David Swensen, the Yale Endowment Manager, proposed this one size fit in all model portfolio for individual investors. The major difference between this portfolio and other conventional portfolios is that it emphasizes international equities (including emerging market equities) as well as real estate investment. Compared with various diversified portfolios, an interesting asset class missing is the commodities, which has been considered to be an excellent anti-inflation diversifier. This is complemented with its emphasis on the inflation-protected treasury bonds. We assume annual rebalance although Swensen actually pointed out that in Yale’s institutional portfolio, they rebalanced daily, which, by his estimate, gave about 1-2% of excessive returns vs. annual rebalancing.
Compared with the Simpler Is Better (SIB) portfolios discussed in an article, one can see that Swensen's six assets exclude the commodities while putting emphasis on using fixed income for the purpose of inflation protection and hedging.
Note: it has been confusing whether Swensen advocated using long term treasury bonds or just an average duration treasury bonds. In his book Unconventional Success: A Fundamental Approach to Personal Investment, he wrote "The purity of noncallable, long-term, default-free Treasury bonds provides the most powerful diversification to investor portfolios". Based on this sentence, it has been interpreted that he meant to use the long term treasury bond. However, recently, a reader posted a reply from David Swensen on this question in morningstar.com, which indicates the average duration of treasury bonds.
The portfolio consists of the following:
- 30% in Vanguard Total Stock Market Index (VTSMX)
- 20% in Vanguard REIT Index (VGSIX)
- 20% in Vanguard Total International Stock (VGTSX) or (15% in VGTSX and 5% in VEIEX)
- 15% in Vanguard Inflation Protected Securities (VIPSX)
- 15% in Vanguard Long Term Treasury Index (VUSTX)
The above model portfolio should be compared with the moderate model portfolios in this ETF plan.
Refer to Index Fund based plan that uses Vanguard's index funds.
Investment options of sridharn1 David Swensen Six ETF Asset Individual Investor Plan
Investment model portfolios
We provide two types of investment model portfolios for sridharn1 David Swensen Six ETF Asset Individual Investor Plan participants. You can customize and follow a model portfolio in your plan account.
Types of portfolio strategies
- Strategic asset allocation portfolio: It invests in a diversified portfolio of multiple assets, buy-and-hold without frequently changing the asset allocation weights.
- Suitable: For long-term (more than 15 years, preferably more than 20 years), want to be tax efficient and can withstand interim drawdown or loss as high as 50% or more.
- Pros:
- Less error-prone
- Infrequent rebalancing or transactions
- Tax efficient for taxable brokerage investments
- Cons:
- Interim loss or drawdown can be substantial
- Possible low returns for an extended period, such as 10 years or longer
- Tactical asset allocation portfolio: it invests in a diversified portfolio of multiple assets, dynamically adjust stock and bond allocations to minimize losses during market stress.
- Suitable: For long-term (more than 10 years or preferably longer) capital. Investors are willing to rebalance as frequent as monthly.
- Pros:
- Reduce large interim loss or drawdown
- Less sensitive to investment entry point
- Likely to improve returns
- Cons
- Demand more frequent rebalancing or transactions
- Less tax efficient — more suitable in a tax-deferred account such as 401(k) or IRA
- Can experience a period of lower returns compared to a broad-based strategic allocation or a buy-and-hold benchmark, especially in some bull markets
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.