Skip to content

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 1 of 5 · Canada

Prairie

The calmest Canadian rung: three-quarters in Canadian bonds, the rest in stocks.

Started January 2013 · 2026 so far +5.8% to October 30, 2026

Growth of CA$10,000
PrairieCanadian 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.

See plansNo credit card needed.

Gain or loss each year

Prairie, by calendar year
2013
6.1%
2014
10.8%
2015
0%
2016
6.4%
2017
8.2%
2018
−2.3%
2019
18%
2020
1.4%
2021
13.9%
2022
−10%
2023
8.4%
2024
19.1%
2025
8%
2026 to October 30
5.8%

Performance, January 2013 to October 2026

MeasurePrairieCanadian stocks (XIC)
Start balanceCA$10,000CA$10,000
End balanceCA$23,951CA$42,542
Yearly return6.5%11.0%
Volatility6.7%12.0%
Sharpe ratio0.740.80
Worst fall-14.0%-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.