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Wasik Nano Plan
Investment Model Portfolios

John Wasik has been a professional journalist and author for 30 years specializing in personal finance, the environment, investing and social issues. John has proposed a Nano plan investment portfolio which employs just a handful of index or ETFs to cover virtually the entire world of bond and stock markets. This portfolio is supposed to be rebalanced annually.

John Wasik presents a classic asset allocation strategy with simple buy and hold.

  • 20% in Vanguard Total Stock Market VIPERS (VTI) – alternatives: SPY, IWM
  • 20% in Vanguard Total International (VGTSX) – alternatives: EFA, VEU, EEM, VWO, ADRE
  • 20% in Vanguard REIT VIPERS (VNQ) – alternatives: IYR, ICF
  • 20% in iShares Lehman TIPS Bond (TIP)
  • 20% in iShares Lehman Aggregate Bond (AGG) – alternative: BND

Things to note about the portfolio:

  • With 40% in fixed income, this would be considered moderate risk
  • With VGTSX covering both international and emerging markets (albeit in one fund) this would be something between a 4 and 5 asset class portfolio
  • VGTSX is not an ETF; while VGTSX can easily be replaced by VEU (Vanguard FTSE All-World ex-US ETF) we will keep VGTSX because it has a longer history for back testing

 

MyPlanIQ maintains Wasik's original portfolio here.

Investment options of Wasik Nano Plan

Total Available Funds: 5
Asset Class Ticker Description
INTERNATIONAL EQUITY
Foreign Large Blend EFA Vanguard Total Intl Stock Index
REAL ESTATE
REAL ESTATE VNQ Vanguard REIT Index ETF
FIXED INCOME
Inflation-Protected Bond TIP iShares Barclays TIPS Bond
Intermediate-Term Bond AGG iShares Barclays Aggregate Bond
US EQUITY
LARGE BLEND VTI Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF

Investment model portfolios

We provide two types of investment model portfolios for Wasik Nano 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 Inception
Wasik Nano Plan Strategic Asset Allocation - Optimal Moderate 1.15% 6.73% 4.09% 9.48% 6.19% 7.24% 6.49% 6.28%
VFINX (VANGUARD 500 INDEX FUND INVESTOR SHARES) -4.31% 8.32% 8.91% 18.53% 12.39% 13.02% 10.12% 8.27%
VSMGX (VANGUARD LIFESTRATEGY MODERATE GROWTH FUND INVESTOR SHARES) 0.22% 6.30% 4.36% 9.01% 5.84% 6.67% 5.91% 5.57%
Data as of 03/31/2025, AR inception 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 Inception
Wasik Nano Plan Tactical Asset Allocation Moderate -2.66% 3.75% 3.12% 10.11% 6.84% 8.31% 9.23% 8.23%
VFINX (VANGUARD 500 INDEX FUND INVESTOR SHARES) -4.31% 8.32% 8.91% 18.53% 12.39% 13.02% 10.12% 8.27%
VSMGX (VANGUARD LIFESTRATEGY MODERATE GROWTH FUND INVESTOR SHARES) 0.22% 6.30% 4.36% 9.01% 5.84% 6.67% 5.91% 5.57%
Data as of 03/31/2025, AR inception is 12/31/2000