Merrill Lynch Edge Select Moderately Conservative Portfolio vs Scott Burns Couch Potato 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:
Merrill Lynch Edge Select Moderately Conservative Portfolio
1.00$
Initial Capital
May 1995
6.95$
Final Capital
April 2025
6.68%
Yearly Return
6.88%
Std Deviation
-20.48%
Max Drawdown
25months
Recovery Period
1.00$
Initial Capital
May 1995
3.30$
Final Capital
April 2025
4.06%
Yearly Return
6.88%
Std Deviation
-24.69%
Max Drawdown
44months*
Recovery Period
* in progress
1.00$
Initial Capital
January 1985
24.29$
Final Capital
April 2025
8.23%
Yearly Return
7.11%
Std Deviation
-20.48%
Max Drawdown
25months
Recovery Period
1.00$
Initial Capital
January 1985
8.02$
Final Capital
April 2025
5.30%
Yearly Return
7.11%
Std Deviation
-24.69%
Max Drawdown
44months*
Recovery Period
* in progress
Scott Burns Couch Potato Portfolio
1.00$
Initial Capital
May 1995
10.45$
Final Capital
April 2025
8.13%
Yearly Return
8.75%
Std Deviation
-27.04%
Max Drawdown
30months
Recovery Period
1.00$
Initial Capital
May 1995
4.96$
Final Capital
April 2025
5.48%
Yearly Return
8.75%
Std Deviation
-28.24%
Max Drawdown
36months
Recovery Period
1.00$
Initial Capital
January 1985
35.82$
Final Capital
April 2025
9.28%
Yearly Return
9.04%
Std Deviation
-27.04%
Max Drawdown
30months
Recovery Period
1.00$
Initial Capital
January 1985
11.82$
Final Capital
April 2025
6.31%
Yearly Return
9.04%
Std Deviation
-28.24%
Max Drawdown
36months
Recovery Period

As of April 2025, in the previous 30 Years, the Merrill Lynch Edge Select Moderately Conservative Portfolio obtained a 6.68% compound annual return, with a 6.88% standard deviation. It suffered a maximum drawdown of -20.48% that required 25 months to be recovered.

As of April 2025, in the previous 30 Years, the Scott Burns Couch Potato Portfolio obtained a 8.13% compound annual return, with a 8.75% standard deviation. It suffered a maximum drawdown of -27.04% that required 30 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
14.00
VUG
Vanguard Growth
9.00
VTV
Vanguard Value
9.00
VEU
Vanguard FTSE All-World ex-US
3.00
EEM
iShares MSCI Emerging Markets
1.00
IJS
iShares S&P Small-Cap 600 Value
1.00
IJT
iShares S&P Small-Cap 600 Growth
17.00
IEI
iShares 3-7 Year Treasury Bond
15.00
MBB
iShares MBS
15.00
LQD
iShares Investment Grade Corporate Bond
9.00
BNDX
Vanguard Total International Bond
5.00
HYG
iShares iBoxx $ High Yield Corporate Bond
2.00
BIL
SPDR Blmbg Barclays 1-3 Mth T-Bill
Weight
(%)
Ticker Name
50.00
VTI
Vanguard Total Stock Market
50.00
TIP
iShares TIPS 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_merrill_lynch.webp Edge Select Moderately Conservative
Merrill Lynch
1.30 0.52 1.94 9.88 5.32 5.05 6.68 8.23
//www.lazyportfolioetf.com/wp-content/themes/dynamico-child/img/author/avatar_scott_burns.webp Couch Potato
Scott Burns
-0.57 -0.28 0.71 10.21 8.27 7.04 8.13 9.28
Return over 1 year are annualized.
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Capital Growth as of Apr 30, 2025

Merrill Lynch Edge Select Moderately Conservative Portfolio: an investment of 1$, since May 1995, now would be worth 6.95$, with a total return of 595.37% (6.68% annualized).

Scott Burns Couch Potato Portfolio: an investment of 1$, since May 1995, now would be worth 10.45$, with a total return of 944.55% (8.13% annualized).


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Merrill Lynch Edge Select Moderately Conservative Portfolio: an investment of 1$, since January 1985, now would be worth 24.29$, with a total return of 2329.26% (8.23% annualized).

