Asset Allocation
Performance
Performance Chart
The chart shows the growth of an initial investment of $10,000 in Simple Balance, 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 year.
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The earliest data available for this chart is Oct 20, 2011, corresponding to the inception date of USMV
Returns By Period
As of Apr 3, 2026, the Simple Balance returned -0.29% Year-To-Date and 10.88% of annualized return in the last 10 years.
| 1D | 1M | YTD | 6M | 1Y | 3Y* | 5Y* | 10Y* | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Benchmark S&P 500 Index | 0.11% | -3.43% | -3.84% | -1.98% | 16.08% | 16.86% | 10.37% | 12.29% |
Portfolio Simple Balance | -0.07% | -3.33% | -0.29% | 2.69% | 17.80% | 15.94% | 9.66% | 10.88% |
| Portfolio components: | ||||||||
VTI Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF | 0.16% | -3.26% | -3.13% | -1.24% | 17.86% | 18.10% | 10.66% | 13.75% |
VEA Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF | -0.77% | -2.79% | 3.65% | 8.84% | 30.37% | 16.09% | 8.76% | 9.49% |
SCHP Schwab U.S. TIPS ETF | 0.45% | -0.60% | 0.82% | 0.63% | 3.42% | 3.21% | 1.46% | 2.60% |
GLD SPDR Gold Shares | -1.92% | -8.27% | 8.35% | 21.03% | 49.02% | 32.51% | 21.53% | 13.97% |
BND Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF | 0.22% | -0.98% | 0.31% | 0.85% | 4.27% | 3.53% | 0.30% | 1.70% |
USMV iShares MSCI USA Minimum Volatility Factor ETF | 0.74% | -3.57% | -0.44% | -0.74% | 1.12% | 10.38% | 7.75% | 9.74% |
Monthly Returns
Based on dividend-adjusted daily data since Oct 21, 2011, Simple Balance's average daily return is +0.04%, while the average monthly return is +0.87%. At this rate, your investment would double in approximately 6.7 years.
Historically, 70% of months were positive and 30% were negative. The best month was Apr 2020 with a return of +9.1%, while the worst month was Mar 2020 at -9.6%. The longest winning streak lasted 15 consecutive months, and the longest losing streak was 3 months.
On a daily basis, Simple Balance closed higher 55% of trading days. The best single day was Mar 24, 2020 with a return of +6.4%, while the worst single day was Mar 12, 2020 at -7.7%.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2.78% | 1.88% | -5.39% | 0.64% | -0.29% | ||||||||
| 2025 | 3.18% | 0.19% | -1.85% | 0.65% | 3.40% | 3.19% | 0.73% | 2.64% | 3.61% | 1.62% | 1.20% | 0.48% | 20.62% |
| 2024 | 0.54% | 2.95% | 3.33% | -3.02% | 3.66% | 1.72% | 2.57% | 2.30% | 1.99% | -0.94% | 3.78% | -2.92% | 16.79% |
| 2023 | 5.62% | -2.84% | 3.30% | 1.10% | -0.85% | 4.03% | 2.58% | -1.74% | -4.04% | -1.31% | 7.29% | 4.29% | 18.09% |
| 2022 | -4.58% | -1.19% | 1.85% | -6.53% | -0.35% | -5.95% | 5.83% | -3.58% | -7.58% | 5.01% | 5.77% | -3.33% | -14.82% |
| 2021 | -0.89% | 0.86% | 2.46% | 3.86% | 1.47% | 0.85% | 1.90% | 1.80% | -3.66% | 4.66% | -1.42% | 3.46% | 16.12% |
Benchmark Metrics
Simple Balance has an annualized alpha of 2.04%, beta of 0.66, and R² of 0.94 versus S&P 500 Index. Calculated based on daily prices since October 21, 2011.
- This portfolio participates in less of S&P 500 Index's moves in both directions, but captures a larger share of gains (71.67%) than losses (70.90%) — typical of diversified or defensive assets.
- This portfolio generated an annualized alpha of 2.04% versus S&P 500 Index — delivering returns beyond what market exposure alone would predict.
- Beta of 0.66 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
- 2.04%
- Beta
- 0.66
- R²
- 0.94
- Upside Capture
- 71.67%
- Downside Capture
- 70.90%
Expense Ratio
Simple Balance has an expense ratio of 0.08%, 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
Simple Balance ranks 66 for risk / return — better than 66% of portfolios on our site. You're getting solid returns for the risk taken. A good sign, especially for investors who want growth without excessive volatility.
