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Optimized Portfolio

Investing and Personal Finance

  • Start Here
  • Investing 101
    • Beginners Start Here – 10 Steps To Start Building Wealth
    • What Is the Stock Market? How It Works & How to Invest in It
    • How To Invest in an Index Fund – The Best Index Funds
    • Portfolio Asset Allocation by Age
    • How To Invest Your Emergency Fund
    • Portfolio Diversification – How To Diversify Your Portfolio
    • Dollar Cost Averaging vs. Lump Sum Investing (DCA vs. LSI)
    • How To Invest Your HSA (Health Savings Account)
    • Factor Investing and Factor ETFs – The Ultimate Guide
    • more…
  • Lazy Portfolios
    • All Weather Portfolio
    • Bogleheads 3 Fund Portfolio
    • HEDGEFUNDIE’s Excellent Adventure
    • Warren Buffett Portfolio
    • Golden Butterfly Portfolio
    • Paul Merriman Ultimate Buy and Hold Portfolio
    • Ben Felix Model Portfolio
    • Permanent Portfolio
    • David Swensen Portfolio
    • 60/40 Portfolio
    • more…
  • Funds
    • VOO vs. VTI – Vanguard S&P 500 or Total Stock Market ETF?
    • The 7 Best International ETFs
    • The 8 Best Small Cap ETFs (4 From Vanguard)
    • The 5 Best REIT ETFs
    • The 5 Best EV ETFs – Electric Vehicles ETFs
    • VIG vs. VYM – Comparing Vanguard’s 2 Popular Dividend ETF’s
    • The Best Vanguard Dividend Funds – 4 Popular ETFs
    • The 5 Best Tech ETFs
    • The 7 Best Small Cap Value ETFs
    • The 6 Best ETFs for Taxable Accounts
    • The 5 Best Emerging Markets ETFs (1 From Vanguard) for 2023
    • more…
  • Leverage
    • What Is a Leveraged ETF and How Do They Work?
    • How To Beat the Market Using Leverage and Index Investing
    • The 9 Best Leveraged ETFs
    • Hedgefundie’s Excellent Adventure
    • Leveraged All Weather Portfolio
    • Leveraged Permanent Portfolio
    • Leveraged Golden Butterfly Portfolio
    • NTSX – Review and Summary
    • TQQQ – Is It A Good Investment?
    • PSLDX – A Review
    • SWAN – A Review
    • RPAR Risk Parity ETF Review
    • more…
  • Dividends
    • The Best M1 Finance Dividend Pie
    • The 11 Best Dividend ETFs
    • The Best Vanguard Dividend Funds – 4 Popular ETFs
    • VIG vs. VYM – Comparing Vanguard’s 2 Popular Dividend ETF’s
    • 8 Reasons Why I’m Not a Dividend Income Investor
    • QYLD – A Harsh Review
    • more…
  • Brokers
    • The 5 Best Stock Brokers
    • The 4 Best Investing Apps
    • M1 Finance Review
    • Brokers with the Lowest Margin Rates
    • M1 Finance vs. Fidelity
    • M1 Finance vs. Vanguard
    • Webull vs. Robinhood
    • Stash vs. Robinhood
    • M1 Borrow Review (How M1’s Margin Loan Works)
    • more…
  • Retirement
    • The 10 Best ETFs for Retirement Portfolios in 2023
    • The 4% Rule for Retirement Withdrawal Rate – A Revisitation
    • Sequence of Return Risk in Retirement Explained
    • Traditional IRA Explained
    • Roth IRA Explained
    • 401k vs. Roth IRA
    • Roth IRA vs. Traditional IRA
    • Backdoor Roth IRA Explained
    • more…
  • My Toolbox

Investing 101

401k vs. Roth IRA – Which Is Better for You?

Last Updated: February 5, 2024 No Comments – 8 min. read

401k vs roth ira

A 401k and a Roth IRA are two very different types of retirement accounts for U.S. investors. Is one better than the other? Let's dive in. 401k and Roth IRA Similarities First we'll briefly go over the few similarities between a 401k and a Roth IRA. They don't have much in common. 401k and Roth IRA Differences The bulk of the discussion about a 401k … [Read more...] about 401k vs. Roth IRA – Which Is Better for You?

Roth IRA vs. Traditional IRA – Which Is Better for You? (2025)

Last Updated: February 21, 2024 No Comments – 8 min. read

roth ira vs traditional ira

Roth IRAs and Traditional IRAs are two types of retirement accounts for U.S. investors. Is one better than the other? Let's dive in. Roth IRA and Traditional IRA Similarities First we'll briefly go over similarities between a Roth IRA and a Traditional IRA. Also note that you can open either or both of these types of IRA's in addition to an … [Read more...] about Roth IRA vs. Traditional IRA – Which Is Better for You? (2025)

ETFs vs. Mutual Funds – Which Is Better for You?

