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Model portfolios by risk level

Select Portfolios

Ten US portfolios and five each for Canada and the UK, one for every risk level, from the calmest to the most volatile. Anyone can see how they have done. What each one holds is part of Pro.

Portfolios

PortfolioYTD1 year3 years5 yearsSince start
PrairieRisk 1 of 5+5.8%+6.1%+13.5%+6.0%+6.5%
ShieldRisk 2 of 5+9.2%+8.6%+17.0%+7.4%+7.9%
BorealRisk 3 of 5+13.6%+12.6%+23.3%+10.6%+10.3%
ChinookRisk 4 of 5+14.1%+11.8%+25.3%+11.1%+12.2%
RockiesRisk 5 of 5+15.0%+10.6%+25.8%+11.9%+13.7%
For comparison: Canadian stocks (XIC)+14.3%+20.2%+26.8%+13.9%+11.0%
For comparison: Canadian bonds (XBB)+0.2%-0.9%+4.9%+0.6%+2.0%

1, 3 and 5 years run to the end of October 2026; 3 years, 5 years and since start are yearly averages. Dividends reinvested, after trading costs.

Risk 3 of 5 · Canada

Boreal

Mostly stocks from the US, Canada and emerging markets, with a short-term bond cushion.

Started January 2013 · 2026 so far +13.6% to October 30, 2026

Growth of CA$10,000
BorealCanadian stocks (XIC)
CA$0CA$14,390CA$28,780CA$43,17020132014201520162017201820192020202120222023202420252026

Five funds, at least 10% each, chosen from Canada listings.

See what each portfolio holds.

Pro shows the five funds and the weights behind every one of the Select Portfolios, how far each has drifted since January 1, and opens any of them in the backtester. Included with Pro and up.

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Gain or loss each year

Boreal, by calendar year
2013
8.4%
2014
13.9%
2015
−1.1%
2016
6.7%
2017
10.1%
2018
−1.6%
2019
25.2%
2020
8.7%
2021
22.3%
2022
−18%
2023
20.9%
2024
24%
2025
17.6%
2026 to October 30
13.6%

Performance, January 2013 to October 2026

MeasureBorealCanadian stocks (XIC)
Start balanceCA$10,000CA$10,000
End balanceCA$38,609CA$42,542
Yearly return10.3%11.0%
Volatility10.3%12.0%
Sharpe ratio0.840.80
Worst fall-19.6%-22.5%

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.