Ben Stein Long Term Portfolio vs Scott Burns Couch Potato Portfolio Portfolio Comparison

Simulation Settings

Period: January 1985 - January 2026 (~41 years)
Consolidated Returns as of 31 January 2026

Initial Amount: 1$

Rebalancing: at every Jan 1^st

Currency: USD

Inflation: US

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Results

30 Years
(1996/02 - 2026/01)

All Data
(1985/01 - 2026/01)

Inflation Adjusted:

Ben Stein Long Term Portfolio

1.00$
Invested Capital
February 1996
9.57$
Final Capital
January 2026
7.82%
Yearly Return
12.46%
Std Deviation
-45.92%
Max Drawdown
42months
Recovery Period

1.00$
Invested Capital
February 1996
4.54$
Final Capital
January 2026
5.17%
Yearly Return
12.46%
Std Deviation
-46.81%
Max Drawdown
66months
Recovery Period

1.00$
Invested Capital
January 1985
43.34$
Final Capital
January 2026
9.61%
Yearly Return
12.19%
Std Deviation
-45.92%
Max Drawdown
42months
Recovery Period

1.00$
Invested Capital
January 1985
14.02$
Final Capital
January 2026
6.64%
Yearly Return
12.19%
Std Deviation
-46.81%
Max Drawdown
66months
Recovery Period

Scott Burns Couch Potato Portfolio

1.00$
Invested Capital
February 1996
9.92$
Final Capital
January 2026
7.95%
Yearly Return
8.72%
Std Deviation
-27.04%
Max Drawdown
30months
Recovery Period

1.00$
Invested Capital
February 1996
4.70$
Final Capital
January 2026
5.30%
Yearly Return
8.72%
Std Deviation
-28.24%
Max Drawdown
36months
Recovery Period

1.00$
Invested Capital
January 1985
40.74$
Final Capital
January 2026
9.44%
Yearly Return
8.98%
Std Deviation
-27.04%
Max Drawdown
30months
Recovery Period

1.00$
Invested Capital
January 1985
13.18$
Final Capital
January 2026
6.48%
Yearly Return
8.98%
Std Deviation
-28.24%
Max Drawdown
36months
Recovery Period

As of January 2026, in the previous 30 Years, the Ben Stein Long Term Portfolio obtained a 7.82% compound annual return, with a 12.46% standard deviation. It suffered a maximum drawdown of -45.92% that required 42 months to be recovered.

As of January 2026, in the previous 30 Years, the Scott Burns Couch Potato Portfolio obtained a 7.95% compound annual return, with a 8.72% standard deviation. It suffered a maximum drawdown of -27.04% that required 30 months to be recovered.

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Disclaimer: The simulations on this website are provided in good faith but should NOT be taken as investment advice. We are not liable for any errors or actions based on this information. The authors of the website are not affiliated with the portfolio creators, who are the sole owners of their intellectual property. The translation of asset allocations into ETFs is based on the interpretation of LazyPortfolioETF.com and may not exactly reflect the original intent of the portfolio creators. Content is for informational, educational, illustrative, and entertainment purposes only.

Resources & Extras

Asset Allocations and ETFs

The compared portfolios have the following asset allocations.

Ben Stein Long Term Portfolio

Weight (%)	Ticker	Name
30.00	VTI	Vanguard Total Stock Market
20.00	EFA	iShares MSCI EAFE
10.00	EEM	iShares MSCI Emerging Markets
10.00	IJS	iShares S&P Small-Cap 600 Value
10.00	VNQ	Vanguard Real Estate
20.00	BIL	SPDR Blmbg Barclays 1-3 Mth T-Bill

Scott Burns Couch Potato Portfolio

Weight (%)	Ticker	Name
50.00	VTI	Vanguard Total Stock Market
50.00	TIP	iShares TIPS Bond

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Portfolio Returns as of Jan 31, 2026

Returns are calculated in USD, assuming:

no fees or capital gain taxes.
rebalancing: at every Jan 1^st.
dividend reinvestment, when applicable.

