I I forgot to update the portfolio! I used to be so focused on my passive investing persona that I fell asleep on my spreadsheet and didn’t move on when the second quarter deadline passed on July 1st.
The markets are only distant background noise to me for the time being. Oil prices rise, oil prices fall. Another day, one other prophecy of AI doom.
It’s not that I do not care. It’s just that the query asked can’t be answered.
The query? Always be a variant of it,
Answers on a postcard
Here is the story of the 12 months to date, briefly told:
Data from only ETF. The chosen ETFs are representatives of the holdings of the Slow & Steady portfolio in addition to gold and raw materials.
Gold has been the loser for the reason that starting of the 12 months, commodities the winner.
Meanwhile, previously unpopular emerging markets and real estate are the crème de la crème of the stock industry.
Who had this written on their card for 2026?
Here’s the story again, told in shaky lines of uncertainty:
Gold (red line) hit a brand new high in early March before plunging 23%.
Buying opportunity or time to exit?
Resources (gray line) seem like commanded by the Grand Duke of York. The changeable idiot consistently marches uphill and downhill together with his harsh means. Do you wish some?
Emerging markets (blue line) have now beaten the MSCI World for the last three years. This is a comeback worthy of WWE, considering the brand new challengers were heavily harassed by developed market champions for 15 years after the credit crunch.
Me? I’m pleased to own all of it and let the chips fall where they might.
Portfolio-o-vision
Here are the portfolio holdings and long-term annualized returns since launching in 2011.
This is a model portfolio for passive investing. It was founded in early 2011 with £3,000. Each quarter an extra £1,360 is invested in a diversified range of index funds focused on stocks. You can read the origin story and find all previous passive portfolio contributions within the vaults. You can find the last quarter’s edition here.
The full growth picture looks like this:
In real terms, the portfolio remains to be 2.6% below its December 2021 peak. Another quarter or two of progress could take it to higher levels again.
However, it should be said that we now have been under pressure for five years for the reason that inflation spiral. In contrast, the recovery from the worldwide financial crisis took lower than three years for a 60/40 portfolio.
Unfortunately, traditional 60/40 portfolios have a history of experiencing such problems in periods of severe inflation. Consider adding additional protection to your coverage.
New transactions
Each quarter we plow an extra 1,360 kilos into the market’s black soil, hoping to reap loads of corn later. Our share is split between our seven funds in keeping with our predetermined asset allocation.
We restore balance using Larry Swedroe’s 5/25 rule. Since this has not yet been activated this quarter, the transactions are as follows:
Emerging market stocks
iShares Emerging Markets Equity Index Fund D – OCF 0.18%
Fund ID: GB00B84DY642
New purchase: £108.80
Buy 40.8946 units at £2.66
Global ownership
iShares Environment & Low Carbon Tilt Real Estate Index Fund – OCF 0.18%
Fund identifier: GB00B5BFJG71
New purchase: £68
Buy 25.5016 units at £2.67
Stocks from developed countries (excluding the UK).
Vanguard FTSE Developed World ex-UK Equity Index Fund – OCF 0.14%
Fund identifier: GB00B59G4Q73
New purchase: £503.20
Buy 0.5631 units at £893.61
British equity
Vanguard FTSE UK All-Share Index Trust – OCF 0.06%
Fund identifier: GB00B3X7QG63
New purchase: £68
Buy 0.18 units at £377.84
Global Small Cap Stocks
Vanguard Global Small-Cap Index Fund – OCF 0.29%
Fund identifier: IE00B3X1NT05
New purchase: £68
Buy 0.1189 units at £572
British government bonds
Vanguard UK Government Bond Index – OCF 0.12%
Fund identifier: IE00B1S75374
New purchase: £285.60
Buy 2,1189 units at £134.79
Global inflation-linked bonds
Royal London Short Duration Global Index-Linked Fund – OCF 0.27%
Fund ID: GB00BD050F05
New purchase: £258.40 + £118.92 dividend
Buy 343,9562 units at £1,097
New investment Contribution = £1,360
Trading costs = £0
Average Portfolio OCF = 0.17%
User manual
Check out our broker comparison table to search out the most effective investment account options.
Or discover more about selecting the most cost effective stocks ISA on your situation.
You may also prefer to review why we imagine most individuals select passive investing over energetic investing.
Be calm,
