Gold Portfolio vs Vanguard LifeStrategy Conservative Growth Portfolio Portfolio Comparison

Simulation Settings
Period: January 1985 - March 2025 (~40 years)
Consolidated Returns as of 31 March 2025
Rebalancing: at every Jan 1st
Currency: USD
Inflation: US
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Results
30 Years
All (since January 1985)
Inflation Adjusted:
Gold Portfolio
1.00$
Initial Capital
April 1995
7.31$
Final Capital
March 2025
6.86%
Yearly Return
15.66%
Std Deviation
-42.91%
Max Drawdown
107months
Recovery Period
1.00$
Initial Capital
April 1995
3.46$
Final Capital
March 2025
4.22%
Yearly Return
15.66%
Std Deviation
-45.71%
Max Drawdown
158months
Recovery Period
1.00$
Initial Capital
January 1985
9.29$
Final Capital
March 2025
5.70%
Yearly Return
15.09%
Std Deviation
-48.26%
Max Drawdown
217months
Recovery Period
1.00$
Initial Capital
January 1985
3.07$
Final Capital
March 2025
2.82%
Yearly Return
15.09%
Std Deviation
-65.71%
Max Drawdown
242months
Recovery Period
Vanguard LifeStrategy Conservative Growth Portfolio
1.00$
Initial Capital
April 1995
6.61$
Final Capital
March 2025
6.50%
Yearly Return
6.94%
Std Deviation
-21.90%
Max Drawdown
26months
Recovery Period
1.00$
Initial Capital
April 1995
3.12$
Final Capital
March 2025
3.87%
Yearly Return
6.94%
Std Deviation
-24.82%
Max Drawdown
43months*
Recovery Period
* in progress
1.00$
Initial Capital
January 1985
21.74$
Final Capital
March 2025
7.95%
Yearly Return
7.12%
Std Deviation
-21.90%
Max Drawdown
26months
Recovery Period
1.00$
Initial Capital
January 1985
7.17$
Final Capital
March 2025
5.02%
Yearly Return
7.12%
Std Deviation
-24.82%
Max Drawdown
43months*
Recovery Period
* in progress

As of March 2025, in the previous 30 Years, the Gold Portfolio obtained a 6.86% compound annual return, with a 15.66% standard deviation. It suffered a maximum drawdown of -42.91% that required 107 months to be recovered.

As of March 2025, in the previous 30 Years, the Vanguard LifeStrategy Conservative Growth Portfolio obtained a 6.50% compound annual return, with a 6.94% standard deviation. It suffered a maximum drawdown of -21.90% that required 26 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.

Gold Portfolio
Weight
(%)		 ETF
Ticker		 Name
100.00
GLD
SPDR Gold Trust
Vanguard LifeStrategy Conservative Growth Portfolio
Weight
(%)		 ETF
Ticker		 Name
24.00
VTI
Vanguard Total Stock Market
16.00
VEU
Vanguard FTSE All-World ex-US
42.00
BND
Vanguard Total Bond Market
18.00
BNDX
Vanguard Total International Bond
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Portfolio Returns as of Mar 31, 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 - 31 March 2025 (~40 years)
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Return (%) as of Mar 31, 2025
YTD
(3M) 		1M 6M 1Y 5Y 10Y 30Y MAX
(~40Y)
//www.lazyportfolioetf.com/wp-content/themes/dynamico-child/img/author/avatar_gold.webp Gold
-- Market Benchmark 		19.00 9.45 18.55 40.06 14.25 9.75 6.86 5.70
//www.lazyportfolioetf.com/wp-content/themes/dynamico-child/img/author/avatar_vanguard.webp LifeStrategy Conservative Growth
Vanguard 		0.95 -1.52 -0.79 5.81 5.94 4.74 6.50 7.95
Return over 1 year are annualized.
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Capital Growth as of Mar 31, 2025

Gold Portfolio: an investment of 1$, since April 1995, now would be worth 7.31$, with a total return of 631.02% (6.86% annualized).

Vanguard LifeStrategy Conservative Growth Portfolio: an investment of 1$, since April 1995, now would be worth 6.61$, with a total return of 560.72% (6.50% annualized).


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Gold Portfolio: an investment of 1$, since January 1985, now would be worth 9.29$, with a total return of 829.49% (5.70% annualized).

Vanguard LifeStrategy Conservative Growth Portfolio: an investment of 1$, since January 1985, now would be worth 21.74$, with a total return of 2073.72% (7.95% annualized).


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Portfolio Metrics as of Mar 31, 2025

The following metrics, updated as of 31 March 2025, provide an overview of performance and risk, with the best value in each row highlighted within the table.

