Rick Ferri Core Four Portfolio vs Paul Merriman Ultimate Buy and Hold Strategy Portfolio Portfolio Comparison

Simulation Settings
Period: January 1976 - March 2025 (~49 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 1976)
Inflation Adjusted:
Rick Ferri Core Four Portfolio
1.00$
Initial Capital
April 1995
10.90$
Final Capital
March 2025
8.29%
Yearly Return
12.26%
Std Deviation
-44.44%
Max Drawdown
40months
Recovery Period
1.00$
Initial Capital
April 1995
5.16$
Final Capital
March 2025
5.62%
Yearly Return
12.26%
Std Deviation
-45.36%
Max Drawdown
63months
Recovery Period
1.00$
Initial Capital
January 1976
123.38$
Final Capital
March 2025
10.27%
Yearly Return
12.03%
Std Deviation
-44.44%
Max Drawdown
40months
Recovery Period
1.00$
Initial Capital
January 1976
21.46$
Final Capital
March 2025
6.42%
Yearly Return
12.03%
Std Deviation
-45.36%
Max Drawdown
63months
Recovery Period
Paul Merriman Ultimate Buy and Hold Strategy Portfolio
1.00$
Initial Capital
April 1995
11.38$
Final Capital
March 2025
8.44%
Yearly Return
15.76%
Std Deviation
-57.21%
Max Drawdown
63months
Recovery Period
1.00$
Initial Capital
April 1995
5.38$
Final Capital
March 2025
5.77%
Yearly Return
15.76%
Std Deviation
-57.92%
Max Drawdown
71months
Recovery Period
1.00$
Initial Capital
January 1976
210.36$
Final Capital
March 2025
11.47%
Yearly Return
15.33%
Std Deviation
-57.21%
Max Drawdown
63months
Recovery Period
1.00$
Initial Capital
January 1976
36.58$
Final Capital
March 2025
7.58%
Yearly Return
15.33%
Std Deviation
-57.92%
Max Drawdown
71months
Recovery Period

As of March 2025, in the previous 30 Years, the Rick Ferri Core Four Portfolio obtained a 8.29% compound annual return, with a 12.26% standard deviation. It suffered a maximum drawdown of -44.44% that required 40 months to be recovered.

As of March 2025, in the previous 30 Years, the Paul Merriman Ultimate Buy and Hold Strategy Portfolio obtained a 8.44% compound annual return, with a 15.76% standard deviation. It suffered a maximum drawdown of -57.21% that required 63 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.

Rick Ferri Core Four Portfolio
Weight
(%)		 ETF
Ticker		 Name
48.00
VTI
Vanguard Total Stock Market
24.00
VEU
Vanguard FTSE All-World ex-US
8.00
VNQ
Vanguard Real Estate
20.00
BND
Vanguard Total Bond Market
Paul Merriman Ultimate Buy and Hold Strategy Portfolio
Weight
(%)		 ETF
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
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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 1976 - 31 March 2025 (~49 years)
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Return (%) as of Mar 31, 2025
YTD
(3M) 		1M 6M 1Y 5Y 10Y 30Y MAX
(~49Y)
//www.lazyportfolioetf.com/wp-content/themes/dynamico-child/img/author/avatar_rick_ferri.webp Core Four
Rick Ferri 		-0.11 -2.87 -1.68 7.19 12.16 7.78 8.29 10.27
//www.lazyportfolioetf.com/wp-content/themes/dynamico-child/img/author/avatar_paul_merriman.webp Ultimate Buy and Hold Strategy
Paul Merriman 		1.56 -1.54 -3.05 5.76 13.40 6.81 8.44 11.47
Return over 1 year are annualized.
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Capital Growth as of Mar 31, 2025

Rick Ferri Core Four Portfolio: an investment of 1$, since April 1995, now would be worth 10.90$, with a total return of 990.34% (8.29% annualized).

Paul Merriman Ultimate Buy and Hold Strategy Portfolio: an investment of 1$, since April 1995, now would be worth 11.38$, with a total return of 1037.95% (8.44% annualized).


