Average Investment Return By Asset Class (2024)

Average Investment Return By Asset Class (1)

You have many options when choosing a vehicle for your investment dollars and it's important to understand the average investment return so you can plan efficiently for your financial future.

Each type of investment option (often called an asset class) comes with its own risks and rewards. If you're investing in the short-term, you need to be more careful about understanding the risks of particular investments. But if you have a long-term investment horizon, the ups and downs tend to even out over time.

Thanks to the power of compound interest, the younger that you start, the less you have to worry about the stock market crashing. If you're starting to invest when you're young, the most important thing to remember is to keep putting money in, even if (especially if) the market goes through a downturn.

When you're in your 20s and 30s, with potentially 30 or 40 years or more to retirement, you can afford to take on more risk with your investments, since you won't need the money for a long time.

Table of Contents

The Average Investment Return By Asset Class

Stocks: Large Cap, Small Cap, International, Emerging Markets

Real Estate (REITs)

Bonds

The Average Investment Return By Asset Class

Using data from The Measure of a Plan and SSA.gov, we measured the average annual return of a variety of different types of assets. The numbers in the chart below represent the CAGR (Compound annual growth rate) for several different asset classes.

The data is from 1985 to 2020.

Average Investment Return By Asset Class (2)

As you can see, stocks have the highest average investment return over this time period, though there is some difference depending on the exact type of stocks you're investing in. Real estate also comes with a sizable average annual return. Next are bonds, then wage growth, gold, and finally cash.

Proper asset allocation is crucial, and the ideal asset allocation will change over time as you get older and closer to retirement. If you're looking at where to put your investment dollars, you may want additional information on each of these asset classes.

For each asset class, we have also included the Vanguard index fund that invests in this asset class (read our Vanguard review).

Stocks: Large Cap, Small Cap, International, Emerging Markets

Stocks are an asset class that tends to have the highest return of any type of investment, but they also tend to have higher-than-average volatility. This isn't necessarily a problem if you have a long time horizon, but if you are older, retiring soon, or have a more immediate need for your money, you might not want to be heavily invested in stocks.

But it's important to remember that "stocks" isn't a one-size-fits-all asset class. There are a variety of "types" of stocks, since stocks just represent ownership in a company.

Large Cap:Large cap stocks are companies with a market cap over $10 billion. These are basically the biggest companies in the United States.

Small Cap:Small cap stocks are companies with a market cap under $2 billion. These are the smaller "up and coming" companies in the United States.

International:These are companies that are non-US based, with a focused on developed economies. Typically, these companies are found in Europe and Asia, but other countries may be represented.

Emerging Markets:These are companies in emerging markets - think developing nations, with many companies in South America and Africa.

Here are the four different types of stocks included in the report, along with a brief description and their Vanguard index fund:

  • Emerging Markets (VEMAX)
  • Fund invests in stocks of companies located in emerging markets around the world, such as Brazil, Russia, India, Taiwan, and China.
  • U.S. Large Cap Stocks (VFIAX) The fund offers exposure to 500 of the largest U.S. companies, which span many different industries and account for about three-fourths of the U.S. stock market’s value.
  • U.S. Small Cap Stocks (VSMAX)
  • Low-cost index fund provides broad exposure to the small-capitalization U.S. equity market. The fund seeks to track an index of small-sized companies.
  • International Developed Stocks (VTMGX)

    Index fund provides low-cost, diversified exposure to large-, mid-, and small-capitalization companies in developed markets outside the U.S.

    Real Estate (REITs)

    Real estate is another asset class that has decent average annual returns. While there is some correlation between returns in the stock market and real estate returns, if you look at the underlying data, there are years when stocks are down and real estate is up (and vice versa).

    While you might be able to startactively investing in real estate with as little as $500, investing in a real estate investment trust (REIT) can beanother way to invest in real estate.

    It can be difficult to compare individual real estate returns to the stock market, but you can look at the overall real estate market through a REIT. Here's a popular choice:

    • Real Estate Index Fund (VGSLX) — This fund invests in real estate investment trusts—companies that purchase office buildings, hotels, and other real estate property.

    Bonds

    Bonds are historically a much safer investment, but with lower average annual returns. Bonds rarely have a negative return, but their maximum return is much lower than that of stocks. It can be a good idea toinvest in bondswith some of your portfolio.

    When you are younger, you can have a small amount of your overall portfolio in bonds, gradually increasing the percentage as you get closer to retirement.

