Find the best asset allocation mix that will maximise your returns (2024)

Find the best asset allocation mix that will maximise your returns (1)

Despite knowing that equities can outperform all other asset classes in the long run, we do not invest all of our money in equities. There are three reasons for this.

One: Equity is the most volatile asset class, and not all of us are comfortable with volatility.

Two: It may be the best-performing asset class over the long term, but not all our goals are long-term. We do need money in the short term; some goals are perhaps three to five years away, and we definitely need some liquid cash for emergencies. And so, what if equity markets are down in the dumps when we need our money the most?

Three: Diversification helps; when one asset class is down, another is up, and your overall portfolio becomes more consistent.

Therefore, this begs the question:

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Which is the best asset allocation?

Moneycontrol Personal Finance ran some numbers. We took the Nifty 500 Total Return Index (TRI) to represent equity, the CRISIL Composite Bond Index as a proxy for fixed-income returns, and the Nippon India ETF (Exchange-Traded Fund) Gold BeES for gold. We took seven different asset allocations and chartered their year-on-year (YoY) performance from 2013 to 2023, as well as their three-year, five-year, and 10-year returns.

Asset allocation #1 (Globally recognised and most followed)

Equity: 60%

Debt: 40%

Asset allocation #2 (Equity-tilted; adding a touch of gold)

Equity: 70%

Debt: 20%

Gold: 10%

Asset allocation #3 (Equity-oriented; adding a touch of gold)

Equity: 60%

Debt: 30%

Gold: 10%

Asset allocation #4 (Balanced allocation)

Equity: 50%

Debt: 40%

Gold: 10%

Asset allocation #5 (Balanced allocation)

Equity: 50%

Debt: 30%

Gold: 20%

Asset allocation #6 (Equal weight)

Equity: 34%

Debt: 33%

Gold: 33%

Asset allocation #7 (Fixed income; a touch of gold and equity)

Equity: 20%

Debt: 60%

Gold: 20%

Find the best asset allocation mix that will maximise your returns (5)

Five key takeaways

Is the age of 60-40 over?

The 60:40 (equity-debt) asset allocation is universally accepted as the most basic allocation and has been widely popular for decades. And over the years, it worked well. Between 2013 and 2017, it was one of the best performers annually, except for 2016, when equity markets didn’t do well (Nifty 500 index, the benchmark, gave a return of just 5 percent that year).

Also Read:Mutual Funds Year-end Special 2023: 5 things that impacted how you invested in 2023

This trend is more visible if you take the five-year returns of the asset allocation buckets. Over a five-year period, the 60-40 allocation did exceedingly well, if you look at the performance taken as of the end of 2015 up until 2019. From 2020 onwards, the magic of 60-40 has waned.

A touch of gold helps

Find the best asset allocation mix that will maximise your returns (6)

By just adding a bit of gold to your portfolio, say 10–20 percent, your portfolio can deliver better returns. Thanks to strong equity performance in 2021 and 2023 and also gold’s run in 2023, the 70-20-10 (equity-debt-gold) combination has topped the charts. Even the 50-30-20 combination has done reasonably well since 2020.

On a five-year return basis, calculated at the end of 2020 until 2023, the 70-20-10 combination has given the best return.

Find the best asset allocation mix that will maximise your returns (7)

Equal weight is the most volatile

On a YoY basis, an equal weight combination (34-33-33) is the most volatile. From a loss of 1.8 percent in 2013 to a 15.8 percent return in 2023, this combination gets impacted when any one of its asset classes goes down. Its long-term return has been steadier and not that bad. Between 2013 and 2023, its average five-year return has been 9.8 percent. On account of its passive nature (no matter what, the asset allocation distributes your money equally among all asset classes), its long-term return is one of the lowest.

Also see:This debt fund is a winner, and not just when interest rates start to fall. Here’s why

Asset allocation is important

Where to invest now?Note that the Nifty 500 index has fallen sharply after years in which it has given a good return. In 2014, the Nifty 500 TRI gave a return of 39.30 percent; it fell in 2015 (0.22 percent return). In 2017, it gave a return of 37.78 percent return; it fell in 2018 (a loss of 2.13 percent). In 2023, the Nifty 500 TRI gave a return of 27 percent. Going by anecdotal evidence, it’s best to now adopt an asset allocation strategy to diversify across asset classes and have a comparatively more balanced portfolio.

Don’t go by returns; asset allocation is the key

Is there a best asset allocation? The answer is a resounding ‘NO’. Here’s why.

In the year 2023, the combination with the least amount of equity (20-60-20) gave a return of 12.3 percent. That’s way more than fixed deposits. In 2018, when equity markets were down (the S&P BSE Sensex gave a return of 5.9 percent and the Nifty 500 TRI lost 2.13 percent), the 20-60-20 option gave the best return of all combinations: 4.5 percent. The worst performer that year was 70-20-10).

Where to invest?

If you are a moderate-risk investor, it’s best to start with a 60-30-10 or 70-20-10 allocation. Those of you who have a 60-40 allocation can also add a touch of gold to their portfolios for better diversification.

If you are conservative, then 50-40-10 or 50-30-20 is a good way to start off on your investment journey.

