Paul Merriman Ultimate Buy and Hold Strategy Portfolio vs Aim Ways Aim Bold Strategy Portfolio Portfolio Comparison

Simulation Settings
Period: January 1985 - May 2025 (~40 years)
Consolidated Returns as of 31 May 2025
Rebalancing: at every Jan 1st
Currency: USD
Inflation: US
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Results
30 Years
All (since January 1985)
Inflation Adjusted:
Paul Merriman Ultimate Buy and Hold Strategy Portfolio
1.00$
Initial Capital
June 1995
11.42$
Final Capital
May 2025
8.46%
Yearly Return
15.77%
Std Deviation
-57.21%
Max Drawdown
63months
Recovery Period
1.00$
Initial Capital
June 1995
5.42$
Final Capital
May 2025
5.80%
Yearly Return
15.77%
Std Deviation
-57.92%
Max Drawdown
71months
Recovery Period
1.00$
Initial Capital
January 1985
59.12$
Final Capital
May 2025
10.62%
Yearly Return
15.52%
Std Deviation
-57.21%
Max Drawdown
63months
Recovery Period
1.00$
Initial Capital
January 1985
19.47$
Final Capital
May 2025
7.62%
Yearly Return
15.52%
Std Deviation
-57.92%
Max Drawdown
71months
Recovery Period
Aim Ways Aim Bold Strategy Portfolio
1.00$
Initial Capital
June 1995
12.27$
Final Capital
May 2025
8.72%
Yearly Return
9.91%
Std Deviation
-30.09%
Max Drawdown
29months
Recovery Period
1.00$
Initial Capital
June 1995
5.82$
Final Capital
May 2025
6.05%
Yearly Return
9.91%
Std Deviation
-31.24%
Max Drawdown
30months
Recovery Period
1.00$
Initial Capital
January 1985
42.48$
Final Capital
May 2025
9.72%
Yearly Return
9.56%
Std Deviation
-30.09%
Max Drawdown
29months
Recovery Period
1.00$
Initial Capital
January 1985
13.99$
Final Capital
May 2025
6.75%
Yearly Return
9.56%
Std Deviation
-31.24%
Max Drawdown
30months
Recovery Period

As of May 2025, in the previous 30 Years, the Paul Merriman Ultimate Buy and Hold Strategy Portfolio obtained a 8.46% compound annual return, with a 15.77% standard deviation. It suffered a maximum drawdown of -57.21% that required 63 months to be recovered.

As of May 2025, in the previous 30 Years, the Aim Ways Aim Bold Strategy Portfolio obtained a 8.72% compound annual return, with a 9.91% standard deviation. It suffered a maximum drawdown of -30.09% that required 29 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
10.00
DLS
WisdomTree International SmallCp Div
10.00
EEM
iShares MSCI Emerging Markets
10.00
IJR
iShares Core S&P Small-Cap
10.00
IJS
iShares S&P Small-Cap 600 Value
10.00
SPY
SPDR S&P 500
10.00
VTV
Vanguard Value
10.00
VEA
Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets
10.00
SCZ
iShares MSCI EAFE Small-Cap
10.00
EFV
iShares MSCI EAFE Value
10.00
VNQ
Vanguard Real Estate
Weight
(%)
Ticker Name
15.00
QQQ
Invesco QQQ Trust
15.00
VTI
Vanguard Total Stock Market
10.00
VGK
Vanguard FTSE Europe
5.00
AAXJ
iShares MSCI All Country Asia ex-Japan ETF
20.00
BNDX
Vanguard Total International Bond
20.00
HYG
iShares iBoxx $ High Yield Corporate Bond
15.00
GLD
SPDR Gold Trust
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Portfolio Returns as of May 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 May 2025 (~40 years)
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Return (%) as of May 31, 2025
YTD
(5M)
1M 6M 1Y 5Y 10Y 30Y MAX
(~40Y)
https://www.lazyportfolioetf.com/wp-content/themes/dynamico-child/img/author/avatar_paul_merriman.webp Ultimate Buy and Hold Strategy
Paul Merriman
6.33 4.51 1.47 10.33 11.42 7.10 8.46 10.62
https://www.lazyportfolioetf.com/wp-content/themes/dynamico-child/img/author/avatar_aim_ways2.webp Aim Bold Strategy
Aim Ways
7.58 3.24 6.23 15.76 9.97 8.44 8.72 9.72
Return over 1 year are annualized.
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Capital Growth as of May 31, 2025

Paul Merriman Ultimate Buy and Hold Strategy Portfolio: an investment of 1$, since June 1995, now would be worth 11.42$, with a total return of 1042.46% (8.46% annualized).

Aim Ways Aim Bold Strategy Portfolio: an investment of 1$, since June 1995, now would be worth 12.27$, with a total return of 1127.05% (8.72% annualized).


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Paul Merriman Ultimate Buy and Hold Strategy Portfolio: an investment of 1$, since January 1985, now would be worth 59.12$, with a total return of 5811.62% (10.62% annualized).

