Model portfolios by risk level
Our Portfolios
We built these portfolios ourselves: ten for the US and five each for Canada and the UK. Each holds five funds and is built for one risk level, from 1, the calmest, to 5, the most volatile, so you can see what each step up in risk has meant.
A risk level is a yearly swing we aim for: for the UK portfolios, from about 3% at level 1 to about 13% at level 5. Higher levels have grown faster over time and fallen further in bad years. Anyone can see how they have done; what each one holds is part of Pro.
Portfolios
Closing prices to Friday, October 30, 2026 · updated after every trading day
| Portfolio | 2026 so far | 5-year growth per year | 5-year worst fall | 5-year yearly swing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ThamesRisk 1 of 5 | +1.8% | +3.7% | -4.1% | 3.2% |
| CotswoldRisk 2 of 5 | +5.7% | +6.9% | -7.8% | 6.8% |
| PennineRisk 3 of 5 | +15.8% | +9.8% | -11.3% | 9.4% |
| SnowdonRisk 4 of 5 | +26.7% | +10.7% | -10.4% | 11.4% |
| Ben NevisRisk 5 of 5 | +46.1% | +12.7% | -12.2% | 14.0% |
| For comparison: UK stocks (ISF) | +10.8% | +12.0% | -7.9% | 10.1% |
| For comparison: UK gilts (VGOV) | -1.2% | -5.7% | -33.3% | 10.0% |
The 5-year figures run from November 2021 to the end of October 2026. Growth per year is the average yearly return; worst fall is the deepest drop from a high; yearly swing is how much the value typically moves in a year (volatility). Dividends reinvested, after trading costs. Each portfolio's full record, from its start, is below the table.
Risk 1 of 5 · United Kingdom
Thames
The calmest UK rung: mostly cash-like funds and short-term government bonds, with dividend stocks and precious metals.
Started January 2018 · 2026 so far +1.8% to October 30, 2026
Five funds, at least 10% each, chosen from United Kingdom listings.
See what each portfolio holds.
Pro shows the five funds and the weights behind each of our model portfolios, how far each has drifted since January 1, and opens any of them in the backtester. Included with Pro and up.
Gain or loss each year
Performance, January 2018 to October 2026
| Measure | Thames | UK stocks (ISF) |
|---|---|---|
| Start balance | £10,000 | £10,000 |
| End balance | £12,753 | £18,912 |
| Yearly return | 2.8% | 7.5% |
| Volatility | 3.1% | 12.3% |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.13 | 0.46 |
| Worst fall | -5.3% | -24.8% |
Returns before November 3, 2026 come from a walk-forward test: each December the five funds were chosen from earlier prices only, then held for the next year. The 2026 portfolios were built on November 3, 2026 from prices up to December 31, 2025, and are recorded as they happen from then on. They are rebuilt the same way from prices to December 31, 2026.
A risk level describes how much a portfolio swings, not who should own it. These portfolios are research we publish for every reader alike, not advice for your situation. See our methodology for how prices and dividends are handled.
For educational and informational purposes only, not financial, investment, tax, or legal advice. Backtests are hypothetical; past performance does not guarantee future results.