METRIC COMPARISON
Period: 1 April 2024 - 31 March 2025 (1 year)
Period: 1 April 2020 - 31 March 2025 (5 years)
Period: 1 April 2015 - 31 March 2025 (10 years)
Period: 1 April 1995 - 31 March 2025 (30 years)
Period: 1 January 1985 - 31 March 2025 (~40 years)
Swipe left to see all data
Gold LifeStrategy Conservative Growth
Author Vanguard
ASSET ALLOCATION
Stocks 0% 40%
Fixed Income 0% 60%
Commodities 100% 0%
PERFORMANCES
Annualized Return (%) 40.06 5.81
Infl. Adjusted Return (%) 36.79 3.34
DRAWDOWN
Deepest Drawdown Depth (%) -4.49 -2.75
Start to Recovery (months) 3 3
Longest Drawdown Depth (%) -4.49 -2.75
Start to Recovery (months) 3 3
Longest Negative Period (months) 3 6*
Drawdowns / Negative periods marked with * are in progress
RISK INDICATORS
Standard Deviation (%) 11.76 6.58
Sharpe Ratio 2.99 0.14
Sortino Ratio 4.28 0.17
Ulcer Index 1.52 1.20
Ratio: Return / Standard Deviation 3.41 0.88
Ratio: Return / Deepest Drawdown 8.93 2.12
Metrics calculated over the period 1 April 2024 - 31 March 2025
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Gold LifeStrategy Conservative Growth
Author Vanguard
ASSET ALLOCATION
Stocks 0% 40%
Fixed Income 0% 60%
Commodities 100% 0%
PERFORMANCES
Annualized Return (%) 14.25 5.94
Infl. Adjusted Return (%) 9.46 1.50
DRAWDOWN
Deepest Drawdown Depth (%) -18.08 -18.57
Start to Recovery (months) 40 31
Longest Drawdown Depth (%) -18.08 -18.57
Start to Recovery (months) 40 31
Longest Negative Period (months) 39 39
RISK INDICATORS
Standard Deviation (%) 14.86 9.12
Sharpe Ratio 0.79 0.38
Sortino Ratio 1.18 0.52
Ulcer Index 6.97 7.16
Ratio: Return / Standard Deviation 0.96 0.65
Ratio: Return / Deepest Drawdown 0.79 0.32
Metrics calculated over the period 1 April 2020 - 31 March 2025
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Gold LifeStrategy Conservative Growth
Author Vanguard
ASSET ALLOCATION
Stocks 0% 40%
Fixed Income 0% 60%
Commodities 100% 0%
PERFORMANCES
Annualized Return (%) 9.75 4.74
Infl. Adjusted Return (%) 6.47 1.61
DRAWDOWN
Deepest Drawdown Depth (%) -18.08 -18.57
Start to Recovery (months) 40 31
Longest Drawdown Depth (%) -18.08 -18.57
Start to Recovery (months) 40 31
Longest Negative Period (months) 42 39
RISK INDICATORS
Standard Deviation (%) 14.03 7.65
Sharpe Ratio 0.57 0.40
Sortino Ratio 0.86 0.53
Ulcer Index 6.65 5.29
Ratio: Return / Standard Deviation 0.69 0.62
Ratio: Return / Deepest Drawdown 0.54 0.26
Metrics calculated over the period 1 April 2015 - 31 March 2025
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Gold LifeStrategy Conservative Growth
Author Vanguard
ASSET ALLOCATION
Stocks 0% 40%
Fixed Income 0% 60%
Commodities 100% 0%
PERFORMANCES
Annualized Return (%) 6.86 6.50
Infl. Adjusted Return (%) 4.22 3.87
DRAWDOWN
Deepest Drawdown Depth (%) -42.91 -21.90
Start to Recovery (months) 107 26
Longest Drawdown Depth (%) -42.91 -18.57
Start to Recovery (months) 107 31
Longest Negative Period (months) 145 50
RISK INDICATORS
Standard Deviation (%) 15.66 6.94
Sharpe Ratio 0.29 0.61
Sortino Ratio 0.43 0.80
Ulcer Index 20.47 4.40
Ratio: Return / Standard Deviation 0.44 0.94
Ratio: Return / Deepest Drawdown 0.16 0.30
Metrics calculated over the period 1 April 1995 - 31 March 2025
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Gold LifeStrategy Conservative Growth
Author Vanguard
ASSET ALLOCATION
Stocks 0% 40%
Fixed Income 0% 60%
Commodities 100% 0%
PERFORMANCES
Annualized Return (%) 5.70 7.95
Infl. Adjusted Return (%) 2.82 5.02
DRAWDOWN
Deepest Drawdown Depth (%) -48.26 -21.90
Start to Recovery (months) 217 26
Longest Drawdown Depth (%) -48.26 -18.57
Start to Recovery (months) 217 31
Longest Negative Period (months) 224 50
RISK INDICATORS
Standard Deviation (%) 15.09 7.12
Sharpe Ratio 0.17 0.67
Sortino Ratio 0.25 0.90
Ulcer Index 24.21 3.98
Ratio: Return / Standard Deviation 0.38 1.12
Ratio: Return / Deepest Drawdown 0.12 0.36
Metrics calculated over the period 1 January 1985 - 31 March 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 April 1995 - 31 March 2025 (30 years)
Period: 1 January 1985 - 31 March 2025 (~40 years)