    • All U.S. Bonds (VBTLX) — This fund is designed to provide broad exposure to U.S. investment-grade bonds. Reflecting this goal, the fund invests in U.S. Treasuries and mortgage-backed securities of all maturities (short-, intermediate-, and long-term issues).
    • International Bonds (VTABX) — This fund is designed to provide broad exposure to non-U.S. investment-grade bonds. The fund seeks to track the performance of an index that includes international government, agency, and corporate securities, mostly from developed countries, but also some emerging markets countries.

    Start Investing Today

    Here's our in-depth guide that shows you 10 solid ways to start investing with just $1,000.

    SHOW ME HOW

    Cash (T-Bills)

    Cash andtreasury bills (T-bills)are the most secure of just about any asset class. But while the value of your actual cash is unlikely to go down, the purchasing power of your cash often decreases each and every year. This is due toinflation, and is a good reason why you should not keep more than anemergency fund in cash.

    • Cash (T-Bill) (VUSXX) — This fund at a minimum invests 80% of the assets in debt issued directly by the government in the form of Treasury bills. It may invest in other securities including, but not limited to debt issued by federal agencies that are sponsored, guaranteed, or owned by the federal government.

    Wage Growth

    When discussing investment returns by asset class, one of the biggest assets most people fail to think about is themselves. You are typically one of the strongest earning assets you have - especially early on in life. However, as you can see from the chart, the "return" on your wages is near the bottom of the asset return chart.

    Wages have only averaged 3.51% in annual growth for the last 30 years. If you simply relied on just your income growth, you'll find yourself falling behind. It's essential that you take your extra money and invest it so that you can realize higher returns.

    The Bottom Line

    You have many choices for where to invest your hard-earned dollars, and each asset class comes with its own pros and cons. Generally speaking, the younger you are and the more years you have until retirement, the more risky that you can afford to be.

    When you're in your 20s and 30s, you should have the majority of your portfolio in the asset classes with the highest average annual returns. You should also have a long-term investment horizon, and with the power of compound interest, you should be a millionaire in no time.

    Pro-tip: A Robo-advisor is an investment management firm that automatically allocates your investments between stock and bond ETFs. Unlike a traditional financial advisor, computer software does much of the work. If you're overwhelmed by setting up your own asset allocation, a robo-advisor can do it for you. Check out a quick comparison below, or read the full list of the best robo-advisors.

    Header

    Average Investment Return By Asset Class (3)

    Average Investment Return By Asset Class (4)

    Average Investment Return By Asset Class (5)

    Rating

    Annual Fee

    0.25% to 0.40%

    0.25%

    0.30%

    Min Investment

    $0

    $500

    $50,000

    Advice Options

    Auto and Human

    Auto

    Auto and Human

    Banking?

    Cell

    OPEN ACCOUNT

    READ THE REVIEW

    READ THE REVIEW

    Average Investment Return By Asset Class (2024)

    FAQs

    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.

    Is 5% a good return on investment? ›

    What Is a Good ROI? According to conventional wisdom, an annual ROI of approximately 7% or greater is considered a good ROI for an investment in stocks. This is also about the average annual return of the S&P 500, accounting for inflation.

    Is a 6% rate of return good? ›

    A good return on investment is generally considered to be about 7% per year, based on the average historic return of the S&P 500 index, and adjusting for inflation. But of course what one investor considers a good return might not be ideal for someone else.

    Is 90% of return determined by asset allocation? ›

    We found that, on average, about 90 percent of the variability of returns of a typical fund across time is explained by asset allocation policy. Most of a fund's ups and downs are explained by the ups and downs of the overall market.

    How do I get a 10% return on investment safely? ›

    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.

    What is the average return on a 10 million dollar investment? ›

    You can find interest rates near the national average of 0.26% or rates as high as 2.25%. With a $10 million portfolio, you'd receive an annual income of $2,600 to $225,000.

    Is 20% return on investment good? ›

    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.

    What is a good rate of return on 401k investments? ›

    Many retirement planners suggest the typical 401(k) portfolio generates an average annual return of 5% to 8% based on market conditions. But your 401(k) return depends on different factors like your contributions, investment selection and fees.

    What is the return on a 1 million investment? ›

    The amount of interest that 1 million dollars can earn per year depends on the interest rate, which can vary depending on the type of investment. Assuming a conservative average interest rate of 1%, a 1 million dollar investment could potentially earn approximately $10,000 per year in interest income.