Click here: List of MC30 mutual fund schemes

Find the best asset allocation mix that will maximise your returns (2024)

FAQs

Find the best asset allocation mix that will maximise your returns? ›

If you are a moderate-risk investor, it's best to start with a 60-30-10 or 70-20-10 allocation. Those of you who have a 60-40 allocation can also add a touch of gold to their portfolios for better diversification. If you are conservative, then 50-40-10 or 50-30-20 is a good way to start off on your investment journey.

What is a good asset allocation mix? ›

Many financial advisors recommend a 60/40 asset allocation between stocks and fixed income to take advantage of growth while keeping up your defenses.

What is the best asset allocation for income? ›

Income, Balanced and Growth Asset Allocation Models

We can divide asset allocation models into three broad groups: Income Portfolio: 70% to 100% in bonds. Balanced Portfolio: 40% to 60% in stocks. Growth Portfolio: 70% to 100% in stocks.

What is an example of an asset mix? ›

For an investment fund, asset mix breakdowns are one aspect of regular investment reporting. Fund managers provide investors with detailed percentages invested by each asset category in the portfolio. For example, they may invest 30% of a fund's assets in bonds, 50% of assets in stocks, and 10% in real estate.

What asset allocation would generate the highest average returns? ›

Stocks - Stocks have historically had the greatest risk and highest returns among the three major asset categories. As an asset category, stocks are a portfolio's "heavy hitter," offering the greatest potential for growth. Stocks hit home runs, but also strike out.

How to choose asset mix? ›

Your ideal asset allocation is the mix of investments, from most aggressive to safest, that will earn the total return over time that you need. The mix includes stocks, bonds, and cash or money market securities. The percentage of your portfolio you devote to each depends on your time frame and your tolerance for risk.

What is an example of asset allocation? ›

Strategic Asset Allocation Example

Smith, who has a conservative approach to investing and is five years away from retirement, has a strategic asset allocation of 40% equities / 40% fixed income / 20% cash.

What is the 4 rule for asset allocation? ›

One frequently used rule of thumb for retirement spending is known as the 4% rule. It's relatively simple: You add up all of your investments, and withdraw 4% of that total during your first year of retirement.

What are the four types of asset allocation? ›

There are several types of asset allocation strategies based on investment goals, risk tolerance, time frames and diversification. The most common forms of asset allocation are: strategic, dynamic, tactical, and core-satellite.

What is the rule of thumb for asset allocation? ›

The common rule of asset allocation by age is that you should hold a percentage of stocks that is equal to 100 minus your age. So if you're 40, you should hold 60% of your portfolio in stocks. Since life expectancy is growing, changing that rule to 110 minus your age or 120 minus your age may be more appropriate.

What is a balanced asset mix? ›

A balanced portfolio invests in both stocks and bonds to reduce potential volatility. An investor seeking a balanced portfolio is comfortable tolerating short-term price fluctuations, is willing to accept moderate growth, and has a mid- to long-range investment time horizon.

How does your asset mix affect your returns? ›

By including different asset classes in your portfolio, you increase the probability that some of your investments will provide satisfactory returns even if others are flat or losing value. Your asset allocation will depend on a number of factors, including your risk tolerance and your investment horizon.

What is a mixed asset portfolio? ›

Diversification can be complex. We've made it simple: Mixed Asset Portfolios where your money is invested across a range of assets from the get-go. Our Mixed Asset Portfolios include a blend of growth assets such as property and shares, as well as lower risk classes like cash and fixed interest.

Which type of asset has the highest return? ›

The U.S. stock market is considered to offer the highest investment returns over time. Higher returns, however, come with higher risk. Stock prices typically are more volatile than bond prices. Stock prices over shorter time periods are more volatile than stock prices over longer time periods.

Why is asset allocation important on returns? ›

The goal of asset allocation is to optimize returns while managing risk according to an individual's financial goals, time horizon, and risk tolerance. This article explores the importance of asset allocation and provides insights into crafting a well-diversified portfolio.

What is the best asset mix for retirement? ›

Some financial advisors recommend a mix of 60% stocks, 35% fixed income, and 5% cash when an investor is in their 60s. So, at age 55, and if you're still working and investing, you might consider that allocation or something with even more growth potential.

What is the 12 20 80 asset allocation rule? ›

Set aside 12 months of your expenses in liquid fund to take care of emergencies. Invest 20% of your investable surplus into gold, that generally has an inverse correlation with equity. Allocate the balance 80% of your investable surplus in a diversified equity portfolio.

What is the 4% rule for asset allocation? ›

The 4% rule is a popular retirement withdrawal strategy that suggests retirees can safely withdraw the amount equal to 4% of their savings during the year they retire and then adjust for inflation each subsequent year for 30 years.

What is the 4 percent rule for asset allocation? ›

The 4% rule entails withdrawing up to 4% of your retirement in the first year, and subsequently withdrawing based on inflation. Some risks of the 4% rule include whims of the market, life expectancy, and changing tax rates. The rule may not hold up today, and other withdrawal strategies may work better for your needs.

Is 70 30 a good asset allocation? ›

The 30% exposure to bonds buffers the risk of 70% equity exposure to some extent, besides providing stable returns. While asset allocation is generally governed by various factors including demographics and economics, the 70/30 rule may serve as a good starting point for most investors.

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