Last Updated: January 10, 2023 No Comments – 3 min. read

etfs vs mutual funds

ETFs and mutual funds are two different types of investment products. But is one better than the other? Let's dive in. Video Prefer video? Watch it here: ETFs vs. Mutual Funds - Similarities ETF stands for Exchange Traded Fund. As the name suggests, this is simply a fund that trades on an exchange like a stock. The fund holds individual securities like … [Read more...] about ETFs vs. Mutual Funds – Which Is Better for You?

Jack Bogle Was Wrong About These 3 Things

Last Updated: May 17, 2023 2 Comments – 4 min. read

jack bogle

Jack Bogle founded Vanguard and was considered the "father of index investing," but he did have a few takes on things that weren't quite right. Video Prefer video? Watch it here: Introduction - Jack Bogle Humans have a tendency to latch onto specific people and believe everything they say is true without assessing the content of each piece of … [Read more...] about Jack Bogle Was Wrong About These 3 Things

How To Write an Investment Policy Statement – Template & Example

Last Updated: October 10, 2023 No Comments – 6 min. read

investment policy statement

An investment policy statement is a formal document that defines one's investing objectives and strategy. Here we'll look at how to write one, the benefits of having one, a template, and an example. Video Prefer video? Watch it here: Introduction - What Is an Investment Policy Statement? An investment policy statement is a document that outlines the … [Read more...] about How To Write an Investment Policy Statement – Template & Example

Tax Loss Harvesting To Defer Taxes – The Ultimate Guide

Last Updated: July 17, 2023 2 Comments – 7 min. read

taxes

Tax loss harvesting may sound fancy and complicated, but I promise it's super simple, and you'll have a better understanding of it after reading this guide. Here we'll explore what tax loss harvesting is, why and how you'd want to do it, the rules, limits, and deadlines involved, examples, and how to avoid the infamous "wash sale" in your portfolio. Video Prefer … [Read more...] about Tax Loss Harvesting To Defer Taxes – The Ultimate Guide

Tail Risk – What It Is and How To Hedge Against It

Last Updated: May 16, 2024 8 Comments – 8 min. read

tail risk graph

Tail risk refers to the probability of an extreme outcome from a rare event. Here we'll look at what it is, how it affects portfolio construction, and hedging strategies for it. Introduction - What Is Tail Risk? Tail risk describes the likelihood of rare events at the ends of a probability distribution. Specifically, greater tail risk would suggest that the … [Read more...] about Tail Risk – What It Is and How To Hedge Against It

I Bonds Explained (US Savings Bonds) – Ultimate Guide (2025)

Last Updated: February 15, 2023 71 Comments – 14 min. read

i bond picture

I bonds are low-risk, inflation-linked savings bonds from the U.S. government. Here we'll review why, when, where, and how to buy them. Update - January 2023: I bonds are now paying a composite rate of 6.89% for savings bonds issued between November 1, 2022 and April 30, 2023. I Bonds Video Prefer video? Watch it here: Introduction - Inflation and the … [Read more...] about I Bonds Explained (US Savings Bonds) – Ultimate Guide (2025)

Sharpe Ratio vs. Sortino vs. Calmar – Risk Adjusted Return

Last Updated: March 22, 2022 4 Comments – 6 min. read

risk

In this post I explore what risk-adjusted return is and some different ways to measure it, including Sharpe, Sortino, and Calmar ratios. Introduction - What Is Risk Adjusted Return? So we explored the concept of portfolio risk here recently. A good armchair definition of risk is the permanent loss of capital, though many erroneously conflate volatility - the … [Read more...] about Sharpe Ratio vs. Sortino vs. Calmar – Risk Adjusted Return

Portfolio Risk Explained – How To Think About Risk and Volatility

Last Updated: August 7, 2024 4 Comments – 15 min. read

risk

In using the term "risk," different investors and advisors mean different things. There are several different types and definitions of portfolio risk. Some are more useful than others. Here we'll explore how to think about risk and volatility when it comes to investing. Portfolio Risk Defined So I think it's important to qualify and define what exactly we're … [Read more...] about Portfolio Risk Explained – How To Think About Risk and Volatility

ETF vs. ETN vs. ETP – Differences, Similarities, Risks, Etc.

Last Updated: April 4, 2023 No Comments – 3 min. read

etf vs etn vs etp

ETF. ETN. ETP. So many initialisms. Here we'll explore what these things are and what differences exist among them. Video Prefer video? Watch it here: ETF vs. ETN vs. ETP - What Do the Letters Mean? First, here's what these initialisms stand for: ETF - Exchange Traded FundETN - Exchange Traded NoteETP - Exchange Traded Product Secondly, I created … [Read more...] about ETF vs. ETN vs. ETP – Differences, Similarities, Risks, Etc.

