
8.48 |
13.80 |
(3.38) |
13.80 |
9.20 |
| Seven Value |
(7.30) |
(1.39) |
7.82 |
13.08 |
(4.56) |
13.08 |
9.08 |
| Seven Value 2 |
(6.75) |
(1.99) |
7.31 |
12.82 |
(4.11) |
12.82 |
9.41 |
| Nine Emerging |
(8.42) |
(2.98) |
8.57 |
14.01 |
(6.33) |
14.01 |
10.70 |
| 10 Speed |
(9.14) |
(4.04) |
8.72 |
14.15 |
(7.35) |
14.15 |
10.96 |
This table above includes 10 funds, in order from top to bottom. If you would like to get into the original couch potato you would invest your funds 50/50 in the first two funds. If you would like the Margarita you would invest your money equally between the first three. If you would like the four square you invest your money equally between the first four funds. And the pattern keeps going to the 10 speed where you would invest 10% in each of the 10 funds.
American Century has closed their bond fund but in this forum Scott gives some alternatives: http://assetbuilder.com/forums/p/2051/4219.aspx#4219
Couch potato Articles:
http://assetbuilder.com/tags/Couch+Potato+Investing/default.aspx
Latest AssetBuilder Model Portfolio Returns
As of August 2008
| As of August 2008 |
Last 3 Months (period) Return |
Last 1 Year (annual) Return |
Last 3 Years (annual) Return |
Last 5 Years (annual) Return |
Y-T-D (period) Return |
Since 8/2003 (annual) Return |
Since 8/2003 Standard Deviation |
| DFA One-Year Fixed-Income I |
0.76 |
3.61 |
4.24 |
3.16 |
1.97 |
3.16 |
0.71 |
| DFA Five-Year Government I |
2.22 |
2.39 |
3.27 |
3.23 |
0.84 |
3.23 |
3.15 |
| DFA Intermediate Govt Fixed-Income I |
2.06 |
8.64 |
5.02 |
5.10 |
3.31 |
5.10 |
4.77 |
| DFA Two-Year Global Fixed-Income I |
0.85 |
3.90 |
4.11 |
3.07 |
2.03 |
3.07 |
1.02 |
| DFA U.S. Large Company I |
(7.84) |
(11.12) |
3.63 |
6.84 |
(11.35) |
6.84 |
10.08 |
| DFA U.S. Large Cap Value I |
(10.22) |
(12.48) |
2.73 |
9.37 |
(9.83) |
9.37 |
12.72 |
| DFA U.S. Targeted Value I |
(3.61) |
(9.99) |
3.23 |
11.60 |
(2.52) |
11.60 |
15.65 |
| DFA Real Estate Securities I |
(6.14) |
(9.49) |
4.78 |
13.56 |
1.88 |
13.56 |
20.36 |
| DBC new |
(6.09) |
50.81 |
21.16 |
28.89 |
20.05 |
28.89 |
21.23 |
| DFA Intl Value I |
(16.17) |
(18.53) |
8.71 |
16.75 |
(19.59) |
16.75 |
15.09 |
| DFA Intl Small Cap Value I |
(15.60) |
(20.19) |
6.58 |
17.20 |
(15.49) |
17.20 |
15.38 |
| DFA Emerging Markets Value I |
(20.79) |
(12.82) |
21.81 |
29.87 |
(22.14) |
29.87 |
25.95 |
| DFA Emerging Markets Small Cap I |
(18.17) |
(20.47) |
17.71 |
23.63 |
(25.62) |
23.63 |
23.32 |
| AB Model Portfolio 06 |
(3.15) |
0.35 |
5.73 |
7.78 |
(1.78) |
7.78 |
4.11 |
| AB Model Portfolio 07 |
(4.35) |
(0.62) |
6.39 |
9.16 |
(2.78) |
9.16 |
5.26 |
| AB Model Portfolio 08 |
(5.52) |
(1.88) |
6.93 |
10.40 |
(3.91) |
10.40 |
6.48 |
| AB Model Portfolio 09 |
(6.75) |
(3.23) |
7.47 |
11.67 |
(5.14) |
11.67 |
7.81 |
| AB Model Portfolio 10 |
(7.99) |
(3.69) |
8.47 |
13.54 |
(6.02) |
13.54 |
9.18 |
| AB Model Portfolio 11 |
(8.44) |
(4.37) |
8.68 |
14.07 |
(6.56) |
14.07 |
9.78 |
| AB Model Portfolio 12 |
(9.74) |
(4.89) |
9.66 |
15.87 |
(7.51) |
15.87 |
11.16 |
| AB Model Portfolio 13 |
(10.25) |
(5.62) |
9.84 |
16.36 |
(8.13) |
16.36 |
11.75 |
| AB Model Portfolio 14 |
(11.02) |
(6.58) |
10.25 |
17.19 |
(9.05) |
17.19 |
12.61 |
Standard Deviation
is a representation of the risk associated with a given security (stocks, bonds, etc.), or the risk of a portfolio of securities. Risk is an important factor in determining how to efficiently manage a portfolio of investments because it determines the variation in returns on the asset and/or portfolio and gives investors a mathematical basis for investment decisions. The overall concept of risk is that as it increases, the expected return on the asset will increase as a result of the risk premium earned – in other words, investors should expect a higher return on an investment when said investment carries a higher level of risk.
The AssetBuilder (AB) constructed portfolios - Model Portfolios - have been developed based on historical performance of the standard asset classes (stocks, bonds and cash) and of representative market index fund measures. Since this is a Model Portfolio (hypothetical), there can be no assurance that an AB client would have achieved similar rates of return over the time frame. In addition, since the time period in question is a historical one, there can be no assurance that future results achieved by AB clients will in any way resemble those represented by the Model Portfolios.
The Performance Table above is representative of a compilation of the selected funds to achieve a probabilistic return for a measured level of risk. Model Portfolios are rebalanced every year on March 1. All performance data is total returns which includes interest and dividends. The commodity measure represented in the Model Portfolios is the PowerShares DBC security (net of fund fees) from March 2006. To gain additional history, DBLCI was appended back in time net of fund fees estimated to be 83 basis points per year (.83%). The returns are net AB’s advisory fee and Schwab transaction fee of70 basis points (.70%) per year. (Calculation based on average fee impact on $50,000 invested in AB Model Portfolio 06 rebalanced annually for 5 years.)
Although we have done our best to present this information fairly, hypothetical performance is still potentially misleading. Hypothetical data does not represent actual performance and should not be interpreted as an indication of actual performance. This data is based on transactions that were not made. Instead, the trades were simulated, based on knowledge that was available only after the fact and thus with the benefit of hindsight. Results do not include the impact of taxes, if any. Past Returns are not indicative of future results.
Any opinions expressed on this site or in the articles are subject to change without notice and, due to the rapidly changing nature of the security markets, may quickly become outdated. All materials presented are compiled from sources believed to be reliable and current, but accuracy cannot be guaranteed. This information is distributed for education purposes, and it is not to be construed as an offer, solicitation, recommendation, or endorsement of any particular security, product, or service.
AssetBuilder Inc. is an investment advisor registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Consider the investment objectives, risks, and expenses carefully before investing.