Forbes 2012 Low Cost ETF Plan
Investment Model Portfolios

William Baldwin of Forbes looks at 27 super cheap ETFs — 15 with equity exposure and 12 in bonds. You can read his article to get the details of the research work that he did but I thought it would be interesting to see how well these ETFs perform as a group.

Investment options of Forbes 2012 Low Cost ETF Plan

Total Available Funds: 27
Asset Class Ticker Description
US EQUITY
LARGE BLEND VTI Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF
LARGE BLEND VOO Vanguard S&P 500 ETF
LARGE BLEND SCHB Schwab U.S. Broad Market ETF
Small Growth VBK Vanguard Small Cap Growth ETF
SMALL BLEND VB Vanguard Small Cap ETF
MID-CAP BLEND VXF Vanguard Extended Market Index ETF
INTERNATIONAL EQUITY
Foreign Large Blend VEU Vanguard FTSE All-World ex-US ETF
Foreign Large Blend VEA Vanguard Europe Pacific ETF
Foreign Large Blend VXUS Vanguard Total Intl Stock Idx ETF
EUROPE STOCK VGK Vanguard European ETF
DIVERSIFIED PACIFIC/ASIA VPL Vanguard Pacific Stock ETF
Emerging Market
DIVERSIFIED EMERGING MKTS VWO Vanguard Emerging Markets Stock ETF
COMMODITIES
Commodities Precious Metals IAU iShares Gold Trust
Commodities Precious Metals SIVR ETFS Physical Silver Shares
Commodities Precious Metals SGOL SGOL
FIXED INCOME
SHORT GOVERNMENT TUZ PIMCO 1-3 Year US Treasury Index ETF
Short-Term Bond BSV Vanguard Short-Term Bond ETF
SHORT GOVERNMENT SCHO Schwab Short-Term U.S. Treasury ETF
Intermediate-Term Bond BND Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF
Intermediate-Term Bond BIV Vanguard Intermediate-Term Bond ETF
Intermediate Government SCHR Schwab Intermediate-Term U.S. Trsy ETF
Long-Term Bond BLV Vanguard Long-Term Bond Index ETF
LONG GOVERNMENT TLT iShares Barclays 20+ Year Treas Bond
LONG GOVERNMENT TLH iShares Barclays 10-20 Year Treasury Bd
Muni Short SHM SPDR Nuveen Barclays Capital S/T Muni Bd
Muni Short SMB Market Vectors Short Municipal Index ETF
Muni National Long TFI SPDR Nuveen Barclays Capital Muni Bond

Investment model portfolios

We provide two types of investment model portfolios for Forbes 2012 Low Cost ETF Plan participants. You can customize and follow a model portfolio in your plan account.

Types of portfolio strategies

These portfolios are proactively monitored and rebalanced on a monthly basis when needed, ensuring it remains in line with its target allocation.

Let us know (Email us) if you need help to create a custom model portfolio for your plan.

Example model portfolios

The following provides historical returns for example model portfolios with a moderate risk profile (at most 60% in stocks) and their comparison with benchmark index funds. You can customize these portfolios according to your own risk profile.

Strategic Asset Allocation Model Portfolio

The following portfolio is based on the MyPlanIQ Strategic Asset Allocation (SAA) strategy.

Name YTD Return 1Yr AR 3Yr AR 5Yr AR 10Yr AR 15Yr AR 20Yr AR Common Inception
Forbes 2012 Low Cost ETF Plan Strategic Asset Allocation – Optimal Moderate NA 55.54% 7.70% 8.81% 6.86% 7.19% 6.58% … …
VFINX (VANGUARD 500 INDEX FUND INVESTOR SHARES) NA 37.82% 8.86% 15.20% 12.89% 14.04% 10.46% … …
VSMGX (VANGUARD LIFESTRATEGY MODERATE GROWTH FUND INVESTOR SHARES) NA 22.89% 2.25% 6.63% 6.01% 7.19% 6.10% … …
Data as of 10/31/2024, Common starting date is 12/31/2000

Tactical Asset Allocation Model Portfolio

The following portfolio is based on the MyPlanIQ Tactical Asset Allocation (TAA) strategy.

Name YTD Return 1Yr AR 3Yr AR 5Yr AR 10Yr AR 15Yr AR 20Yr AR Common Inception
Forbes 2012 Low Cost ETF Plan Tactical Asset Allocation Moderate NA 56.16% 11.65% 12.15% 6.01% 6.54% 7.16% … …
VFINX (VANGUARD 500 INDEX FUND INVESTOR SHARES) NA 37.82% 8.86% 15.20% 12.89% 14.04% 10.46% … …
VSMGX (VANGUARD LIFESTRATEGY MODERATE GROWTH FUND INVESTOR SHARES) NA 22.89% 2.25% 6.63% 6.01% 7.19% 6.10% … …
Data as of 10/31/2024, Common starting date is 12/31/2000

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