Ben Stein Perfect Portfolio vs Merrill Lynch Edge Select Moderately Aggressive Portfolio Portfolio Comparison

Simulation Settings
Period: January 1985 - April 2025 (~40 years)
Consolidated Returns as of 30 April 2025
Rebalancing: at every Jan 1st
Currency: USD
Inflation: US
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Results
30 Years
All (since January 1985)
Inflation Adjusted:
Ben Stein Perfect Portfolio
1.00$
Initial Capital
May 1995
9.06$
Final Capital
April 2025
7.62%
Yearly Return
12.33%
Std Deviation
-44.81%
Max Drawdown
62months
Recovery Period
1.00$
Initial Capital
May 1995
4.30$
Final Capital
April 2025
4.98%
Yearly Return
12.33%
Std Deviation
-45.72%
Max Drawdown
71months
Recovery Period
1.00$
Initial Capital
January 1985
37.24$
Final Capital
April 2025
9.38%
Yearly Return
12.32%
Std Deviation
-44.81%
Max Drawdown
62months
Recovery Period
1.00$
Initial Capital
January 1985
12.29$
Final Capital
April 2025
6.42%
Yearly Return
12.32%
Std Deviation
-45.72%
Max Drawdown
71months
Recovery Period
Merrill Lynch Edge Select Moderately Aggressive Portfolio
1.00$
Initial Capital
May 1995
10.19$
Final Capital
April 2025
8.05%
Yearly Return
11.15%
Std Deviation
-38.23%
Max Drawdown
38months
Recovery Period
1.00$
Initial Capital
May 1995
4.84$
Final Capital
April 2025
5.40%
Yearly Return
11.15%
Std Deviation
-39.25%
Max Drawdown
42months
Recovery Period
1.00$
Initial Capital
January 1985
43.69$
Final Capital
April 2025
9.82%
Yearly Return
11.23%
Std Deviation
-38.23%
Max Drawdown
38months
Recovery Period
1.00$
Initial Capital
January 1985
14.42$
Final Capital
April 2025
6.84%
Yearly Return
11.23%
Std Deviation
-39.25%
Max Drawdown
42months
Recovery Period

As of April 2025, in the previous 30 Years, the Ben Stein Perfect Portfolio obtained a 7.62% compound annual return, with a 12.33% standard deviation. It suffered a maximum drawdown of -44.81% that required 62 months to be recovered.

As of April 2025, in the previous 30 Years, the Merrill Lynch Edge Select Moderately Aggressive Portfolio obtained a 8.05% compound annual return, with a 11.15% standard deviation. It suffered a maximum drawdown of -38.23% that required 38 months to be recovered.

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.
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Asset Allocations and ETFs

The compared portfolios have the following asset allocations.

Weight
(%)
Ticker Name
20.00
SPY
SPDR S&P 500
20.00
VTI
Vanguard Total Stock Market
20.00
VEA
Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets
12.00
EEM
iShares MSCI Emerging Markets
4.00
XLE
Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund
4.00
VNQ
Vanguard Real Estate
20.00
BIL
SPDR Blmbg Barclays 1-3 Mth T-Bill
Weight
(%)
Ticker Name
25.00
VUG
Vanguard Growth
17.00
VEU
Vanguard FTSE All-World ex-US
16.00
VTV
Vanguard Value
7.00
EEM
iShares MSCI Emerging Markets
2.00
IJS
iShares S&P Small-Cap 600 Value
2.00
IJT
iShares S&P Small-Cap 600 Growth
9.00
IEI
iShares 3-7 Year Treasury Bond
9.00
LQD
iShares Investment Grade Corporate Bond
7.00
MBB
iShares MBS
3.00
HYG
iShares iBoxx $ High Yield Corporate Bond
2.00
BIL
SPDR Blmbg Barclays 1-3 Mth T-Bill
1.00
BNDX
Vanguard Total International Bond
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Portfolio Returns as of Apr 30, 2025

