Performance of Model Portfolios

Performance numbers presented for Speculative and Risk-Managed Models are the actual returns after all fees and commissions on specific accounts that track those models. Results are updated periodically. See the Disclosures page for additional information.

Aggressive Growth Model

Model 2019 2018  2017
Concentrated Growth 38.81% -8.67% 94.2%

 

Multi-Strategy Models 

Model 2019 2018  2017  2016 
Conservative Active 5.13% -1.60% 6.69% 5.85%
Conservative Blended 11.72% -1.84% 9.23% 2.32%
Moderate Active 4.60% -1.98% 7.54% 6.37%
Moderate Blended 6.57% -2.80% 9.68% 6.71%

 

Indexing Models 

Model 2019 2018  2017 2016
Aggressive (90/10) 24.33% -8.74% 20.55% 7.81%
Balanced (70/30) 20.55% -6.73% 16.27% 6.72%
Moderate (50/50) 16.81% -4.81% 12.17% 5,54%
Conservative (30/70) 13.11% -2.95% 8.19% 4.26%

The indexing model portfolio historical performance numbers are based on a backtest of the ETFs and target allocations in Betterment’s Vanguard model portfolios as of September 2019. All percentage returns include the Betterment fee (0.25%), the maximum Auxan fee (0.75%) and the expenses of the underlying ETFs.  The backtested portfolio includes reinvestment of dividends.  Betterment does offer tax-loss harvesting, which is not factored into these returns.  We exclusively use this Vanguard model for IRA accounts, so leaving out tax-loss harvesting is more appropriate.  Other strategies through Betterment are available for non-retirement accounts and fixed-income strategies, but not enough information is available to produce an accurate backtest.  More information on these other strategies can be found here.  Historical data for the relevant ETFs was obtained from Yahoo Finance.