    Can I retire on $600000? ›

    It's possible to retire with $600,000 in savings with careful planning, but it's important to consider how long your money will last. Whether you can successfully retire with $600,000 can depend on a number of factors, including: Your desired retirement age. Estimated retirement budget.

    What is the average return on a 401k after retirement? ›

    Based on a standard portfolio mix of 60% stocks and 40% bonds, the average rate of return for a 401(k) generally ranges from 5% to 8%.

    What is the average 401k return over 20 years? ›

    What Is the Average 401(k) Return Over 20 Years? The average rate of return on a 401(k) ranges from 5% to 8%.

    What is the 60 40 rule for asset allocation? ›

    The 60/40 portfolio has served investors well for the past 50 years. It has been the allocation of choice for traditional balanced portfolios: 60% in equities for the good times, 40% in bonds for the bad (and for the yield).

    What is the golden rule of asset allocation? ›

    Your asset-allocation should not change as per the expectation of returns from various assets. Rather, your asset allocation should be based on your investment objective, risk-appetite and the years left to achieve the financial goals.

    What is the 4 rule for asset allocation? ›

    One frequently used rule of thumb for retirement spending is known as the 4% rule. It's relatively simple: You add up all of your investments, and withdraw 4% of that total during your first year of retirement. In subsequent years, you adjust the dollar amount you withdraw to account for inflation.

    What is the safest investment with highest return? ›

    High-quality bonds and fixed-indexed annuities are often considered the safest investments with the highest returns. However, there are many different types of bond funds and annuities, each with risks and rewards. For example, government bonds are generally more stable than corporate bonds based on past performance.

    Is 100 percent return on investment possible? ›

    If your ROI is 100%, you've doubled your initial investment. Return on Investment can help you make decisions between competing alternatives. If you deposit money in a savings account, the return on your investment will be equal to the interest rate that the bank gives you to hold your money.

    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”).

    Can you live off the interest of $1 million dollars? ›

    Once you have $1 million in assets, you can look seriously at living entirely off the returns of a portfolio. After all, the S&P 500 alone averages 10% returns per year. Setting aside taxes and down-year investment portfolio management, a $1 million index fund could provide $100,000 annually.

    Can I retire with 10 million in assets? ›

    At age 45, $10 million is more than enough to fund a very comfortable retirement. Whether it's enough to fund your retirement will depend entirely on your own, personal needs. If you're considering trying to retire at 45, take the time to consider your life and your budget to decide if you're able to make it work.

    Am I rich if I have $10 million dollars? ›

    You might need $5 million to $10 million to qualify as having a very high net worth while it may take $30 million or more to be considered ultra-high net worth. That's how financial advisors typically view wealth.

    How do I get 15% return? ›

    Best way to get 15% p.a. on your investment
    1. Direct equity. Buying a part of a company from the stock market can prove beneficial because the company is growing, causing your investments to multiply. ...
    2. Real estate. ...
    3. Gold. ...
    4. Equity mutual funds. ...
    5. Debt mutual funds. ...
    6. PPF. ...
    7. FD.

    What is the 80 20 rule investing? ›

    It directs individuals to put 20% of their monthly income into savings, whether that's a traditional savings account or a brokerage or retirement account, to ensure that there's enough set aside in the event of financial difficulty, and use the remaining 80% as expendable income.

    What will 10000 be worth in 20 years? ›

    With that, you could expect your $10,000 investment to grow to $34,000 in 20 years.

    Is 7% enough for 401k? ›

    Key Takeaways. The rule of thumb for retirement savings is 10% of gross salary for a start. If your company offers a matching contribution, make sure you contribute enough to get it all. If you're aged 50 or over, you're allowed to make a catch-up contribution each year.

    What is the 7% rule for 401k? ›

    What is the 7 percent rule? The 7 percent rule is a retirement planning guideline that suggests you can comfortably withdraw 7 percent of your retirement savings annually without running out of money.

    Is 6% 401k enough? ›

    Many financial advisors recommend saving more than 10% of your income for retirement. Remember to increase your savings rate over time.

    Can you live off interest of 2 million dollars? ›

    At $200,000 per year in average returns, this is more than enough for all but the highest spenders to live comfortably. You can collect your returns, pay your capital gains taxes and have plenty left over for a comfortable lifestyle. The bad news about an index fund is the variability.

    Can I retire with 2 million in investments? ›

    Yes, for some people, $2 million should be more than enough to retire. For others, $2 million may not even scratch the surface. The answer depends on your personal situation and there are lot of challenges you'll face. As of 2023, it seems the number of obstacles to a successful retirement continues to grow.

