Asset Allocation
| Position | Category/Sector | Target Weight |
|---|---|---|
TIP iShares TIPS Bond ETF | Inflation-Protected Bonds | 50% |
VTI Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF | Large Cap Blend Equities | 50% |
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Performance Chart
The chart shows the growth of an initial investment of $10,000 in Scott Burns Couch Portfolio, comparing it to the performance of the S&P 500 index or another benchmark. All prices have been adjusted for splits and dividends. The portfolio is rebalanced Every 3 months.
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Returns By Period
As of Jul 14, 2026, the Scott Burns Couch Portfolio returned 6.16% Year-To-Date and 8.69% of annualized return in the last 10 years.
| Position | 1D | 1M | 6M | YTD | 1Y | 3Y* | 5Y* | 10Y* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Benchmark S&P 500 Index | -0.79% | 1.13% | 7.92% | 9.79% | 19.89% | 18.60% | 11.43% | 13.27% |
Portfolio Scott Burns Couch Portfolio | -0.50% | 0.32% | 4.88% | 6.16% | 12.40% | 11.73% | 6.38% | 8.69% |
| Portfolio components: | ||||||||
TIP iShares TIPS Bond ETF | -0.20% | -0.59% | 0.55% | 0.80% | 3.09% | 3.62% | 0.52% | 2.33% |
VTI Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF | -0.78% | 1.22% | 8.45% | 10.96% | 21.85% | 19.76% | 12.01% | 14.67% |
Monthly Returns
Based on dividend-adjusted daily data since Dec 5, 2003, Scott Burns Couch Portfolio's average daily return is +0.03%, while the average monthly return is +0.64%. At this rate, an investment would double in approximately 9.1 years.
Historically, 68% of months were positive and 32% were negative. The best month was Apr 2020 with a return of +8.1%, while the worst month was Oct 2008 at -12.9%. The longest winning streak lasted 15 consecutive months, and the longest losing streak was 5 months.
On a daily basis, Scott Burns Couch Portfolio closed higher 55% of trading days. The best single day was Oct 13, 2008 with a return of +5.3%, while the worst single day was Mar 16, 2020 at -5.6%.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1.05% | 0.37% | -3.11% | 5.81% | 2.83% | -0.46% | -0.25% | 6.16% | |||||
| 2025 | 2.20% | 0.12% | -2.54% | -0.30% | 2.80% | 3.11% | 1.15% | 1.99% | 1.94% | 1.27% | 0.24% | -0.31% | 12.14% |
| 2024 | 0.73% | 2.13% | 2.00% | -3.02% | 3.25% | 1.92% | 1.81% | 1.47% | 1.76% | -1.30% | 3.62% | -2.40% | 12.38% |
| 2023 | 4.50% | -1.89% | 2.78% | 0.57% | -0.38% | 3.24% | 1.86% | -1.38% | -3.38% | -1.68% | 6.06% | 3.90% | 14.61% |
| 2022 | -4.06% | -0.78% | 0.59% | -5.64% | -0.64% | -5.60% | 6.82% | -3.23% | -8.00% | 4.76% | 3.55% | -3.69% | -15.79% |
| 2021 | -0.03% | 0.72% | 1.72% | 3.24% | 0.73% | 1.62% | 2.21% | 1.34% | -2.64% | 3.88% | -0.32% | 2.12% | 15.42% |
Benchmark Metrics
Scott Burns Couch Portfolio has an annualized alpha of 2.96%, beta of 0.47, and R2 of 0.86 versus S&P 500 Index. Calculated based on daily prices since December 05, 2003.
- This portfolio participates in less of S&P 500 Index's moves in both directions, but captures a larger share of gains (57.93%) than losses (55.31%) - typical of diversified or defensive assets.
- This portfolio generated an annualized alpha of 2.96% versus S&P 500 Index - delivering returns beyond what market exposure alone would predict.
- Beta of 0.47 indicates this portfolio moves significantly less than S&P 500 Index - a genuinely defensive profile with reduced participation in both market rallies and downturns.
- Alpha
- 2.96%
- Beta
- 0.47
- R²
- 0.86
- Upside Capture
- 57.93%
- Downside Capture
- 55.31%
Expense Ratio
Scott Burns Couch Portfolio has an expense ratio of 0.11%, which is considered low. Below, you can find the expense ratios of the portfolio's funds side by side and easily compare their relative costs.
Return for Risk
Risk / Return Rank
Scott Burns Couch Portfolio ranks 54 for risk / return — on par with similar Portfolios. You're getting a typical balance of risk and reward. Not a standout, but not a red flag either — a reasonable choice if other factors align with your goals.
Return / Risk — by metrics
The table below presents risk-adjusted performance metrics for Scott Burns Couch Portfolio and compares them with S&P 500 Index.
Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.
| Portfolio | Benchmark | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 1.76 | 1.61 | +0.16 |
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 2.52 | 2.22 | +0.29 |
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.32 | 1.29 | +0.03 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.61 | 2.21 | +0.39 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 11.15 | 9.61 | +1.54 |
How much return does each position deliver for the risk it carries? Higher values mean better reward for the risk taken.
| Position | Risk / Return Rank | Sharpe ratio | Sortino ratio | Omega ratio | Calmar ratio | Martin ratio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
TIP iShares TIPS Bond ETF | 32 | 0.89 | 1.32 | 1.16 | 1.57 | 4.50 |
VTI Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF | 66 | 1.71 | 2.36 | 1.31 | 2.46 | 10.78 |
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Dividends
Dividend yield
Scott Burns Couch Portfolio provided a 2.75% dividend yield over the last twelve months.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portfolio | 2.75% | 2.29% | 1.89% | 2.08% | 4.31% | 2.75% | 1.30% | 1.76% | 2.37% | 1.89% | 1.70% | 1.16% |
| Portfolio components: | ||||||||||||
TIP iShares TIPS Bond ETF | 4.45% | 3.46% | 2.52% | 2.73% | 6.96% | 4.28% | 1.17% | 1.75% | 2.71% | 2.07% | 1.48% | 0.34% |
VTI Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF | 1.05% | 1.12% | 1.27% | 1.44% | 1.66% | 1.21% | 1.42% | 1.78% | 2.04% | 1.71% | 1.92% | 1.98% |
Drawdowns
Drawdowns Chart
The Drawdowns chart displays portfolio losses from any high point along the way. Drawdowns are calculated considering price movements and all distributions paid, if any.
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Worst Drawdowns
The table below displays the maximum drawdowns of the Scott Burns Couch Portfolio. A maximum drawdown is a measure of risk, indicating the largest reduction in portfolio value due to a series of losing trades.
The maximum drawdown for the Scott Burns Couch Portfolio was 31.99%, occurring on Mar 9, 2009. Recovery took 393 trading sessions.
The current Scott Burns Couch Portfolio drawdown is 0.99%.
Related event | Drawdown | Fall | Recovery | Underwater |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Financial crisis2007–2009 | -31.99%Mar 2009 | 9mo 23d | 1y 6mo | 2y 4moMay 2008 - Sep 2010 |
COVID crash2020 | -19.76%Mar 2020 | 27d | 2mo 22d | 3mo 19dFeb 2020 - Jun 2020 |
Bear market2022 | -19.57%Sep 2022 | 9mo 3d | 1y 5mo | 2y 2moDec 2021 - Mar 2024 |
Rate-hike selloffLate 2018 | -10.63%Dec 2018 | 3mo 26d | 2mo 27d | 6mo 23dAug 2018 - Mar 2019 |
2025 selloff2025 | -9.44%Apr 2025 | 1mo 17d | 2mo 5d | 3mo 22dFeb 2025 - Jun 2025 |
Volatility
Volatility Chart
The chart below shows the rolling one-month volatility.
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Diversification
AI Analysis
The gist
The portfolio is the oldest modern asset-allocation idea in the book: half inflation-linked government debt, half U.S. equities. It does have a real diversification effect, but only a modest one, because the two sleeves are not enemies so much as mildly different answers to the same macro weather.
The numbers
- The diversification ratio is 1.15 at 1Y and 1.29 since inception, which is modest benefit territory rather than the magic of uncorrelated assets.
- The TIP (Inflation-Protected Bonds) / VTI (Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF) correlation is -0.09, so the pairing is close to neutral, not strongly diversifying and not strongly co-moving either.
- Effective asset count is 2.0 of 2, so concentration is not the issue; the issue is that the two assets are doing the work of two very different macro bets.
The good
- TIP’s low correlation to VTI gives the portfolio a genuine ballast sleeve, especially when equity pricing is driven by growth shocks rather than inflation shocks.
- The platform percentile profile improves over longer windows, which suggests the structure has been reasonably stable rather than a one-off quirk.
- The position-to-portfolio correlations are cleanly separated: TIP at 0.23, VTI at 0.92.
The bad
- The diversification benefit is not large; a two-asset 50/50 mix can only do so much, even when the covariance math is being polite.
- VTI still dominates portfolio behavior, so this is mostly an equity portfolio with an inflation hedge attached.
The ugly
- In inflationary growth shocks, TIP can protect while VTI reprices, but in disinflationary recessions both sleeves can get dragged by the same rates backdrop, which is when the correlation structure stops looking heroic.
Next steps
- Portfolios with this correlation profile are often paired with exposures whose return drivers sit outside the inflation-and-equity split, such as cash-like duration or commodity sensitivity.
- The DR profile would typically improve most from assets whose performance depends on different macro variables than real yields and U.S. earnings.
- The current structure is clean, simple, and legible, which in portfolio design is sometimes the whole point.
Diversification Metrics
Number of Effective Assets
The portfolio contains 2 assets, with an effective number of assets of 2.00, reflecting the diversification based on asset allocation. Your capital is spread almost evenly across your holdings, indicating a well-balanced allocation. Note that true diversification also depends on the correlations between assets — check the diversification ratio below.
Diversification Ratio
1Y | 3Y | 5Y | 10Y | All Time | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Diversification Ratio | 1.15 | 1.18 | 1.20 | 1.23 | 1.29 |
The portfolio has a diversification ratio of 1.29, in line with the typical range across portfolios. There's room to improve by adding less correlated assets.
Scott Burns Couch Portfolio correlation to the S&P 500 Index
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.96 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.94 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.94 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.93 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Dec 5, 2003 | 0.91 |
Benchmark Correlations
Correlation vs. S&P 500 Index. VTI has the highest benchmark correlation at 0.99, while TIP has the lowest at -0.10.
Asset Correlations Table
Find what Scott Burns Couch Portfolio is missing
See which holdings overlap, where Scott Burns Couch Portfolio is concentrated, and which low-correlation assets could fill the gaps.
Analyze Diversification