Aim Ways Aim Bold Strategy Portfolio: an investment of 1$, since January 1985, now would be worth 42.48$, with a total return of 4148.15% (9.72% annualized).


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Portfolio Metrics as of May 31, 2025

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

METRIC COMPARISON
Period: 1 June 2024 - 31 May 2025 (1 year)
Period: 1 June 2020 - 31 May 2025 (5 years)
Period: 1 June 2015 - 31 May 2025 (10 years)
Period: 1 June 1995 - 31 May 2025 (30 years)
Period: 1 January 1985 - 31 May 2025 (~40 years)
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Ultimate Buy and Hold Strategy Aim Bold Strategy
Author Paul Merriman Aim Ways
ASSET ALLOCATION
Stocks 100% 45%
Fixed Income 0% 40%
Commodities 0% 15%
PERFORMANCES
Annualized Return (%) 10.33
15.76
Infl. Adjusted Return (%) 7.86 13.17
DRAWDOWN
Deepest Drawdown Depth (%) -4.57
-1.26
Start to Recovery (months) 6
2
Longest Drawdown Depth (%) -4.57
-0.56
Start to Recovery (months) 6
2
Longest Negative Period (months) 8
3
RISK INDICATORS
Standard Deviation (%) 10.29
4.85
Sharpe Ratio 0.55
2.28
Sortino Ratio 0.74
2.91
Ulcer Index 2.10
0.45
Ratio: Return / Standard Deviation 1.00
3.25
Ratio: Return / Deepest Drawdown 2.26
12.51
Metrics calculated over the period 1 June 2024 - 31 May 2025
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Ultimate Buy and Hold Strategy Aim Bold Strategy
Author Paul Merriman Aim Ways
ASSET ALLOCATION
Stocks 100% 45%
Fixed Income 0% 40%
Commodities 0% 15%
PERFORMANCES
Annualized Return (%)
11.42
9.97
Infl. Adjusted Return (%) 6.51 5.13
DRAWDOWN
Deepest Drawdown Depth (%) -24.70
-20.16
Start to Recovery (months) 27
24
Longest Drawdown Depth (%) -24.70
-20.16
Start to Recovery (months) 27
24
Longest Negative Period (months) 34
30
RISK INDICATORS
Standard Deviation (%) 15.72
10.28
Sharpe Ratio 0.56
0.72
Sortino Ratio 0.79
0.96
Ulcer Index 7.98
6.60
Ratio: Return / Standard Deviation 0.73
0.97
Ratio: Return / Deepest Drawdown 0.46
0.49
Metrics calculated over the period 1 June 2020 - 31 May 2025
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Ultimate Buy and Hold Strategy Aim Bold Strategy
Author Paul Merriman Aim Ways
ASSET ALLOCATION
Stocks 100% 45%
Fixed Income 0% 40%
Commodities 0% 15%
PERFORMANCES
Annualized Return (%) 7.10
8.44
Infl. Adjusted Return (%) 3.92 5.22
DRAWDOWN
Deepest Drawdown Depth (%) -27.54
-20.16
Start to Recovery (months)
11
24
Longest Drawdown Depth (%) -24.70
-20.16
Start to Recovery (months) 27
24
Longest Negative Period (months) 44
30
RISK INDICATORS
Standard Deviation (%) 15.57
9.49
Sharpe Ratio 0.34
0.70
Sortino Ratio 0.45
0.95
Ulcer Index 7.86
5.09
Ratio: Return / Standard Deviation 0.46
0.89
Ratio: Return / Deepest Drawdown 0.26
0.42
Metrics calculated over the period 1 June 2015 - 31 May 2025
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Ultimate Buy and Hold Strategy Aim Bold Strategy
Author Paul Merriman Aim Ways
ASSET ALLOCATION
Stocks 100% 45%
Fixed Income 0% 40%
Commodities 0% 15%
PERFORMANCES
Annualized Return (%) 8.46
8.72
Infl. Adjusted Return (%) 5.80 6.05
DRAWDOWN
Deepest Drawdown Depth (%) -57.21
-30.09
Start to Recovery (months) 63
29
Longest Drawdown Depth (%) -57.21
-25.79
Start to Recovery (months) 63
47
Longest Negative Period (months) 68
53
RISK INDICATORS
Standard Deviation (%) 15.77
9.91
Sharpe Ratio 0.39
0.65
Sortino Ratio 0.51
0.87
Ulcer Index 12.16
7.65
Ratio: Return / Standard Deviation 0.54
0.88
Ratio: Return / Deepest Drawdown 0.15
0.29
Metrics calculated over the period 1 June 1995 - 31 May 2025
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Ultimate Buy and Hold Strategy Aim Bold Strategy
Author Paul Merriman Aim Ways
ASSET ALLOCATION
Stocks 100% 45%
Fixed Income 0% 40%
Commodities 0% 15%
PERFORMANCES
Annualized Return (%)
10.62
9.72
Infl. Adjusted Return (%) 7.62 6.75
DRAWDOWN
Deepest Drawdown Depth (%) -57.21
-30.09
Start to Recovery (months) 63
29
Longest Drawdown Depth (%) -57.21
-25.79
Start to Recovery (months) 63
47
Longest Negative Period (months) 68
53
RISK INDICATORS
Standard Deviation (%) 15.52
9.56
Sharpe Ratio 0.48
0.69
Sortino Ratio 0.62
0.91
Ulcer Index 10.98
6.82
Ratio: Return / Standard Deviation 0.68
1.02
Ratio: Return / Deepest Drawdown 0.19
0.32
Metrics calculated over the period 1 January 1985 - 31 May 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 June 1995 - 31 May 2025 (30 years)
Period: 1 January 1985 - 31 May 2025 (~40 years)