23 Investing Biases and How To Avoid Them

Last Updated: March 23, 2024 6 Comments – 29 min. read

survivorship bias planes wald 1

Humans are inherently susceptible to irrational preferences called biases. Since investors are human, there are a number of investing biases to be aware of and try to avoid. Video Prefer video? Watch it below. If not, keep scrolling to keep reading. Introduction - What Are Investing Biases? Classical economics assumes humans make perfectly rational … [Read more...] about 23 Investing Biases and How To Avoid Them

Market Timing – Time in the Market Beats Timing the Market

Last Updated: February 23, 2023 8 Comments – 6 min. read

market timing graph

Market timing refers to trying to predict future market movement to buy or sell at the best price. Here we'll look at why it doesn't work, and why you should stay the course and go ahead and invest as soon as possible to maximize time in the market. In short, time in the market beats timing the market. I'll show you why below. Market Timing Video Prefer video? … [Read more...] about Market Timing – Time in the Market Beats Timing the Market

The 7 Best Inflation Hedge Assets and ETFs for 2025

Last Updated: January 10, 2023 21 Comments – 12 min. read

inflation 10 dollars

Inflation fears are always lingering. Here we'll look at what inflation is, why it occurs, how it's measured, and the best assets to hedge against it with their corresponding ETFs for . Video Prefer video? Watch it here: Introduction - What Is Inflation? Simply put, inflation refers to an aggregate increase in prices, commonly measured by the Consumer … [Read more...] about The 7 Best Inflation Hedge Assets and ETFs for 2025

The 4% Rule for Retirement Withdrawal Rate – A Revisitation

Last Updated: July 22, 2024 9 Comments – 17 min. read

shiller cape withdrawal rate

With high stock valuations and low bond yields, is the "4 percent rule" for retirement withdrawal rate still valid for the 21st-century investor? Let's dive in. What Is the 4% Rule? The 4% rule refers to what is widely accepted as a safe withdrawal rate (SWR) for retirees from their investment account. Using this figure and assumptions about future expenses and … [Read more...] about The 4% Rule for Retirement Withdrawal Rate – A Revisitation

How To Calculate Investment Returns (ROI and CAGR)

Last Updated: July 24, 2024 1 Comment – 3 min. read

calculator

Here's how to calculate investment returns (known as return on investment, or ROI for short) to see your portfolio's performance. We'll specifically look at ROI and CAGR in detail. Introduction - Return on Investment (ROI) Return on Investment (ROI) measures the gain or loss of an investment, as a percentage, relative to its cost. ROI is used in business to … [Read more...] about How To Calculate Investment Returns (ROI and CAGR)

No, Covered Call Options Are Not a Free Lunch

Last Updated: January 28, 2023 No Comments – 2 min. read

pbp covered call etf vs sp500

Covered calls are pitched as a "free lunch" and a way to "collect rent" on your stocks for buy-and-hold investors. Let's explore why that's not the case. What Are Covered Call Options? Options contracts are derivatives that allow traders to speculate on the value of the underlying security. Call options allow the holder to buy an asset at a set price within a given … [Read more...] about No, Covered Call Options Are Not a Free Lunch

Portfolio Diversification – How To Diversify Your Portfolio

Last Updated: May 17, 2023 14 Comments – 25 min. read

diversification callan periodic table

Portfolio diversification is considered to be the only free lunch in investing. In this post, I'll show you why and how to diversify your portfolio. What Is Portfolio Diversification? Portfolio diversification simply means combining different assets in one's investment portfolio, effectively spreading out your risk. As the related adage says, "Don't put all your … [Read more...] about Portfolio Diversification – How To Diversify Your Portfolio

Dollar Cost Averaging vs. Lump Sum Investing (DCA vs. LSI)

Last Updated: August 8, 2022 10 Comments – 11 min. read

dca vs lsi

Dollar cost averaging and "lump sum investing" are two different timing strategies for getting cash into the market. Let's compare them. Video Prefer video? Watch it here: What Is Dollar Cost Averaging (DCA)? Dollar cost averaging (DCA for short), also sometimes called a constant dollar plan, is a systematic investment timing strategy in which the … [Read more...] about Dollar Cost Averaging vs. Lump Sum Investing (DCA vs. LSI)

VEA vs. VWO vs. VXUS – Which Vanguard International ETF?

Last Updated: May 17, 2023 12 Comments – 4 min. read

international stocks performance

Three of the most popular Vanguard international ETFs are VWO, VEA, and VXUS. Is there one that reigns supreme to hold alongside U.S. stocks? Video Prefer video? Watch it here: Diversifying with International Stocks Index investors in the U.S. usually know it's a good idea to diversify in equities outside the United States. At global market weights, U.S. … [Read more...] about VEA vs. VWO vs. VXUS – Which Vanguard International ETF?

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John Williamson, APMA®

Analytical data nerd, investing enthusiast, fintech consultant, Boglehead, and Oxford comma advocate. I'm not a big fan of social media, but you can find me on LinkedIn and Reddit. Read More…

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