Return Comparison

Capital Growth

30 Years
(1996/02 - 2026/01)

All Data
(1985/01 - 2026/01)

Inflation Adjusted:

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	Initial Amount $	Final Amount $	Total Return (%)	Annualized (%)
Long Term Portfolio Ben Stein	1 $	9.57 $	857.26%	7.82%
Couch Potato Scott Burns	1 $	9.92 $	891.61%	7.95%
	Feb 1996	Jan 2026

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	Initial Amount $	Final Amount $	Total Return (%)	Annualized (%)
Long Term Portfolio Ben Stein	1 $	4.54 $	354.10%	5.17%
Couch Potato Scott Burns	1 $	4.70 $	370.40%	5.30%
	Feb 1996	Jan 2026

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	Initial Amount $	Final Amount $	Total Return (%)	Annualized (%)
Long Term Portfolio Ben Stein	1 $	43.34 $	4 234.30%	9.61%
Couch Potato Scott Burns	1 $	40.74 $	3 974.25%	9.44%
	Jan 1985	Jan 2026

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	Initial Amount $	Final Amount $	Total Return (%)	Annualized (%)
Long Term Portfolio Ben Stein	1 $	14.02 $	1 302.17%	6.64%
Couch Potato Scott Burns	1 $	13.18 $	1 218.05%	6.48%
	Jan 1985	Jan 2026

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		Return (%) as of Jan 31, 2026
		YTD (1M)	1M	6M	1Y	5Y	10Y	30Y	MAX (~41Y)
	Long Term Portfolio Ben Stein	3.23	3.23	11.78	17.48	8.99	9.74	7.82	9.61
	Couch Potato Scott Burns	1.05	1.05	6.36	10.67	7.20	8.96	7.95	9.44
Returns over 1 year are annualized.

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Portfolio Metrics as of Jan 31, 2026

The following metrics, updated as of 31 January 2026, provide an overview of performance and risk, with the best value in each row highlighted within the table.

METRIC COMPARISON

Period: 1 February 2025 - 31 January 2026 (1 year)

Period: 1 February 2021 - 31 January 2026 (5 years)

Period: 1 February 2016 - 31 January 2026 (10 years)

Period: 1 February 1996 - 31 January 2026 (30 years)

Period: 1 January 1985 - 31 January 2026 (~41 years)

1 Year

5 Years

10 Years

30 Years

All (1985/01 - 2026/01)

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	Long Term Portfolio	Couch Potato
Author	Ben Stein	Scott Burns
ASSET ALLOCATION
Stocks	80%	50%
Fixed Income	20%	50%
Commodities	0%	0%
PERFORMANCES
Annualized Return (%)	17.48	10.67
Infl. Adjusted (%)	14.98	8.31
DRAWDOWN
Deepest Drawdown Depth (%)	-2.48	-2.83
Start to Recovery (months)	3	4
Longest Drawdown Depth (%)	-2.48	-2.83
Start to Recovery (months)	3	4
Longest Negative Period (months)	3	4
RISK INDICATORS
Standard Deviation (%)	6.10	5.08
Sharpe Ratio	2.20	1.29
Sortino Ratio	3.01	1.69
Ulcer Index	0.95	1.06
Ratio: Return / Standard Deviation	2.87	2.10
Ratio: Return / Deepest Drawdown	7.05	3.78
Metrics calculated over the period 1 February 2025 - 31 January 2026

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	Long Term Portfolio	Couch Potato
Author	Ben Stein	Scott Burns
ASSET ALLOCATION
Stocks	80%	50%
Fixed Income	20%	50%
Commodities	0%	0%
PERFORMANCES
Annualized Return (%)	8.99	7.20
Infl. Adjusted (%)	4.36	2.65
DRAWDOWN
Deepest Drawdown Depth (%)	-20.52	-19.77
Start to Recovery (months)	26	27
Longest Drawdown Depth (%)	-20.52	-19.77
Start to Recovery (months)	26	27
Longest Negative Period (months)	32	32
RISK INDICATORS
Standard Deviation (%)	11.53	10.00
Sharpe Ratio	0.51	0.40
Sortino Ratio	0.68	0.52
Ulcer Index	6.71	7.29
Ratio: Return / Standard Deviation	0.78	0.72
Ratio: Return / Deepest Drawdown	0.44	0.36
Metrics calculated over the period 1 February 2021 - 31 January 2026