    Can you live off of 2 million in investments? ›

    A $2 million retirement account invested entirely in an S&P 500 index fund would return an average of $200,000 per year. That's enough for most households to live on without even dipping into the principal, but in some years that account would take significant losses.

    Can you retire $1.5 million comfortably? ›

    Yes, you can retire at 60 with $1.5 million. At age 60, an annuity will provide a guaranteed income of $91,500 annually, starting immediately for the rest of the insured's lifetime.

    What is the average 401k balance for a 65 year old? ›

    Average and median 401(k) balance by age
    AgeAverage Account BalanceMedian Account Balance
    35-44$97,020$36,117
    45-54$179,200$61,530
    55-64$256,244$89,716
    65+$279,997$87,725
    2 more rows
    Jan 20, 2023

    Is $3 million enough to retire at 65? ›

    If you retire at age 65 and expect to live to the average life expectancy of 79 years, your three million would need to last for about 14 years. However, if you retire at 55 and expect to live to the average life expectancy, your nest egg would need to last for about 24 years.

    Is 10% return on 401k good? ›

    What is a good 401(k) rate of return? The average 401(k) rate of return ranges from 5% to 8% per year for a portfolio that's 60% invested in stocks and 40% invested in bonds. Of course, this is just an average that financial planners suggest using to estimate returns.

    Is it smart to max out 401k? ›

    Overall, you should max out your contributions every year if you can do so while getting the maximum matching benefit from your employer.

    What is the 6% retirement rule? ›

    To get more clarity about your particular situation, think in terms of the 6 percent rule. As a general guide, if your monthly pension check equals 6 percent or more of the lump-sum offer, then you may want to go for the perpetual monthly payment.

    Will my 401k double in 10 years? ›

    401k investments do not double every ten years. However, with smart investments and compounding interest, 401k investments can grow significantly over ten years.

    What is the retirement 20% rule? ›

    This means setting aside a fixed percentage of your income each month to go toward your retirement savings. According to the Pareto Principle, this should be at least 20% of your income. 80% of your biggest expenditures typically come from 20% of your lifestyle choices. This can affect your savings potential.

    How much should I have in my 401k at 55? ›

    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 25% plan asset rule? ›

    Under the Plan Assets Rules, if an IRA/401(k) Plan owns greater than 25% of an investment entity that is neither a “publicly-offered security” nor a mutual fund, the equity interests and assets of the “investment company” will be deemed assets of the IRA/401(k).

    What is the 5% allocation rule? ›

    In investment, the five percent rule is a philosophy that says an investor should not allocate more than five percent of their portfolio funds into one security or investment. The rule also referred to as FINRA 5% policy, applies to transactions like riskless transactions and proceed sales.

    Is 70 30 a good asset allocation? ›

    Since, over time, stocks have the potential for both higher returns and higher risks, the 70 percent is more aggressive than a traditional 60/40 split. Over the very long-term period of 1926 to 2019, a 70/30 portfolio has an average return of 9.21 percent. For a long-term investor, that's a healthy appreciation.

    What asset allocation do wealthy people have? ›

    Asset allocation of ultra and high net worth individuals in the U.S. 2022. As of 2022, ultra high net worth individuals (UHNWI) had a relatively concentrated portfolio with roughly 80 percent of total assets being allocated to alternative and equity securities.

    What is the ideal asset allocation by age? ›

    The common rule of asset allocation by age is that you should hold a percentage of stocks that is equal to 100 minus your age. So if you're 40, you should hold 60% of your portfolio in stocks. Since life expectancy is growing, changing that rule to 110 minus your age or 120 minus your age may be more appropriate.

    What is the most popular asset allocation strategy? ›

    The most common dynamic asset allocation strategy used by mutual funds is counter-cyclical strategy. These funds increase their equity allocation (reduce debt allocation) when equity valuations decline (become cheaper) and reduce debt allocations.

    What should a 70 year old retiree asset allocation be? ›

    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).

    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 safest asset allocation? ›

    Cash and cash equivalents - such as savings deposits, certificates of deposit, treasury bills, money market deposit accounts, and money market funds - are the safest investments, but offer the lowest return of the three major asset categories.

    Is investing 10% a month good? ›

    Experts generally recommend setting aside at least 10% to 20% of your after-tax income for investing in stocks, bonds and other assets (but note that there may be different “rules” during times of inflation, pros say, which we will discuss below).

