90/10 Strategy: Definition, How It Works, Examples (2024)

What Is the 90/10 Strategy?

Legendary investor Warren Buffett invented the “90/10" investing strategy for the investment of retirement savings. The method involves deploying 90% of one's investment capital into stock-based index funds while allocating the remaining 10% of money toward lower-risk investments.

This system aims to generate higher yields in the overall portfolio over the long-term. Following this method, Buffett professes the potential gains an individual investor could achieve will be superior compared to those investors who employ high-fee investment managers. However, much depends on the quality of the index funds the investor purchases.

Key Takeaways

  • The 90/10 investing strategy for retirement savings involves allocating 90% of one's investment capital in low-cost S&P 500 index funds and the remaining 10% in short-term government bonds.
  • In a letter to Berkshire Hathaway shareholders, Warren Buffett outlines his plans to follow the 90/10 rule regarding his wife's inheritance, which will be invested 90% in an S&P 500 index fund and 10% in government bonds.
  • The 90/10 investing rule is a suggested benchmark that investors can easily modify to reflect their tolerance to investment risk.

90/10 Strategy: Definition, How It Works, Examples (1)

How the 90/10 Strategy Works

A typical application of the 90/10 strategy involves the use of short-term Treasury Bills (T-Bills) for the 10%, fixed-income component of the portfolio. Investment of the remaining 90% is in higher-risk (but low-cost) index funds.

For example, an investor with a $100,000 portfolio electing to employ a 90/10 strategy might invest $90,000 in an S&P 500 index fund. The remaining $10,000 might go toward one-year Treasury Bills, which in our hypothetical scenario yield 4% per annum.

Of course, the “90/10” rule is merely a suggested benchmark, which may be easily modified to reflect a given investor’s tolerance to investment risk. Investors with lower risk tolerance levels can adjust lower equity portions to the equation.

For instance, an investor who sits at the lower end of the risk spectrum may adopt a 40/60 or even 30/70 split model. The only requirement is that the investor earmarks the more substantial portion of the portfolio funds for safer investments, such as shorter-term bonds that have an A- or better rating.

Calculating 90/10 Strategy Annual Returns

To calculate the returns on such a portfolio, the investor must multiply the allocation by the return and then add those results. Using the example above, if the S&P 500 returns 10% at the end of one year, the calculation is (0.90 x 10% + 0.10 x 4%) resulting in a 9.4% return.

However, if the S&P 500 declines by 10%, the overall return on the portfolio after one year would be -8.6% using the calculation(0.90 x -10% + 0.10 x 4%).

A benefit of index funds is that they have lower management fees than other funds because they are passively managed.

Real-World Example of 90/10 Strategy

Buffett not only advocates for the 90/10 plan in theory, but he actively puts this principle into practice as reported in Berkshire Hathaway's 2013 letter to shareholders. Most notably, Buffett uses the principle as a trust and estate planning directive for his wife, as laid out in his will:

My money, I should add, is where my mouth is: What I advise here is essentially identical to certain instructions I’ve laidin my will. One bequest provides that cash will be delivered to a trustee for my wife’s benefit. (I have to use cash for individual bequests, because all of my Berkshire shares will be fully distributed to certain philanthropic organizations over the ten years following the closing of my estate.) My advice to the trustee could not be more simple: Put 10% of the cash in short-term government bonds and 90% in a very low-cost S&P 500 index fund. (I suggest Vanguard’s.) I believe the trust’s long-term results from this policy will be superior to those attained by most investors—whether pension funds, institutions, or individuals—who employ high-fee managers.

Special Considerations

There are variations of Buffett's 90/10 investing strategy that take into consideration the investor's age and risk tolerance. As an investor nears retirement, it's frequently a good idea to rebalance a portfolio to reflect a more conservative approach toward investing. The investor's need to protect their nest egg so they have funds to live on during retirement becomes paramount over the need for continuous growth. For this reason, the percentages in the investment strategy might change considerably.

One approach has the investor switching the allocations so that 90% of funds are put in low-risk government bonds and 10% are invested in index funds. Additionally, investors who are bearish may opt for these allocation amounts as part of a crash protection strategy.

Other approaches change the percentages for each investment type depending on the investor's risk tolerance combined with other factors, such as their desire to leave an estate to their heirs or the availability of other assets they can draw upon during retirement.

90/10 Strategy: Definition, How It Works, Examples (2024)

FAQs

90/10 Strategy: Definition, How It Works, Examples? ›

The 90/10 investing strategy for retirement savings involves allocating 90% of one's investment capital in low-cost S&P 500 index funds and the remaining 10% in short-term government bonds. The 90/10 investing rule is a suggested benchmark that investors can easily modify to reflect their tolerance to investment risk.

