Build JL Collins Portfolios With ETFs

What are JL Collins' portfolios?

JL Collins' portfolios can be built with one to two ETFs. They are exposed to between 75% and 100% equities and 0% to 10% bonds. They are high-risk portfolios.

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What is the historical return of JL Collins portfolios?

Below you can see the historical return of JL Collins Portfolios.

Portfolio data was last updated on 11th of August 2023, 08:35 ET

NameYear to dateReturn in 202210 year returnCAGR since 1989 (%)Draw DownExpense ratioYield
JL Collins, Simple Path To Wealth, Wealth Building Portfolio16.6-19.5112.0810.19-37.00.03%1.59
JL Collins, Simple Path To Wealth, Wealth Preservation Portfolio12.19-17.919.449.24-26.460.03%1.83
Performance for JL Collins' portfolios

Here is what the table is showing you

Year to date: This shows what the portfolio has returned this year starting from the first trading day of the year.

10 Year return: This shows the compounded annualized growth rate over a ten-year period. The current year is excluded from calculations.

CAGR since 1989: This shows the compounded annualized growth rate since 1989. The current year is excluded from calculations.

Expense ratio: This shows the cost of holding the portfolio if you were to construct the portfolio using the proposed ETFs.

Yield: This is the expected dividend yield of the portfolio.

Please note that past performance is not a guarantee of future returns.

How does the JL Collins portfolios compare to the best portfolios?

Below you can see the returns of the best portfolios that we have benchmarked.

NameSee PortfolioYear to dateReturn in 202210 year returnCAGR since 1989 (%)Draw Down
Ben Stein RetirementComing soon!4.05-18.039.4610.8-35.42
Paul Merriman 4-Fund-PortfolioComing soon!9.22-11.9811.2510.38-35.26
S&P 500Coming soon!17.09-18.1912.5210.28-37.63
Paul Merriman Target Date Portfolio (25 year old)Coming soon!6.63-13.088.2810.2-36.46
Scott Adams Dilbert PortfolioComing soon!10.87-18.757.010.19-44.88
JL Collins, Simple Path To Wealth, Wealth Building PortfolioComing soon!16.6-19.5112.0810.19-37.0
American Institute of Individual Investors (AAII) PortfolioComing soon!3.74-13.919.710.16-40.85
Paul Merriman Target Date Portfolio (35 year old)Coming soon!6.57-13.228.3110.08-36.35
Assetbuilder.com Portfolio 14Coming soon!6.95-16.947.599.99-37.91
Balanced Portfolio 90/10Coming soon!14.83-18.8711.039.84-32.78
The 10 Best Performing Portfolios That We Have Benchmarked

Who is JL Collins?

JL Collins is a personal finance writer and author of the wonderful book The Simple Path to Wealth: Your Road Map to Financial Independence and a Rich, Free Life.

It is highly recommended. It is also available as an audiobook.

The Simple Path to Wealth: Your road map to financial independence and a rich, free life

JL Collins is often interviewed on blogs and in the media. Almost everything that he says is grounded, logical, and just makes sense. He often uses his dry humor to great effect.

And it is all done in that tremendous raspy voice of his.

He gave a talk at the Google campus on how to manage your retirement. It is excellent. Here’s is an example of his sharp wit and what you can expect.

Moderator (Rachel Smith): You’re in a room of above average intelligent people.
JL Collins: Perhaps, but not in investing.

In a talk and interview at Google, he discusses money and investing. He covers how to think about money and build wealth. He talks about how to approach 401(k), 403(b), TSP, IRA and Roth accounts, TRFs (Target Retirement Funds), HSAs (Health Savings Accounts) and RMDs (Required Minimum Distributions). And of course, he discusses how the stock market works.

 

Here is JL Collins’stribute to John Goodman from the movie The Gambler.

He sums up all the world’s investing and money advice in only 1 minute and 36 seconds. It is glorious.

 

Description of JL Collins' portfolios

JL Collins’ basic portfolio consists of one fund, while his preservation portfolio adds a bond fund to the mix.

That fund is the total stock market.

So, what is unique about that?

Well, it is immensely hard to beat the total stock market. Read Meet Susan: The Most Important Question In Investing if you want to know why. Besides, it makes investing simple and very straightforward.

JL Collins is very much inspired by John Bogle, so the asset allocation is no surprise. John Bogle also recommends a two fund solution. See John Bogle’s portfolios in our article on John Bogle’s portfolio.

What is the asset allocation of JL Collins portfolios?

JL Collins, Simple Path to Wealth, Wealth Building Portfolio

The portfolio will soon be added!

JL Collins, Simple Path to Wealth, Wealth Preservation Portfolio

  • 75% Total US Stock Market Index (VTI)
  • 25% Total US Bond Market Index (BND)

Where can I learn more about JL Collins?

His how-to-invest series on his blog is worth your time.

There are many other videos on youtube where you can JL Collins being interviewed. He also has a page on his site displaying where he has been interviewed.

Here is JL Collins website.

And of course, the fantastic book that he self-published. It is beautiful and the kind of book you can hand out to family and friends knowing they will be better off.

Suggestions for your next steps

If you have already committed to a portfolio then maybe you need help maintaining the portfolio. In this case you will find our rebalance worksheet useful.

Rebalancing your portfolio lowers your risk and may provide higher returns in the long run. It is completely FREE.

You can find the rebalance worksheet in our article Here Is The Most Easy To Use Portfolio Rebalance Tool.

What is VTSAX?

VTSAX is the ticker symbol for the Vanguard Total Stocks Market Mutual Fund. The ETF equivalent is VTI.