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	Long Term Portfolio	Couch Potato
Author	Ben Stein	Scott Burns
ASSET ALLOCATION
Stocks	80%	50%
Fixed Income	20%	50%
Commodities	0%	0%
PERFORMANCES
Annualized Return (%)	9.74	8.96
Infl. Adjusted (%)	6.32	5.57
DRAWDOWN
Deepest Drawdown Depth (%)	-20.52	-19.77
Start to Recovery (months)	26	27
Longest Drawdown Depth (%)	-20.52	-19.77
Start to Recovery (months)	26	27
Longest Negative Period (months)	34	32
RISK INDICATORS
Standard Deviation (%)	11.75	9.23
Sharpe Ratio	0.65	0.75
Sortino Ratio	0.86	0.97
Ulcer Index	5.65	5.42
Ratio: Return / Standard Deviation	0.83	0.97
Ratio: Return / Deepest Drawdown	0.47	0.45
Metrics calculated over the period 1 February 2016 - 31 January 2026

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	Long Term Portfolio	Couch Potato
Author	Ben Stein	Scott Burns
ASSET ALLOCATION
Stocks	80%	50%
Fixed Income	20%	50%
Commodities	0%	0%
PERFORMANCES
Annualized Return (%)	7.82	7.95
Infl. Adjusted (%)	5.17	5.30
DRAWDOWN
Deepest Drawdown Depth (%)	-45.92	-27.04
Start to Recovery (months)	42	30
Longest Drawdown Depth (%)	-45.92	-10.30
Start to Recovery (months)	42	33
Longest Negative Period (months)	110	62
RISK INDICATORS
Standard Deviation (%)	12.46	8.72
Sharpe Ratio	0.45	0.65
Sortino Ratio	0.58	0.86
Ulcer Index	9.47	5.17
Ratio: Return / Standard Deviation	0.63	0.91
Ratio: Return / Deepest Drawdown	0.17	0.29
Metrics calculated over the period 1 February 1996 - 31 January 2026

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	Long Term Portfolio	Couch Potato
Author	Ben Stein	Scott Burns
ASSET ALLOCATION
Stocks	80%	50%
Fixed Income	20%	50%
Commodities	0%	0%
PERFORMANCES
Annualized Return (%)	9.61	9.44
Infl. Adjusted (%)	6.64	6.48
DRAWDOWN
Deepest Drawdown Depth (%)	-45.92	-27.04
Start to Recovery (months)	42	30
Longest Drawdown Depth (%)	-45.92	-10.30
Start to Recovery (months)	42	33
Longest Negative Period (months)	110	62
RISK INDICATORS
Standard Deviation (%)	12.19	8.98
Sharpe Ratio	0.53	0.70
Sortino Ratio	0.68	0.92
Ulcer Index	8.44	4.80
Ratio: Return / Standard Deviation	0.79	1.05
Ratio: Return / Deepest Drawdown	0.21	0.35
Metrics calculated over the period 1 January 1985 - 31 January 2026

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Drawdowns

A drawdown refers to the decline in value from a relative peak value to a relative trough. A maximum drawdown is the maximum observed loss from a peak to a trough of a portfolio before a new peak is attained.

DRAWDOWN COMPARISON

Period: 1 February 1996 - 31 January 2026 (30 years)

Period: 1 January 1985 - 31 January 2026 (~41 years)

30 Years
(1996/02 - 2026/01)

Chart Table

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Long Term Portfolio			Couch Potato
Drawdown (%)	Recovery (#Months)	From To	Drawdown (%)	Recovery (#Months)	From To
-45.92	42	Nov 2007 Apr 2011
			-27.04	30	Nov 2007 Apr 2010
-23.11	39	Sep 2000 Nov 2003
-20.52	26	Jan 2022 Feb 2024
			-19.77	27	Jan 2022 Mar 2024
-19.33	11	Jan 2020 Nov 2020
-16.94	19	May 2011 Nov 2012
-15.80	11	May 1998 Mar 1999
			-10.72	5	Feb 2020 Jun 2020
-10.70	8	Sep 2018 Apr 2019
			-10.30	33	Sep 2000 May 2003
-9.84	14	Jun 2015 Jul 2016
			-8.06	8	Sep 2018 Apr 2019
			-8.06	5	Jul 1998 Nov 1998
			-6.25	8	May 2011 Dec 2011