What is the 90 10 strategy? ›

The 90/10 ETF Portfolio Allocation is a popular investment strategy that involves dividing the portfolio into two components: 90% invested in low-cost exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that track major stock market indices, such as the S&P 500, and 10% invested in low-risk fixed-income securities, such as government bonds.

Is a 90 10 split good? ›

Putting 90/10 to the Test

As one might expect, the potential gains for such a stock-heavy portfolio surpassed those of more conservative asset mixes. So, not only did the 90/10 allocation do a good job of guarding against downside risk, but it also resulted in strong returns.

What is the average return of the 90 10 portfolio? ›

In the last 30 Years, the Bill Bernstein Sheltered Sam 90/10 Portfolio obtained a 8.55% compound annual return, with a 13.61% standard deviation.

What is the best mix of stocks and bonds for retirement? ›

Once you're retired, you may prefer a more conservative allocation of 50% in stocks and 50% in bonds. Again, adjust this ratio based on your risk tolerance. Hold any money you'll need within the next five years in cash or investment-grade bonds with varying maturity dates.

What is the 10 20 30 strategy? ›

The idea of the 10/20/30 rule is easy to understand, which is summed up in three points. Your presentation should consist of no more than 10 slides. Your presentation should last no longer than 20 minutes. The text on each slide should be no lower than 30 points in size.

What is the 10 11 12 strategy? ›

The strategy's name derives from the author's objective of identifying stocks that will generate 11% yields and 12% annual returns over 10 years. This strategy translates into picking stocks with a minimum of 4% yield and an expected dividend growth rate of 10%.

What is an example of a 90 10 portfolio? ›

For example, an investor with a $100,000 portfolio electing to employ a 90/10 strategy might invest $90,000 in an S&P 500 index fund. The remaining $10,000 might go toward one-year Treasury Bills, which in our hypothetical scenario yield 4% per annum.

What does a 90 10 split mean? ›

Once an agent hits $100,000 in gross commission, the commission split changes to a 90-10 arrangement. In this case, the agent gets 90 percent and the brokerage gets 10 percent.

What split is best for results? ›

5 of the Best Workout Splits
  • Monday: Upper Body (Push Focus)
  • Tuesday: Lower Body (Squat Focus)
  • Wednesday: Off /Active Recovery.
  • Thursday: Upper Body (Pull Focus)
  • Friday: Lower Body (Hamstring and Glute Focus)
  • Saturday/Sunday: Off.

Is 10% return realistic? ›

Most investors would view an average annual rate of return of 10% or more as a good ROI for long-term investments in the stock market. However, keep in mind that this is an average. Some years will deliver lower returns -- perhaps even negative returns. Other years will generate significantly higher returns.

Is 10% return on investment realistic? ›

Yes, a 10% annual return is realistic. There are several investment vehicles that have historically generated 10% annual returns: stocks, REITs, real estate, peer-to-peer lending, and more.

What should my portfolio look like at 55? ›

The point is that you should remain diversified in both stocks and bonds, but in an age-appropriate manner. A conservative portfolio, for example, might consist of 70% to 75% bonds, 15% to 20% stocks, and 5% to 15% in cash or cash equivalents, such as money-market funds.

What is a good asset allocation for a 65 year old? ›

At age 60–69, consider a moderate portfolio (60% stock, 35% bonds, 5% cash/cash investments); 70–79, moderately conservative (40% stock, 50% bonds, 10% cash/cash investments); 80 and above, conservative (20% stock, 50% bonds, 30% cash/cash investments).

Is 60% stocks and 40% bonds a good mix? ›

Key Takeaways. Once a mainstay of savvy investors, the 60/40 balanced portfolio no longer appears to be keeping up with today's market environment. Instead of allocating 60% broadly to stocks and 40% to bonds, many professionals now advocate for different weights and diversifying into even greater asset classes.

What does a 70 30 portfolio mean? ›

A 70/30 portfolio signifies that within your investments, 70 percent are allocated to stocks, with the remaining 30 percent invested in fixed-income instruments like bonds.

What is the 150 50 strategy? ›

A fund using a 150/50 investment strategy can 'short' up to 50% of the portfolio's net assets. This gives the 'long' part of the portfolio an extra 50% of capital to invest, thus the 'long' exposure can be extended up to 150%, totalling a gross market exposure of 200% (150% long plus 50% short).