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Gold LifeStrategy Conservative Growth
Drawdown
(%) 		Recovery
(#Months)		 From
To		 Drawdown
(%) 		Recovery
(#Months)		 From
To
-42.91 107 Sep 2011
Jul 2020
-37.17 95 Feb 1996
Dec 2003
-25.83 15 Mar 2008
May 2009
-21.90 26 Nov 2007
Dec 2009
-18.57 31 Jan 2022
Jul 2024
-18.08 40 Aug 2020
Nov 2023
-8.64 10 Dec 2004
Sep 2005
-8.63 10 May 2006
Feb 2007
-8.46 6 Feb 2020
Jul 2020
-8.37 6 Dec 2009
May 2010
-8.31 7 Apr 2004
Oct 2004
-8.06 28 Feb 2001
May 2003
-6.38 3 Jan 2011
Mar 2011
-6.00 9 May 2011
Jan 2012
-5.30 4 Jul 1998
Oct 1998

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Gold LifeStrategy Conservative Growth
Drawdown
(%) 		Recovery
(#Months)		 From
To		 Drawdown
(%) 		Recovery
(#Months)		 From
To
-48.26 217 Dec 1987
Dec 2005
-42.91 107 Sep 2011
Jul 2020
-25.83 15 Mar 2008
May 2009
-21.90 26 Nov 2007
Dec 2009
-18.57 31 Jan 2022
Jul 2024
-18.08 40 Aug 2020
Nov 2023
-9.95 10 Sep 1987
Jun 1988
-8.63 10 May 2006
Feb 2007
-8.46 6 Feb 2020
Jul 2020
-8.37 6 Dec 2009
May 2010
-8.14 7 Oct 1986
Apr 1987
-8.06 28 Feb 2001
May 2003
-7.29 6 Aug 1990
Jan 1991
-6.67 3 Jan 1985
Mar 1985
-6.38 3 Jan 2011
Mar 2011

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 March 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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Gold LifeStrategy Conservative Growth
Year Return
(%)		 Drawdown
(%)		 Return
(%)		 Drawdown
(%)
2025
 19.00 0.00 0.95 -1.52
2024
 26.66 -4.49 7.83 -2.75
2023
 12.69 -7.22 12.64 -6.30
2022
 -0.77 -15.91 -14.98 -18.57
2021
 -4.15 -10.32 6.29 -2.35
2020
 24.81 -10.12 10.90 -8.46
2019
 17.86 -4.10 15.98 -1.67
2018
 -1.94 -11.66 -3.06 -4.63
2017
 12.81 -4.09 11.40 0.00
2016
 8.03 -15.02 5.76 -1.97
2015
 -10.67 -17.81 -0.23 -4.56
2014
 -2.19 -12.44 6.30 -1.55
2013
 -28.33 -28.33 9.27 -3.00
2012
 6.60 -10.45 10.01 -3.02
2011
 9.57 -14.48 2.86 -6.00
2010
 29.27 -5.09 10.21 -3.68
2009
 24.03 -7.20 17.23 -8.65
2008
 4.92 -25.83 -13.37 -17.25
2007
 30.45 -4.20 7.58 -1.31
2006
 22.55 -8.63 10.35 -1.58
2005
 17.76 -4.91 5.91 -1.60
2004
 4.65 -8.31 9.28 -2.28
2003
 19.89 -8.88 16.21 -1.18
2002
 25.57 -6.72 -2.19 -6.39
2001
 0.75 -6.10 -0.37 -6.05
2000
 -5.44 -9.93 1.40 -3.80
1999
 0.85 -11.47 10.23 -2.26
1998
 -0.83 -12.01 14.76 -5.30
1997
 -21.41 -21.41 10.41 -2.78
1996
 -4.59 -8.95 8.12 -1.36
1995
 0.98 -2.46 20.68 0.00
1994
 -2.17 -3.91 -0.91 -4.90
1993
 17.68 -11.51 14.36 -2.48
1992
 -5.73 -6.97 4.96 -3.22
1991
 -8.56 -10.05 19.55 -2.33
1990
 -3.11 -15.14 -0.50 -7.29
1989
 -2.84 -12.30 16.53 -1.00
1988
 -15.26 -18.05 12.93 -1.67
1987
 24.53 -1.97 6.77 -9.95
1986
 18.96 -8.14 22.93 -3.26
1985
 6.00 -6.67 29.44 -0.72
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Mastering ETF Investing
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