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 Canadian portfolios, from about 5% at level 1 to about 16% 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
| Portfolio | 2026 so far | Growth per year | Worst fall | Yearly swing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PrairieRisk 1 of 5 | +5.8% | +6.5% | -14.0% | 6.7% |
| ShieldRisk 2 of 5 | +9.2% | +7.9% | -16.5% | 8.3% |
| BorealRisk 3 of 5 | +13.6% | +10.3% | -19.6% | 10.3% |
| ChinookRisk 4 of 5 | +14.1% | +12.2% | -25.1% | 12.2% |
| RockiesRisk 5 of 5 | +15.0% | +13.7% | -28.1% | 13.6% |
| For comparison: Canadian stocks (XIC) | +14.3% | +11.0% | -22.5% | 12.0% |
| For comparison: Canadian bonds (XBB) | +0.2% | +2.0% | -15.7% | 5.1% |
Growth per year, worst fall and yearly swing run from January 2013 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.
Risk 5 of 5 · Canada
Rockies
The most volatile Canadian rung: all stocks, concentrated in a few growth sectors.
Started January 2013 · 2026 so far +15.0% to October 30, 2026
Five funds, at least 10% each, chosen from Canada 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 2013 to October 2026
| Measure | Rockies | Canadian stocks (XIC) |
|---|---|---|
| Start balance | CA$10,000 | CA$10,000 |
| End balance | CA$59,035 | CA$42,542 |
| Yearly return | 13.7% | 11.0% |
| Volatility | 13.6% | 12.0% |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.90 | 0.80 |
| Worst fall | -28.1% | -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.