Review twice a year.
I plan to review allocations around January 1 and July 4. A set schedule helps me evaluate changes deliberately.
MY INVESTING JOURNEY
My approach
to investing.
I’m sharing my investing strategy, the principles I’ve written for myself, and the questions I continue to study.
This is a personal account of my approach, not a portfolio recommendation. Investment decisions depend on individual goals, time horizons, and risk tolerance.
THE PRINCIPLES
My investing laws.
These are the guidelines I’ve written for myself. I’m sharing them as part of my process, not as universal rules.
Contribute regularly.
My written rule is to invest regularly and use the same contribution amounts. My aim is a consistent, repeatable process.
Keep investment costs low.
I aim to use low-cost index funds and ETFs. Costs are one part of the decision I can compare directly.
Put high-interest debt first.
My financial habits start with prioritizing high-interest debt, especially credit card debt, before taking on more investing risk.
Automate the routine.
I aim to automate bills, savings, and investment contributions, with regular reviews to make sure the arrangements remain appropriate.
Spend on what matters to me.
My conscious-spending principle is to spend more on what I love and cut back on what I don’t value.
THE STRATEGY I’M FOLLOWING
My target allocation.
My approach is inspired by Ray Dalio’s All Weather philosophy, adjusted for more stock exposure. I want to grow my money while being intentional about the risks I take.
Why I diversify.
Instead of depending entirely on stocks, I’m spreading investments across assets that may respond differently to growth, inflation, and interest rates. I accept that this may reduce potential upside in exchange for an allocation I intend to maintain over time.
Target allocation, not verified holdings.
This is my target strategy as of November 3, 2026. Actual account weights have not been verified here and will move with the market.
Stocks
60%Long-term growth through owning businesses.
Long-term U.S. Treasuries
20%Longer-term government bonds can behave differently from stocks, but their prices can fall sharply when interest rates rise.
Intermediate-term U.S. Treasuries
10%Government bond exposure with a shorter maturity range than the long-term portion.
Gold
5%A separate asset that may behave differently from stocks and bonds. Its price can still fluctuate.
Broad commodities
5%Exposure to a range of commodities. They may respond differently during inflationary periods, but can be volatile.
How I’m putting it into practice
I contribute regularly and review the mix around January 1 and July 4. Before rebalancing, I compare current holdings across the accounts included in my plan and consider taxes and transaction costs.
Risks I’m considering
Diversification does not eliminate losses. Stocks and bonds can fall together, long-term bonds are sensitive to interest-rate changes, and gold and commodities can be volatile. No allocation guarantees returns or protection.
STILL LEARNING
Questions I’m studying.
Tax treatment and account selection.
My notes include rules of thumb about tax-efficient funds and which accounts hold them. I’m keeping that separate from the allocation, because account rules, taxes, and qualified withdrawals need closer review.
The long-term opportunity cost of spending.
I think about the future value of money I spend today. The 4.5× example in my original notes is an illustration, not a guaranteed outcome. Returns, inflation, and time all change the result.
Shared for education and conversation, not personalized investment or tax advice.