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How much of your portfolio should be in stocks?

How much of your portfolio should be in stocks? It's one of investing's most important questions — and the standard answer is costing the average investor the equivalent of 2% of their lifetime consumption. Yale economists have finally built something better, and it fits in a spreadsheet.

Robin Powell

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Royal coat of arms carved in stone on a UK government building, featuring the lion and unicorn — are government bonds safe when the state itself has a centuries-old playbook for eroding their value?

Are government bonds really safe?

Are government bonds safe? Three centuries of UK and US data show they protect in recessions but fail during wars and pandemics — precisely when investors need them most. Here's what the evidence says, and two things you can do about it.

Robin Powell

Mar 309 min read

A middle-aged woman sits in a café, chin resting on her hand, looking thoughtfully into the distance — reflecting on how much of her portfolio should be in stocks

How much of your portfolio should be in stocks?

How much of your portfolio should be in stocks? It's one of investing's most important questions — and the standard answer is costing the average investor the equivalent of 2% of their lifetime consumption. Yale economists have finally built something better, and it fits in a spreadsheet.

Robin Powell

Mar 138 min read

Passenger holding a road map and turning to the driver on a narrow country lane, illustrating the case against concentrated funds: conviction in a "better route" doesn't always lead to better results

The case against concentrated funds: new evidence on the downsides of conviction

A major Morningstar study of more than 5,800 funds has delivered a clear verdict on concentrated funds: they charge higher fees, deliver lower returns, and suffer deeper losses than their more diversified peers. The evidence suggests most investors would be better off on the main road.

Robin Powell

Feb 238 min read

Jenga tower with weight concentrated on a few coloured blocks at the base, illustrating S&P 500 concentration risk and the fragility of portfolios reliant on a small number of holdings.

S&P 500 concentration risk: is your portfolio really diversified?

S&P 500 concentration risk is at historic highs. If you own a global tracker, your portfolio may be far less diversified than you think. Here's what you can do about it.

Robin Powell

Dec 19, 20252 min read

Why portfolio diversification matters more than ever

With the Magnificent Seven dominating the S&P 500, concentration risk is at historic highs. Here's why portfolio diversification remains your best defence.

Robin Powell

Dec 1, 20258 min read

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