Returns are calculated in USD, assuming:
  • no fees or capital gain taxes.
  • rebalancing: at every Jan 1st.
  • dividend reinvestment, when applicable.
RETURN COMPARISON
Period: 1 January 1985 - 30 April 2025 (~40 years)
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Return (%) as of Apr 30, 2025
YTD
(4M)
1M 6M 1Y 5Y 10Y 30Y MAX
(~40Y)
//www.lazyportfolioetf.com/wp-content/themes/dynamico-child/img/author/avatar_ben_stein.webp Perfect Portfolio
Ben Stein
0.71 -0.07 0.95 9.80 11.36 7.39 7.62 9.38
//www.lazyportfolioetf.com/wp-content/themes/dynamico-child/img/author/avatar_merrill_lynch.webp Edge Select Moderately Aggressive
Merrill Lynch
0.12 0.37 1.18 11.11 9.66 7.52 8.05 9.82
Return over 1 year are annualized.
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Capital Growth as of Apr 30, 2025

Ben Stein Perfect Portfolio: an investment of 1$, since May 1995, now would be worth 9.06$, with a total return of 806.19% (7.62% annualized).

Merrill Lynch Edge Select Moderately Aggressive Portfolio: an investment of 1$, since May 1995, now would be worth 10.19$, with a total return of 919.37% (8.05% annualized).


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Ben Stein Perfect Portfolio: an investment of 1$, since January 1985, now would be worth 37.24$, with a total return of 3624.23% (9.38% annualized).

Merrill Lynch Edge Select Moderately Aggressive Portfolio: an investment of 1$, since January 1985, now would be worth 43.69$, with a total return of 4269.36% (9.82% annualized).


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Portfolio Metrics as of Apr 30, 2025

The following metrics, updated as of 30 April 2025, provide an overview of performance and risk, with the best value in each row highlighted within the table.