    Should you invest 10% of your income? ›

    “Ideally, you'll invest somewhere around 15%–25% of your post-tax income,” says Mark Henry, founder and CEO at Alloy Wealth Management. “If you need to start smaller and work your way up to that goal, that's fine.

    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.

    What is the 10X investing rule? ›

    The 10X rule means investing ten times more and reaching ten times further. Perusing the shelves of your average bookstore, you're bound to find a plethora of titles that promise you the secrets to a successful life. But with so many options, it can be hard to know which is the best one.

    What if I invest $20,000 a month for 10 years? ›

    If an investor invests 20,000 per month for 10 years at the interest rate of 12%, he will be able to generate INR 47 lakh, i.e., more than double the amount he earned in the first five years. In addition, the earnings in 15 years will double the income that an investor had generated in the first 10 years.

    What if I invest $10,000 per month for 30 years? ›

    Mutual fund return calculator

    According to tax and investment experts, if an investor invests ₹10,000 per month in mutual fund SIP for 30 years, he or she can accumulate around ₹12.7 crore at the time of maturity provided it has used 10 per cent annual step-up.

    What is a good rate of return on 401k? ›

    Many retirement planners suggest the typical 401(k) portfolio generates an average annual return of 5% to 8% based on market conditions. But your 401(k) return depends on different factors like your contributions, investment selection and fees.

    How much money do you need to retire with $100000 a year income? ›

    This means that if you make $100,000 shortly before retirement, you can start to plan using the ballpark expectation that you'll need about $75,000 a year to live on in retirement. You'll likely need less income in retirement than during your working years because: Most people spend less in retirement.

    Is 10% 401k good? ›

    Most retirement experts recommend you contribute 10% to 15% of your income toward your 401(k) each year. The most you can contribute in 2023 is $22,500 or $30,000 if you are 50 or older (that's an extra $7,500). Consider working with a financial advisor to determine a contribution rate.

    Why saving 10% won't get you through retirement? ›

    Mathematically, 10% Just Isn't Enough

    By saving 10%, your money would need to grow at a rate of 6.7% a year for you to retire 40 years from when you start. In order to retire early, after 30 years of contributing, you would need an unrealistically high rate of return of 10.3%.

    How much is $100 at 10% interest at the end of each year forever worth today? ›

    Present value of perpetuity:

    So, a $100 at the end of each year forever is worth $1,000 in today's terms.

    Can I live off interest on a million dollars? ›

    Once you have $1 million in assets, you can look seriously at living entirely off the returns of a portfolio. After all, the S&P 500 alone averages 10% returns per year. Setting aside taxes and down-year investment portfolio management, a $1 million index fund could provide $100,000 annually.

    How long to save $1 million in 10 years? ›

    In order to hit your goal of $1 million in 10 years, SmartAsset's savings calculator estimates that you would need to save around $7,900 per month. This is if you're just putting your money into a high-yield savings account with an average annual percentage yield (APY) of 1.10%.

    What is the 7% investment rule? ›

    Let's say you have an investment balance of $100,000, and you want to know how long it will take to get it to $200,000 without adding any more funds. With an estimated annual return of 7%, you'd divide 72 by 7 to see that your investment will double every 10.29 years.

    What is 10 5 3 rule of investment? ›

    The 10,5,3 rule

    Though there are no guaranteed returns for mutual funds, as per this rule, one should expect 10 percent returns from long term equity investment, 5 percent returns from debt instruments. And 3 percent is the average rate of return that one usually gets from savings bank accounts.

    What is 4% rule in investment? ›

    What is the 4% rule for retirement? The 4% rule states that you should be able to comfortably live off of 4% of your money in investments in your first year of retirement, then slightly increase or decrease that amount to account for inflation each subsequent year.

    Top Articles
    Latest Posts
    Article information

    Author: Edmund Hettinger DC

    Last Updated:

    Views: 6068

    Rating: 4.8 / 5 (78 voted)

    Reviews: 93% of readers found this page helpful

    Author information

    Name: Edmund Hettinger DC

    Birthday: 1994-08-17

    Address: 2033 Gerhold Pine, Port Jocelyn, VA 12101-5654

    Phone: +8524399971620

    Job: Central Manufacturing Supervisor

    Hobby: Jogging, Metalworking, Tai chi, Shopping, Puzzles, Rock climbing, Crocheting

    Introduction: My name is Edmund Hettinger DC, I am a adventurous, colorful, gifted, determined, precious, open, colorful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.