What is the 50 40 10 strategy? ›

The bottom layer – the 50 – is chock-full of stuff that seems boring but is actually very good for you. The middle layer – the 40 – includes stuff that tastes good, helps you grow, and makes you want seconds. The top layer – the 10 – is the beer and chips, or the chocolate mousse, depending on your palate.

What is the 123 strategy? ›

The 123 reversal chart pattern strategy is a three-swing price formation that indicates a potential reversal in trend. It is formed by three price swings or waves with three swing points, which is where the name of the pattern comes from.

What is an 80 20 three fund portfolio? ›

An 80/20 three-fund portfolio with 64% U.S. stocks, 16% international stocks, and 20% bonds. This option prioritizes growth and is good for investors with high risk tolerance. An equally weighted three-fund portfolio with 33% to 34% in each asset. This option is balanced, with moderate growth potential and risk.

What is a 60 20 20 portfolio? ›

The recommendation was to allocate 60% of your portfolio in stocks and the rest in public fixed income securities (sovereign and corporate bonds), in order to provide a balanced mix of upside potential (through equities) and downside protection (through fixed bond returns).

What does an 80 20 portfolio mean? ›

An 80/20 portfolio operates along the same lines as a 70/30 portfolio, only you're allocating 80% of assets to stocks and 20% to fixed income. Again, the stock portion of an 80/20 portfolio could be held in individual stocks or a mix of equity mutual funds and ETFs.

What is a 10 for 1 split example? ›

– Stock splits happen when a company increases its outstanding shares to make the stock more affordable to investors. For example, instead of a stock trading at $1,000 per share, a 10-for-1 stock split would allow it to trade for $100 per share (FIGURE 1) while the number of held shares would increase tenfold.

How does a 7-10 split work? ›

For the uninitiated, a 7-10 split is when a bowler has knocked every single pin except for two in the back row on opposite corners. Your best bet is to throw the ball hard enough to make one ricochet into the other so that both get knocked down.

What happens when a stock splits 10 to 1? ›

A 10 for 1 stock split means that for each share an investor has, there will now be ten. This overall value of the company will still be the same due to market capitalization. This can be figured out by multiplying the total shares by the price each share is worth.

What is the 5 4 3 2 1 training method? ›

The 5-4-3-2-1 program is a program that aims to take advantage of periodizing training frequency by training one lift five times per week, one lift four times per week, one lift three times per week, one lift twice per week and one lift once per week.

How many sets should you do in a split? ›

Although there are many ways to build muscle size, an upper-lower body split is a foolproof way to start. Aim for a schedule of 4 days per week. Stick in the moderate rep range of 6 to 12 reps for 3 sets.

How do I get a guaranteed 10% return? ›

How do I get a 10% return? There is no guaranteed way to get a return of precisely ten percent. However, you can invest in stocks or mutual funds that have the potential to provide you with a higher return. Remember that risk is always involved when investing in the stock market.

What is the 5 10 rule investing? ›

investing more than 5% of its assets in a single registered investment company (the “5% Limit”); or. investing more than 10% of its assets in registered investment companies (the “10% Limit”).

How do I guarantee a 10% return? ›

Where can I get 10 percent return on investment?
  1. Invest in stock for the long haul. ...
  2. Invest in stocks for the short term. ...
  3. Real estate. ...
  4. Investing in fine art. ...
  5. Starting your own business. ...
  6. Investing in wine. ...
  7. Peer-to-peer lending. ...
  8. Invest in REITs.

How do I get 20% return? ›

How To Get a 20% Return On Your Money
  1. Eliminating credit card debt. Did you know that credit card companies can charge interest rates as high as 29.99%? ...
  2. Paying your bills on time. We have covered the topic of late fees in the past. ...
  3. Refinancing a high interest rate auto loan.

Is 20% a good return on investment? ›

There is no set percentage. Some agencies might be satisfied with a 5-percent ROI, while others might be on the lookout for a higher number like 20 percent for it to be considered good ROI.

How much will $10,000 invested be worth in 10 years? ›

We started with $10,000 and ended up with $4,918 in interest after 10 years in an account with a 4% annual yield. But by depositing an additional $100 each month into your savings account, you'd end up with $29,648 after 10 years, when compounded daily.

Can I retire at 60 with 100k? ›

According to the 4% rule, if you retired with $100,000 in savings, you could withdraw just about $4,000 per year in retirement. It's nearly impossible for anyone to survive on $4,000 per year, but the majority of retirees will also be entitled to Social Security benefits.

How aggressive should my 401k be at 50? ›

By age 50, you should have six times your salary in an account. By age 60, you should have eight times your salary working for you. By age 67, your total savings total goal is 10 times the amount of your current annual salary. So, for example, if you're earning $75,000 per year, you should have $750,000 saved.