Scott Burns Couch Potato Portfolio: an investment of 1$, since January 1985, now would be worth 35.82$, with a total return of 3481.62% (9.28% 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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Edge Select Moderately Conservative Couch Potato
Author Merrill Lynch Scott Burns
ASSET ALLOCATION
Stocks 37% 50%
Fixed Income 63% 50%
Commodities 0% 0%
PERFORMANCES
Annualized Return (%) 9.88 10.21
Infl. Adjusted Return (%) 7.65 7.97
DRAWDOWN
Deepest Drawdown Depth (%) -2.05 -3.00
Start to Recovery (months) 2 5*
Longest Drawdown Depth (%) -1.87 -3.00
Start to Recovery (months) 3 5*
Longest Negative Period (months) 7* 7*
Drawdowns / Negative periods marked with * are in progress
RISK INDICATORS
Standard Deviation (%) 5.61 7.00
Sharpe Ratio 0.90 0.77
Sortino Ratio 1.11 1.02
Ulcer Index 0.93 1.36
Ratio: Return / Standard Deviation 1.76 1.46
Ratio: Return / Deepest Drawdown 4.83 3.40
Metrics calculated over the period 1 May 2024 - 30 April 2025
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Edge Select Moderately Conservative Couch Potato
Author Merrill Lynch Scott Burns
ASSET ALLOCATION
Stocks 37% 50%
Fixed Income 63% 50%
Commodities 0% 0%
PERFORMANCES
Annualized Return (%) 5.32 8.27
Infl. Adjusted Return (%) 0.75 3.58
DRAWDOWN
Deepest Drawdown Depth (%) -18.53 -19.77
Start to Recovery (months) 30 27
Longest Drawdown Depth (%) -18.53 -19.77
Start to Recovery (months) 30 27
Longest Negative Period (months) 39 32
RISK INDICATORS
Standard Deviation (%) 8.97 10.59
Sharpe Ratio 0.31 0.54
Sortino Ratio 0.42 0.72
Ulcer Index 6.98 7.30
Ratio: Return / Standard Deviation 0.59 0.78
Ratio: Return / Deepest Drawdown 0.29 0.42
Metrics calculated over the period 1 May 2020 - 30 April 2025
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Edge Select Moderately Conservative Couch Potato
Author Merrill Lynch Scott Burns
ASSET ALLOCATION
Stocks 37% 50%
Fixed Income 63% 50%
Commodities 0% 0%
PERFORMANCES
Annualized Return (%) 5.05 7.04
Infl. Adjusted Return (%) 1.92 3.85
DRAWDOWN
Deepest Drawdown Depth (%) -18.53 -19.77
Start to Recovery (months) 30 27
Longest Drawdown Depth (%) -18.53 -19.77
Start to Recovery (months) 30 27
Longest Negative Period (months) 39 32
RISK INDICATORS
Standard Deviation (%) 7.66 9.44
Sharpe Ratio 0.43 0.56
Sortino Ratio 0.58 0.74
Ulcer Index 5.15 5.50
Ratio: Return / Standard Deviation 0.66 0.75
Ratio: Return / Deepest Drawdown 0.27 0.36
Metrics calculated over the period 1 May 2015 - 30 April 2025
Swipe left to see all data
Edge Select Moderately Conservative Couch Potato
Author Merrill Lynch Scott Burns
ASSET ALLOCATION
Stocks 37% 50%
Fixed Income 63% 50%
Commodities 0% 0%
PERFORMANCES
Annualized Return (%) 6.68 8.13
Infl. Adjusted Return (%) 4.06 5.48
DRAWDOWN
Deepest Drawdown Depth (%) -20.48 -27.04
Start to Recovery (months) 25 30
Longest Drawdown Depth (%) -18.53 -10.30
Start to Recovery (months) 30 33
Longest Negative Period (months) 50 62
RISK INDICATORS
Standard Deviation (%) 6.88 8.75
Sharpe Ratio 0.64 0.67
Sortino Ratio 0.85 0.88
Ulcer Index 4.12 5.17
Ratio: Return / Standard Deviation 0.97 0.93
Ratio: Return / Deepest Drawdown 0.33 0.30
Metrics calculated over the period 1 May 1995 - 30 April 2025
Swipe left to see all data
Edge Select Moderately Conservative Couch Potato
Author Merrill Lynch Scott Burns
ASSET ALLOCATION
Stocks 37% 50%
Fixed Income 63% 50%
Commodities 0% 0%
PERFORMANCES
Annualized Return (%) 8.23 9.28
Infl. Adjusted Return (%) 5.30 6.31
DRAWDOWN
Deepest Drawdown Depth (%) -20.48 -27.04
Start to Recovery (months) 25 30
Longest Drawdown Depth (%) -18.53 -10.30
Start to Recovery (months) 30 33
Longest Negative Period (months) 50 62
RISK INDICATORS
Standard Deviation (%) 7.11 9.04
Sharpe Ratio 0.71 0.68
Sortino Ratio 0.96 0.90
Ulcer Index 3.76 4.84
Ratio: Return / Standard Deviation 1.16 1.03
Ratio: Return / Deepest Drawdown 0.40 0.34
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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Edge Select Moderately Conservative Couch Potato
Drawdown
(%)
Recovery
(#Months)
From
To
Drawdown
(%)
Recovery
(#Months)
From
To
-27.04 30 Nov 2007
Apr 2010
-20.48 25 Nov 2007
Nov 2009
-19.77 27 Jan 2022
Mar 2024
-18.53 30 Jan 2022
Jun 2024
-10.72 5 Feb 2020
Jun 2020
-10.30 33 Sep 2000
May 2003
-8.06 8 Sep 2018
Apr 2019
-8.06 5 Jul 1998
Nov 1998
-7.78 5 Feb 2020
Jun 2020
-6.25 8 May 2011
Dec 2011
-6.14 27 Feb 2001
Apr 2003
-6.09 5 May 2010
Sep 2010
-5.80 8 Jun 2011
Jan 2012
-5.47 14 Mar 2015
Apr 2016
-5.01 4 Jul 1998
Oct 1998

