Want a Simple ETF Portfolio? Here Are 25 of Them!

A 2013 WSJ article by Anna Prior highlighted the sheer diversity among products in the ETF universe and how investors can actually build fairly complete portfolios with just a few funds.

In the spirit of simplicity, below we outline 25 all-ETF portfolios, each comprising just three funds in total.*

*Please note that investors should adjust the suggested allocations within each of the strategies to better suite their individual risk preferences and current income needs (expenses as of 5/15/2015).

This strategy spans the globe, covering both equity and fixed-income asset classes from both developed and emerging markets:

This strategy is geared towards investors who are wary of international markets and would prefer to achieve foreign exposure tangentially through U.S. companies with overseas operations. A small bond component is also included to add diversification:

This portfolio is not for the risk-averse as it focuses entirely on foreign developed and emerging markets equity funds along with an ex-U.S. bond component:

Anyone with capital preservation as a top priority ought to consider this “safer” equity-centric strategy:

This is another strategy geared towards more risk-averse investors who wish to entirely steer clear of the infamous financials sector:

This strategy offers international stock and bond exposure while at the same time circumventing the inherent currency risk by utilizing U.S. dollar-denominated funds:

The name says it all; this strategy delivers targeted exposure to the BRIC markets:

Investors looking to steer clear of the debt-burdened currency bloc, but still wish to maintain international exposure, ought to consider this strategy:

This strategy focuses on the most cyclical sectors, and as such, should appeal to bullish investors with a stomach for volatility:

As a complement to the Cyclical-Tilt Portfolio, this strategy is based around consumer staples exposure across the globe, covering both developed and emerging markets; the bond component is heavily tilted towards consumer staples as well:

This strategy is intended for those with a bullish outlook on the global economy and is balanced between commodity stocks and futures-based exposure to natural resource prices:

It’s no secret that Asian markets are going to account for a growing share of global GDP growth over the coming years. However, Japan has long been stuck in a rut, and as such, this strategy entirely avoids exposure to this developed market in an otherwise booming region:

This strategy revolves around the investment principles embraced by the Wall Street legend:

This strategy should appeal to conservative investors or those nearing retirement and in search of meaningful current income; each of the components here pays out a monthly dividend:

This portfolio is intended for aggressive, long-term investors who wish to tap into the world’s fastest growing economies:

This strategy offers tangential exposure to commodity markets by focusing on the world’s largest producers of natural resources:

The name says it all, this is a traditional stock-and-bond portfolio with the distinguishing feature being its rock-bottom expense ratio:

For anyone looking to replicate the strategies of professional money managers, this is a great starting point:

Unlike most of the other strategies covered here, this portfolio is bond-heavy and geared towards very conservative investors who wish to preserve capital and generate a steady stream of income:

This strategy is geared towards aggressive investors with a long-term horizon in mind:

This strategy looks to weather all economic environments by holding on to three asset classes that have historically generated stable returns over the long haul:

With interest rates still stuck at historically low levels, this strategy should appeal to anyone looking to generate meaningful current income:

This strategy is intended for investors that fall in the high-income tax bracket, and as such, it avoids dividend-paying securities; the bond component is also made up entirely of municipal debt, which is tax-exempt:

Anyone looking to go against the bull trend should consider this strategy. Note that the holdings here are intended to serve as complements to a traditional long-only portfolio:

Since most investors’ portfolios tend to have a glaring home-country bias, this strategy looks to avoid direct exposure to U.S. stocks and bonds:

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Disclosure: No positions at time of writing.