Return / Risk — by metrics
| Portfolio | Benchmark | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 1.42 | 0.88 | +0.54 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 2.08 | 1.37 | +0.71 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.31 | 1.21 | +0.10 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.13 | 1.39 | +0.74 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 9.61 | 6.43 | +3.18 |
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month. | |||
How much return does each position deliver for the risk it carries? Higher values mean better reward for the risk taken.
| Risk / Return Rank | Sharpe ratio | Sortino ratio | Omega ratio | Calmar ratio | Martin ratio | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VTI Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF | 54 | 0.94 | 1.47 | 1.22 | 1.53 | 7.16 |
VEA Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF | 83 | 1.73 | 2.36 | 1.35 | 2.64 | 10.14 |
SCHP Schwab U.S. TIPS ETF | 36 | 0.84 | 1.17 | 1.15 | 1.19 | 3.52 |
GLD SPDR Gold Shares | 80 | 1.77 | 2.19 | 1.32 | 2.57 | 9.28 |
BND Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF | 48 | 1.00 | 1.42 | 1.18 | 1.71 | 4.64 |
USMV iShares MSCI USA Minimum Volatility Factor ETF | 13 | 0.09 | 0.21 | 1.03 | 0.15 | 0.65 |
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Dividends
Dividend yield
Simple Balance provided a 1.79% dividend yield over the last twelve months.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portfolio | 1.79% | 1.82% | 1.80% | 1.83% | 2.27% | 1.70% | 1.45% | 1.85% | 2.08% | 1.75% | 1.88% | 1.77% |
| Portfolio components: | ||||||||||||
VTI Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF | 1.16% | 1.12% | 1.27% | 1.44% | 1.66% | 1.21% | 1.42% | 1.78% | 2.04% | 1.71% | 1.92% | 1.98% |
VEA Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF | 2.90% | 3.22% | 3.35% | 3.15% | 2.91% | 3.16% | 2.04% | 3.04% | 3.35% | 2.77% | 3.05% | 2.92% |
SCHP Schwab U.S. TIPS ETF | 3.70% | 4.06% | 2.99% | 3.02% | 7.19% | 4.39% | 1.11% | 2.02% | 2.26% | 1.90% | 1.38% | 0.28% |
GLD SPDR Gold Shares | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
BND Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF | 3.92% | 3.86% | 3.67% | 3.09% | 2.60% | 2.12% | 2.38% | 2.72% | 2.81% | 2.54% | 2.51% | 2.57% |
USMV iShares MSCI USA Minimum Volatility Factor ETF | 1.57% | 1.49% | 1.67% | 1.82% | 1.62% | 1.26% | 1.81% | 1.88% | 2.12% | 1.77% | 2.22% | 2.02% |
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 Simple Balance. 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 Simple Balance was 24.90%, occurring on Mar 23, 2020. Recovery took 89 trading sessions.
The current Simple Balance drawdown is 4.78%.
Depth | Start | To Bottom | Bottom | To Recover | End | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| -24.9% | Feb 20, 2020 | 23 | Mar 23, 2020 | 89 | Jul 29, 2020 | 112 |
| -21.03% | Dec 28, 2021 | 202 | Oct 14, 2022 | 299 | Dec 22, 2023 | 501 |
| -12.97% | Sep 21, 2018 | 65 | Dec 24, 2018 | 59 | Mar 21, 2019 | 124 |
| -11.18% | Feb 20, 2025 | 34 | Apr 8, 2025 | 26 | May 15, 2025 | 60 |
| -10.18% | May 19, 2015 | 170 | Jan 20, 2016 | 62 | Apr 19, 2016 | 232 |
Volatility
Volatility Chart
The chart below shows the rolling one-month volatility.
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Diversification
Diversification Metrics
Number of Effective Assets
The portfolio contains 6 assets, with an effective number of assets of 3.33, reflecting the diversification based on asset allocation. This number of effective assets suggests a highly concentrated portfolio, where a few assets dominate the allocation, potentially increasing the portfolio's risk due to lack of diversification.
Asset Correlations Table
| Benchmark | GLD | SCHP | BND | USMV | VEA | VTI | Portfolio | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Benchmark | 1.00 | 0.04 | -0.05 | -0.06 | 0.83 | 0.81 | 0.99 | 0.95 |
| GLD | 0.04 | 1.00 | 0.34 | 0.32 | 0.07 | 0.18 | 0.05 | 0.24 |
| SCHP | -0.05 | 0.34 | 1.00 | 0.79 | 0.03 | 0.00 | -0.04 | 0.09 |
| BND | -0.06 | 0.32 | 0.79 | 1.00 | 0.06 | -0.01 | -0.05 | 0.08 |
| USMV | 0.83 | 0.07 | 0.03 | 0.06 | 1.00 | 0.70 | 0.83 | 0.85 |
| VEA | 0.81 | 0.18 | 0.00 | -0.01 | 0.70 | 1.00 | 0.82 | 0.87 |
| VTI | 0.99 | 0.05 | -0.04 | -0.05 | 0.83 | 0.82 | 1.00 | 0.96 |
| Portfolio | 0.95 | 0.24 | 0.09 | 0.08 | 0.85 | 0.87 | 0.96 | 1.00 |