What Is An 80/20 Asset Allocation? (2024)

What Is An 80/20 Asset Allocation? (1)

Investment portfolios may rely on more than placing different capital asset types at random into a single financial bucket. When seeking to improve performance, these portfolios may require allocation strategies involving splits between traditional capital assets (like stocks and bonds).

One time-honored plan has arguably been the 60/40 asset allocation strategy. But investors interested in growth potential might decide on a portfolio containing 80% equities (stocks) and 20% fixed-income instruments (bonds). This is known as an 80/20 asset allocation.

Risk versus Rewards

Investors might gravitate toward an 80/20 asset allocation because of this strategy’s growth prospects. The 80% side contains equities, potentially in the form of individual stocks, equity mutual funds, or exchange-traded funds (ETFs). Meanwhile, the 20% portion is comprised of fixed-income investments, which could include bond ETFs and mutual funds, municipal and government bonds, high-yield bond funds, or corporate bonds.

Returns from this allocation strategy can be higher than returns from a 60/40 asset allocation. But the risk is much higher, as more capital is dedicated to equities, which can be more volatile than their fixed-income counterparts.

Investors might prefer an 80/20 asset allocation strategy for the following reasons:

  • They might want potentially higher returns and growth from their portfolio
  • They might have a higher personal tolerance and appetite for risk
  • They might have a longer investment timeline

Experts Weigh In

There is plenty of advice on the internet when it comes to investment allocation strategies. One prevalent thought is that “80/20 is the new 60/40.”

Scott Ladner with Horizon Investments told CNBC that a 60/40 allocation strategy could leave an investor with 40% of “dead money.” Instead, his belief was that the fixed-income portion could be cut in half, while the equity side might include some hedging.

Meanwhile, Aaron Levitt with MutualFunds.com (writing in late 2021) pointed out that low bond rates (especially against increasing Effective Federal Fund Rates from the Federal Reserve) might not “act as the cushion investors may be looking for.” Equities could provide more returns, but Levitt cautioned that “investors need not go gangbusters when reconfiguring their allocation,” adding that dividend stocks might be a good alternative.

What to Do?

Investors researching the internet might have questions about whether an 80/20 asset allocation can help reach specific financial goals. The answer here is to do the research, then work with a trusted financial planner to build an optimal portfolio. An 80/20 asset allocation is just one investment strategy. Working with a professional who is familiar with markets and income-growing instruments can offer advice and direction. The result can be an investment strategy that meets goals and objectives, while considering risk tolerance.

This material is for general information and educational purposes only. Information is based on data gathered from what we believe are reliable sources. It is not guaranteed as to accuracy, does not purport to be complete and is not intended to be used as a primary basis for investment decisions. It should also not be construed as advice, meeting the particular investment needs of any investor.

Realized does not provide tax or legal advice. This material is not a substitute for seeking the advice of a qualified professional for your individual situation.

Neither asset allocation nor diversification guarantee a profit or protects against loss in a declining market. They are methods used to help manage investment risk.

What Is An 80/20 Asset Allocation? (2024)

FAQs

What Is An 80/20 Asset Allocation? ›

But investors interested in growth potential might decide on a portfolio containing 80% equities (stocks) and 20% fixed-income instruments (bonds). This is known as an 80/20 asset allocation.

What is 80 20 asset allocation? ›

This investment strategy seeks total return through exposure to a diversified portfolio of primarily equity, and to a lesser extent, Fixed Income asset classes with a target allocation of 80% equities and 20% Fixed Income. Target allocations can vary +/-5%.

What is the 80 20 rule with suitable example? ›

The 80/20 rule is not a formal mathematical equation, but more a generalized phenomenon that can be observed in economics, business, time management, and even sports. General examples of the Pareto principle: 20% of a plant contains 80% of the fruit. 80% of a company's profits come from 20% of customers.

What is a real world example of the 80 20 rule? ›

20% of your co-workers create 80% of the problems in the office. 20% of the fundraisers on staff are responsible for 80% of the organization's revenue. And, 20% of the carpet in your office gets used 80% of the time!

What is the 80 20 rule in investing? ›

In investing, the 80-20 rule generally holds that 20% of the holdings in a portfolio are responsible for 80% of the portfolio's growth. On the flip side, 20% of a portfolio's holdings could be responsible for 80% of its losses.

Is 80 20 a good asset allocation? ›

If you're a younger investor with a long time horizon and are comfortable taking on more risk, the 80/20 portfolio may be a good fit. However, if you're closer to retirement or prefer a more conservative approach, the 60/40 portfolio may be a better option.

What is the perfect asset allocation? ›

There is no such thing as a perfect asset allocation model. A good asset allocation varies by individual and can depend on various factors, including age, financial targets, and appetite for risk. Historically, an asset allocation of 60% stocks and 40% bonds was considered optimal.

Does the 80-20 rule still apply? ›

This is why the 80-20 rule is usually used in business, but you can also apply it to your personal goals, like finances and spending or even learning a new skill. The 80-20 rule requires you to throw out a few time-honored myths about productivity. First, the myth that everything matters equally – it doesn't.

Why is the 80-20 rule effective? ›

The 80/20 principle can be vital where work needs to be driven by relentless incremental progress. Finding the smaller percentages of actions that can yield the most impact in parallel with a few very big transformations is the key to much of effective risk management.

What is Warren Buffett's 90/10 rule? ›

Warren Buffet's 2013 letter explains the 90/10 rule—put 90% of assets in S&P 500 index funds and the other 10% in short-term government bonds.

Is 80/20 an aggressive portfolio? ›

If you take an ultra-aggressive approach, you could allocate 100% of your portfolio to stocks. Being moderately aggressive. move 80% of your portfolio to stocks and 20% to cash and bonds.

Which is better, 70/30 or 80/20? ›

The main difference between the 70/30 and 80/20 asset allocation models is how much risk you're taking. With an 80/20 allocation, you're devoting a larger share of your money to stocks, which can mean greater exposure to stock market volatility.

What is the 80 20 stock split? ›

When building a portfolio, you could consider investing in 20% of the stocks in the S&P 500 that have contributed 80% of the market's returns. Or you might create an 80-20 allocation: 80% of investments could be lower risk index funds while 20% might could be growth funds.

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