METRIC COMPARISON
Period: 1 May 2024 - 30 April 2025 (1 year)
Period: 1 May 2020 - 30 April 2025 (5 years)
Period: 1 May 2015 - 30 April 2025 (10 years)
Period: 1 May 1995 - 30 April 2025 (30 years)
Period: 1 January 1985 - 30 April 2025 (~40 years)
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Perfect Portfolio Edge Select Moderately Aggressive
Author Ben Stein Merrill Lynch
ASSET ALLOCATION
Stocks 80% 69%
Fixed Income 20% 31%
Commodities 0% 0%
PERFORMANCES
Annualized Return (%) 9.80 11.11
Infl. Adjusted Return (%) 7.57 8.86
DRAWDOWN
Deepest Drawdown Depth (%) -2.69 -2.56
Start to Recovery (months) 3 2*
Longest Drawdown Depth (%) -2.69 -2.23
Start to Recovery (months) 3 3
Longest Negative Period (months) 7* 7*
Drawdowns / Negative periods marked with * are in progress
RISK INDICATORS
Standard Deviation (%) 6.75 7.15
Sharpe Ratio 0.74 0.88
Sortino Ratio 0.95 1.13
Ulcer Index 1.20 1.26
Ratio: Return / Standard Deviation 1.45 1.55
Ratio: Return / Deepest Drawdown 3.65 4.34
Metrics calculated over the period 1 May 2024 - 30 April 2025
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Perfect Portfolio Edge Select Moderately Aggressive
Author Ben Stein Merrill Lynch
ASSET ALLOCATION
Stocks 80% 69%
Fixed Income 20% 31%
Commodities 0% 0%
PERFORMANCES
Annualized Return (%) 11.36 9.66
Infl. Adjusted Return (%) 6.53 4.90
DRAWDOWN
Deepest Drawdown Depth (%) -18.32 -22.31
Start to Recovery (months) 19 26
Longest Drawdown Depth (%) -18.32 -22.31
Start to Recovery (months) 19 26
Longest Negative Period (months) 30 34
RISK INDICATORS
Standard Deviation (%) 11.93 12.06
Sharpe Ratio 0.74 0.59
Sortino Ratio 1.01 0.80
Ulcer Index 5.25 7.72
Ratio: Return / Standard Deviation 0.95 0.80
Ratio: Return / Deepest Drawdown 0.62 0.43
Metrics calculated over the period 1 May 2020 - 30 April 2025
Swipe left to see all data
Perfect Portfolio Edge Select Moderately Aggressive
Author Ben Stein Merrill Lynch
ASSET ALLOCATION
Stocks 80% 69%
Fixed Income 20% 31%
Commodities 0% 0%
PERFORMANCES
Annualized Return (%) 7.39 7.52
Infl. Adjusted Return (%) 4.19 4.31
DRAWDOWN
Deepest Drawdown Depth (%) -18.62 -22.31
Start to Recovery (months) 8 26
Longest Drawdown Depth (%) -18.32 -22.31
Start to Recovery (months) 19 26
Longest Negative Period (months) 33 34
RISK INDICATORS
Standard Deviation (%) 11.85 11.24
Sharpe Ratio 0.48 0.51
Sortino Ratio 0.63 0.69
Ulcer Index 5.17 6.09
Ratio: Return / Standard Deviation 0.62 0.67
Ratio: Return / Deepest Drawdown 0.40 0.34
Metrics calculated over the period 1 May 2015 - 30 April 2025
Swipe left to see all data
Perfect Portfolio Edge Select Moderately Aggressive
Author Ben Stein Merrill Lynch
ASSET ALLOCATION
Stocks 80% 69%
Fixed Income 20% 31%
Commodities 0% 0%
PERFORMANCES
Annualized Return (%) 7.62 8.05
Infl. Adjusted Return (%) 4.98 5.40
DRAWDOWN
Deepest Drawdown Depth (%) -44.81 -38.23
Start to Recovery (months) 62 38
Longest Drawdown Depth (%) -44.81 -25.60
Start to Recovery (months) 62 41
Longest Negative Period (months) 111 110
RISK INDICATORS
Standard Deviation (%) 12.33 11.15
Sharpe Ratio 0.43 0.52
Sortino Ratio 0.57 0.68
Ulcer Index 10.43 8.51
Ratio: Return / Standard Deviation 0.62 0.72
Ratio: Return / Deepest Drawdown 0.17 0.21
Metrics calculated over the period 1 May 1995 - 30 April 2025
Swipe left to see all data
Perfect Portfolio Edge Select Moderately Aggressive
Author Ben Stein Merrill Lynch
ASSET ALLOCATION
Stocks 80% 69%
Fixed Income 20% 31%
Commodities 0% 0%
PERFORMANCES
Annualized Return (%) 9.38 9.82
Infl. Adjusted Return (%) 6.42 6.84
DRAWDOWN
Deepest Drawdown Depth (%) -44.81 -38.23
Start to Recovery (months) 62 38
Longest Drawdown Depth (%) -44.81 -25.60
Start to Recovery (months) 62 41
Longest Negative Period (months) 111 110
RISK INDICATORS
Standard Deviation (%) 12.32 11.23
Sharpe Ratio 0.51 0.59
Sortino Ratio 0.66 0.78
Ulcer Index 9.36 7.68
Ratio: Return / Standard Deviation 0.76 0.87
Ratio: Return / Deepest Drawdown 0.21 0.26
Metrics calculated over the period 1 January 1985 - 30 April 2025
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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 May 1995 - 30 April 2025 (30 years)
Period: 1 January 1985 - 30 April 2025 (~40 years)