What is the 120 age rule? ›

The Rule of 120 (previously known as the Rule of 100) says that subtracting your age from 120 will give you an idea of the weight percentage for equities in your portfolio. The remaining percentage should be in more conservative, fixed-income products like bonds.

What percentage of retirees have a million dollars? ›

In fact, statistically, around 10% of retirees have $1 million or more in savings. The majority of retirees, however, have far less saved. If you're looking to be in the minority but aren't sure how to get started on that savings goal, consider working with a financial advisor .

Should a 70 year old be in the stock market? ›

Seniors should consider investing their money for several reasons: Generate Income: Investing in income-generating assets, such as stocks, bonds, or real estate, can provide a steady income stream during retirement. This can be especially important for seniors who no longer receive a regular paycheck from work.

What is the average retirement balance at 65? ›

Suggested savings: The general guidelines recommend having eight times your annual salary saved by 60. The median income for a 55-year-old is about $57,500, which means having $460,000 saved for retirement. The average savings for those 55-65 is $197,322.

What is the downside of a 60 40 portfolio? ›

Cons. May sacrifice returns: A 60/40 portfolio will typically outperform an all-equity portfolio while the stock market is down. However, equities tend to have better long-term returns than bonds. This means the 60/40 portfolio may sacrifice some returns for the sake of stability.

Is Vanguard 60 40 dead? ›

Far from being dead, the 60/40 portfolio is poised for another strong decade.” Past performance is no guarantee of future returns. The performance of an index is not an exact representation of any particular investment, as you cannot invest directly in an index.

What is a good balanced portfolio? ›

A balanced portfolio invests in both stocks and bonds to reduce potential volatility. An investor seeking a balanced portfolio is comfortable tolerating short-term price fluctuations, is willing to tolerate moderate growth, and has a mid- to long-range investment time horizon.

Is a 90 10 portfolio good? ›

Many financial experts herald the 90/10 rule as an excellent investment strategy for retirees, especially if they want to generate higher yields in long-term portfolios.

Is 70 30 or 60 40 better for retirement? ›

In recent years, the 70/30 asset allocation has become more popular. But many investors still prefer a 60/40 portfolio based on lower risk tolerance. Essentially, this portfolio takes on more risk in exchange for higher returns.

What is the 80 20 retirement rule? ›

An 80/20 retirement plan is a type of retirement plan where you split your retirement savings/ investment in a ratio of 80 to 20 percent, with 80% accounting for low-risk investments and 20% accounting for high-growth stocks.

What are 130 30 strategies? ›

The 130-30 strategy, often called a long/short equity strategy, refers to an investing methodology used by institutional investors. A 130-30 designation implies using a ratio of 130% of starting capital allocated to long positions and accomplishing this by taking in 30% of the starting capital from shorting stocks.

What is 12 20 80 strategy? ›

With this strategy investors need to allocate at least 12 months worth of their monthly expenses in a liquid fund which can thus be easily liquidated in times of emergencies, allocate 20% of the overall portfolio to Gold to provide downside protection during uncertain times, and dedicate 80% of the total investable ...

What is the 70 10 10 10 strategy? ›

There are several different ways to go about creating a budget but one of the easiest formulas is the 10-10-10-70 principle. This principle consists of allocating 10% of your monthly income to each of the following categories: emergency fund, long-term savings, and giving. The remaining 70% is for your living expenses.

What is 50 30 20 trading strategy? ›

The audiobook discusses how the VIX related ETFs/ETNs are priced and introduces you to an innovative and logical 50-30-20 strategy where you keep 50 percent of your portfolio as cash, use 30 percent of your portfolio for swing trades, and 20 percent of your portfolio is for carrying UVXY and TVIX shorts long term.

What is 15 15 strategy? ›

As per the 15-15-15 rule, mutual funds investors invest in ₹15000 SIP per month at a rate of interest of 15% for 15 years. And at the end of tenure, likely to generate approximately ₹1 crore. The concept of compounding here works when you continue to invest for another 15 years with the same investment rate and SIP.

What is 15 50 strategy? ›

It's our simple guideline for saving and spending: Aim to allocate no more than 50% of take-home pay to essential expenses, save 15% of pretax income for retirement savings, and keep 5% of take-home pay for short-term savings.

What is 30 70 investment strategy? ›

Conservative. Investment mix: around 30% in shares and property, and 70% in fixed interest and cash. Returns: Aims to reduce the risk of loss and therefore accepts a lower return over the long term. There is less chance of having a bad year than in the balanced or growth options.

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