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Ultimate Buy and Hold Strategy Aim Bold Strategy
Drawdown
(%)
Recovery
(#Months)
From
To
Drawdown
(%)
Recovery
(#Months)
From
To
-57.21 63 Nov 2007
Jan 2013
-30.09 29 Nov 2007
Mar 2010
-27.54 11 Jan 2020
Nov 2020
-25.79 47 Apr 2000
Feb 2004
-24.70 27 Jan 2022
Mar 2024
-20.46 13 Apr 1998
Apr 1999
-20.16 24 Jan 2022
Dec 2023
-20.10 30 Feb 2001
Jul 2003
-15.11 22 Feb 2018
Nov 2019
-12.10 14 Jun 2015
Jul 2016
-10.73 5 Feb 2020
Jun 2020
-8.84 9 May 2011
Jan 2012
-8.65 5 Sep 2000
Jan 2001
-8.31 4 Jul 1998
Oct 1998
-7.04 13 Jun 2015
Jun 2016

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Ultimate Buy and Hold Strategy Aim Bold Strategy
Drawdown
(%)
Recovery
(#Months)
From
To
Drawdown
(%)
Recovery
(#Months)
From
To
-57.21 63 Nov 2007
Jan 2013
-30.09 29 Nov 2007
Mar 2010
-27.54 11 Jan 2020
Nov 2020
-25.79 47 Apr 2000
Feb 2004
-25.26 17 Sep 1987
Jan 1989
-24.70 27 Jan 2022
Mar 2024
-21.87 17 Jan 1990
May 1991
-20.46 13 Apr 1998
Apr 1999
-20.16 24 Jan 2022
Dec 2023
-20.10 30 Feb 2001
Jul 2003
-15.11 22 Feb 2018
Nov 2019
-14.07 17 Sep 1987
Jan 1989
-12.10 14 Jun 2015
Jul 2016
-10.73 5 Feb 2020
Jun 2020
-10.72 7 Aug 1990
Feb 1991

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 May 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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Ultimate Buy and Hold Strategy Aim Bold Strategy
Year Return
(%)
Drawdown
(%)
Return
(%)
Drawdown
(%)
2025
6.33 -1.54
7.58
-0.84
2024
8.12 -4.57
14.32
-1.66
2023
15.12 -11.49
20.27
-5.40
2022
-15.37 -24.70
-15.30
-20.16
2021
19.37
-3.67 9.04 -3.19
2020
6.40 -27.54
17.74
-10.73
2019
23.62
-6.09 20.90 -3.36
2018
-11.86 -15.11
-3.18
-6.43
2017
21.78
-0.19 16.48 -0.61
2016
12.36
-6.13 8.00 -3.18
2015
-1.21
-10.45 -1.61 -6.91
2014
3.86 -4.78
5.99
-2.49
2013
24.33
-3.16 9.77 -4.32
2012
18.52
-9.57 13.75 -5.44
2011
-6.03 -21.49
3.00
-8.84
2010
17.95
-12.96 15.52 -5.03
2009
32.93
-22.58 31.47 -7.78
2008
-39.47 -43.68
-22.24
-27.48
2007
3.86 -8.69
12.22
-3.27
2006
25.26
-4.59 14.03 -3.25
2005
14.55
-4.36 7.49 -2.58
2004
24.50
-4.95 9.98 -2.74
2003
45.35
-4.40 24.97 -1.29
2002
-8.70 -19.82
-5.10
-12.15
2001
-4.24
-16.27 -5.85 -14.68
2000
-0.62
-8.65 -8.48 -12.35
1999
20.93 -3.33
25.84
-2.85
1998
4.55 -20.46
23.03
-8.31
1997
7.53
-6.22 6.95 -3.92
1996
14.79 -4.92
15.50
-2.32
1995
16.47 -2.82
21.99
-0.16
1994
-2.37
-7.70 -2.69 -7.21
1993
30.62
-3.22 20.47 -0.27
1992
7.12
-3.87 6.50 -2.28
1991
32.16
-5.51 25.47 -2.70
1990
-15.66 -21.87
-3.46
-10.72
1989
27.73
-3.75 13.97 -1.45
1988
25.20
-2.71 9.96 -2.65
1987
6.29 -25.26
8.85
-14.07
1986
33.82
-4.97 18.12 -2.25
1985
40.18
-2.65 28.86 -1.35
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