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Perfect Portfolio Edge Select Moderately Aggressive
Drawdown
(%)
Recovery
(#Months)
From
To
Drawdown
(%)
Recovery
(#Months)
From
To
-44.81 62 Nov 2007
Dec 2012
-38.23 38 Nov 2007
Dec 2010
-31.02 56 Apr 2000
Nov 2004
-25.60 41 Sep 2000
Jan 2004
-22.31 26 Jan 2022
Feb 2024
-18.62 8 Jan 2020
Aug 2020
-18.32 19 Jan 2022
Jul 2023
-15.07 8 May 1998
Dec 1998
-14.29 7 Jan 2020
Jul 2020
-13.38 10 May 2011
Feb 2012
-11.03 15 Feb 2018
Apr 2019
-10.89 7 May 1998
Nov 1998
-10.87 17 May 2015
Sep 2016
-9.25 7 Oct 2018
Apr 2019
-8.54 14 Jun 2015
Jul 2016

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Perfect Portfolio Edge Select Moderately Aggressive
Drawdown
(%)
Recovery
(#Months)
From
To
Drawdown
(%)
Recovery
(#Months)
From
To
-44.81 62 Nov 2007
Dec 2012
-38.23 38 Nov 2007
Dec 2010
-31.02 56 Apr 2000
Nov 2004
-25.60 41 Sep 2000
Jan 2004
-22.31 26 Jan 2022
Feb 2024
-21.48 17 Sep 1987
Jan 1989
-19.36 17 Sep 1987
Jan 1989
-18.62 8 Jan 2020
Aug 2020
-18.32 19 Jan 2022
Jul 2023
-15.07 8 May 1998
Dec 1998
-14.67 7 Aug 1990
Feb 1991
-14.29 7 Jan 2020
Jul 2020
-13.38 10 May 2011
Feb 2012
-13.23 7 Aug 1990
Feb 1991
-11.03 15 Feb 2018
Apr 2019

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 - 30 April 2025 (~40 years)


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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Perfect Portfolio Edge Select Moderately Aggressive
Year Return
(%)
Drawdown
(%)
Return
(%)
Drawdown
(%)
2025
0.71 -2.08 0.12 -2.56
2024
12.60 -2.69 13.15 -3.06
2023
16.55 -7.69 19.24 -8.08
2022
-11.28 -18.32 -17.08 -22.31
2021
16.52 -2.88 12.88 -3.28
2020
10.46 -18.62 16.02 -14.29
2019
21.12 -5.02 22.30 -4.24
2018
-7.36 -11.03 -5.68 -9.25
2017
18.64 0.00 18.60 0.00
2016
8.29 -4.94 8.18 -3.80
2015
-2.48 -9.54 -1.40 -7.75
2014
4.39 -3.48 6.31 -2.65
2013
18.20 -2.21 16.88 -2.57
2012
13.40 -7.48 13.59 -5.96
2011
-3.70 -17.03 -0.71 -13.38
2010
12.14 -10.26 13.09 -8.24
2009
26.95 -15.39 26.40 -13.32
2008
-31.47 -33.62 -25.92 -29.30
2007
10.08 -4.81 9.49 -3.81
2006
18.40 -3.55 14.56 -3.15
2005
11.54 -3.65 8.32 -3.32
2004
14.53 -3.20 11.86 -3.19
2003
29.10 -3.63 25.92 -2.76
2002
-12.54 -19.34 -9.91 -15.72
2001
-8.74 -18.50 -6.23 -15.50
2000
-7.02 -10.69 -5.49 -9.00
1999
25.31 -2.23 18.91 -2.47
1998
11.01 -15.07 16.84 -10.89
1997
13.00 -5.20 16.20 -5.14
1996
15.28 -3.61 13.20 -3.20
1995
18.25 -1.47 23.22 -0.43
1994
-0.04 -6.82 0.12 -6.49
1993
24.57 -3.54 19.47 -2.68
1992
0.57 -3.75 3.95 -3.09
1991
30.38 -4.43 31.55 -3.84
1990
-6.17 -14.67 -3.49 -13.23
1989
30.02 -2.52 26.95 -1.61
1988
18.92 -2.98 16.80 -3.01
1987
3.15 -21.48 4.39 -19.36
1986
23.10 -4.60 23.79 -5.19
1985
29.90 -2.29 32.17 -2.00
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Build wealth
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