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Edge Select Moderately Conservative Couch Potato
Drawdown
(%)
Recovery
(#Months)
From
To
Drawdown
(%)
Recovery
(#Months)
From
To
-27.04 30 Nov 2007
Apr 2010
-20.48 25 Nov 2007
Nov 2009
-19.77 27 Jan 2022
Mar 2024
-18.53 30 Jan 2022
Jun 2024
-16.03 17 Sep 1987
Jan 1989
-10.72 5 Feb 2020
Jun 2020
-10.69 13 Sep 1987
Sep 1988
-10.30 33 Sep 2000
May 2003
-8.78 14 Feb 1994
Mar 1995
-8.06 8 Sep 2018
Apr 2019
-8.06 5 Jul 1998
Nov 1998
-7.78 5 Feb 2020
Jun 2020
-7.58 6 Aug 1990
Jan 1991
-7.56 6 Aug 1990
Jan 1991
-6.25 8 May 2011
Dec 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 - 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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Edge Select Moderately Conservative Couch Potato
Year Return
(%)
Drawdown
(%)
Return
(%)
Drawdown
(%)
2025
1.30 -1.54 -0.57 -2.83
2024
8.31 -2.70 12.73 -3.08
2023
13.70 -6.23 14.66 -6.50
2022
-14.91 -18.53 -16.31 -19.77
2021
6.44 -2.24 15.67 -2.76
2020
11.65 -7.78 15.93 -10.72
2019
16.41 -1.82 19.51 -2.63
2018
-2.89 -4.75 -3.32 -8.06
2017
11.44 0.00 12.07 0.00
2016
6.14 -1.87 8.75 -2.08
2015
-0.48 -4.33 -0.70 -5.47
2014
6.29 -1.64 8.07 -2.34
2013
8.82 -3.06 12.48 -3.18
2012
9.99 -2.86 11.42 -2.32
2011
3.41 -5.80 7.12 -6.25
2010
10.48 -3.50 11.78 -6.09
2009
17.30 -8.37 18.92 -9.98
2008
-11.92 -16.14 -18.47 -22.29
2007
6.98 -1.47 8.64 -1.70
2006
9.60 -1.69 7.99 -1.54
2005
5.47 -1.53 4.40 -1.83
2004
8.54 -2.54 10.53 -3.54
2003
16.19 -1.02 19.38 -1.09
2002
-0.79 -4.95 -1.93 -6.44
2001
0.35 -5.56 -1.68 -8.57
2000
2.03 -3.51 3.54 -5.60
1999
9.63 -2.17 9.67 -3.30
1998
13.94 -5.01 16.26 -8.06
1997
12.19 -3.09 21.85 -3.41
1996
9.06 -1.42 11.14 -2.76
1995
21.86 0.00 29.40 0.00
1994
-1.15 -5.18 -3.21 -8.78
1993
15.17 -1.67 13.19 -1.53
1992
6.09 -2.25 8.92 -2.25
1991
24.65 -2.13 25.50 -2.55
1990
1.69 -7.56 1.06 -7.58
1989
19.80 -0.51 21.95 -1.62
1988
12.42 -1.76 11.91 -2.50
1987
3.90 -10.69 1.19 -16.03
1986
19.56 -3.61 16.48 -5.55
1985
27.56 -0.71 28.66 -1.87
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