Staying the Course

The best portfolio is one you can stick with through thick and thin. It does not matter if some expert's allocation is theoretically optimal — if a 40% drop makes you sell everything, that portfolio was wrong for you. Know your risk tolerance honestly. Build a portfolio that lets you sleep at night during crashes. Then automate it, check it twice a year, and spend your mental energy elsewhere. Investing well is not about being smart. It is about being consistent.