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Long Term Portfolio			Couch Potato
Drawdown (%)	Recovery (#Months)	From To	Drawdown (%)	Recovery (#Months)	From To
-45.92	42	Nov 2007 Apr 2011
			-27.04	30	Nov 2007 Apr 2010
-23.11	39	Sep 2000 Nov 2003
-20.52	26	Jan 2022 Feb 2024
-20.11	17	Sep 1987 Jan 1989
			-19.77	27	Jan 2022 Mar 2024
-19.33	11	Jan 2020 Nov 2020
-16.94	19	May 2011 Nov 2012
			-16.03	17	Sep 1987 Jan 1989
-15.80	11	May 1998 Mar 1999
-15.40	14	Jan 1990 Feb 1991
			-10.72	5	Feb 2020 Jun 2020
-10.70	8	Sep 2018 Apr 2019
			-10.30	33	Sep 2000 May 2003
-9.84	14	Jun 2015 Jul 2016

Rolling Returns

By selecting the 'Rolling Period', the chart and data will update. To study a different date range, change the Simulation Settings.

You can explore the Rolling Returns for a single portfolio, or check the return differential, by switching on "Head To Head" toggle.

Rolling Returns Comparison

Annualized Rolling Returns Chart

Rolling Returns Chart - Inflation Adjusted

Time Period: 1 January 1985 - 31 January 2026 (~41 years)

Rolling Period:

Long Term Portfolio
Couch Potato

Head To Head (Ptf 1 vs Ptf 2):

US Inflation Adjusted:

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Yearly Returns

For each year, the following table provides the return and intra-year drawdown. The highlighted returns represent the highest values for that specific year.

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	Long Term Portfolio		Couch Potato
Year	Return (%)	Drawdown (%)	Return (%)	Drawdown (%)
2026	3.23	0.00	1.05	0.00
2025	16.64	-2.48	11.93	-2.83
2024	10.74	-3.34	12.73	-3.08
2023	16.02	-8.92	14.66	-6.50
2022	-14.26	-20.52	-16.31	-19.77
2021	16.72	-3.20	15.67	-2.76
2020	9.40	-19.33	15.93	-10.72
2019	21.13	-4.75	19.51	-2.63
2018	-7.39	-10.70	-3.32	-8.06
2017	16.88	0.00	12.07	0.00
2016	9.22	-4.80	8.75	-2.08
2015	-2.18	-8.57	-0.70	-5.47
2014	5.91	-3.45	8.07	-2.34
2013	18.10	-2.66	12.48	-3.18
2012	14.19	-7.09	11.42	-2.32
2011	-3.35	-16.94	7.12	-6.25
2010	13.80	-10.43	11.78	-6.09
2009	26.25	-17.28	18.92	-9.98
2008	-30.51	-33.62	-18.47	-22.29
2007	5.66	-5.92	8.64	-1.70
2006	19.42	-3.62	7.99	-1.54
2005	10.21	-3.30	4.40	-1.83
2004	15.66	-4.29	10.53	-3.54
2003	30.79	-3.98	19.38	-1.09
2002	-10.67	-17.62	-1.93	-6.44
2001	-4.80	-15.85	-1.68	-8.57
2000	-2.79	-8.99	3.54	-5.60
1999	21.76	-2.43	9.67	-3.30
1998	7.54	-15.80	16.26	-8.06
1997	13.81	-4.54	21.85	-3.41
1996	15.37	-3.55	11.14	-2.76
1995	16.95	-1.90	29.40	0.00
1994	-0.18	-6.15	-3.21	-8.78
1993	23.87	-3.66	13.19	-1.53
1992	3.67	-3.34	8.92	-2.25
1991	31.77	-4.13	25.50	-2.55
1990	-8.84	-15.40	1.06	-7.58
1989	25.31	-2.86	21.95	-1.62
1988	19.53	-2.49	11.91	-2.50
1987	2.59	-20.11	1.19	-16.03
1986	22.75	-4.06	16.48	-5.55
1985	30.54	-2.54	28.66	-1.87

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Table of contents

Resources & Extras

Asset Allocations and ETFs

Portfolio Returns as of Jan 31, 2026

Portfolio Metrics as of Jan 31, 2026

Drawdowns

Rolling Returns

Yearly Returns