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Rick Ferri Core Four Portfolio: an investment of 1$, since January 1976, now would be worth 123.38$, with a total return of 12237.62% (10.27% annualized).

Paul Merriman Ultimate Buy and Hold Strategy Portfolio: an investment of 1$, since January 1976, now would be worth 210.36$, with a total return of 20935.73% (11.47% 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 1976 - 31 March 2025 (~49 years)
Swipe left to see all data
Core Four Ultimate Buy and Hold Strategy
Author Rick Ferri Paul Merriman
ASSET ALLOCATION
Stocks 80% 100%
Fixed Income 20% 0%
Commodities 0% 0%
PERFORMANCES
Annualized Return (%) 7.19 5.76
Infl. Adjusted Return (%) 4.69 3.29
DRAWDOWN
Deepest Drawdown Depth (%) -3.81 -4.57
Start to Recovery (months) 2 4*
Longest Drawdown Depth (%) -3.23 -4.57
Start to Recovery (months) 4* 4*
Longest Negative Period (months) 6* 7*
Drawdowns / Negative periods marked with * are in progress
RISK INDICATORS
Standard Deviation (%) 9.44 11.21
Sharpe Ratio 0.24 0.08
Sortino Ratio 0.31 0.10
Ulcer Index 1.75 2.22
Ratio: Return / Standard Deviation 0.76 0.51
Ratio: Return / Deepest Drawdown 1.89 1.26
Metrics calculated over the period 1 April 2024 - 31 March 2025
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Core Four Ultimate Buy and Hold Strategy
Author Rick Ferri Paul Merriman
ASSET ALLOCATION
Stocks 80% 100%
Fixed Income 20% 0%
Commodities 0% 0%
PERFORMANCES
Annualized Return (%) 12.16 13.40
Infl. Adjusted Return (%) 7.46 8.65
DRAWDOWN
Deepest Drawdown Depth (%) -23.46 -24.70
Start to Recovery (months) 26 27
Longest Drawdown Depth (%) -23.46 -24.70
Start to Recovery (months) 26 27
Longest Negative Period (months) 34 34
RISK INDICATORS
Standard Deviation (%) 13.72 16.16
Sharpe Ratio 0.71 0.68
Sortino Ratio 0.96 0.96
Ulcer Index 8.32 7.97
Ratio: Return / Standard Deviation 0.89 0.83
Ratio: Return / Deepest Drawdown 0.52 0.54
Metrics calculated over the period 1 April 2020 - 31 March 2025
Swipe left to see all data
Core Four Ultimate Buy and Hold Strategy
Author Rick Ferri Paul Merriman
ASSET ALLOCATION
Stocks 80% 100%
Fixed Income 20% 0%
Commodities 0% 0%
PERFORMANCES
Annualized Return (%) 7.78 6.81
Infl. Adjusted Return (%) 4.56 3.62
DRAWDOWN
Deepest Drawdown Depth (%) -23.46 -27.54
Start to Recovery (months) 26 11
Longest Drawdown Depth (%) -23.46 -24.70
Start to Recovery (months) 26 27
Longest Negative Period (months) 34 44
RISK INDICATORS
Standard Deviation (%) 12.42 15.53
Sharpe Ratio 0.49 0.33
Sortino Ratio 0.65 0.44
Ulcer Index 6.59 7.85
Ratio: Return / Standard Deviation 0.63 0.44
Ratio: Return / Deepest Drawdown 0.33 0.25
Metrics calculated over the period 1 April 2015 - 31 March 2025
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Core Four Ultimate Buy and Hold Strategy
Author Rick Ferri Paul Merriman
ASSET ALLOCATION
Stocks 80% 100%
Fixed Income 20% 0%
Commodities 0% 0%
PERFORMANCES
Annualized Return (%) 8.29 8.44
Infl. Adjusted Return (%) 5.62 5.77
DRAWDOWN
Deepest Drawdown Depth (%) -44.44 -57.21
Start to Recovery (months) 40 63
Longest Drawdown Depth (%) -27.90 -57.21
Start to Recovery (months) 42 63
Longest Negative Period (months) 116 68
RISK INDICATORS
Standard Deviation (%) 12.26 15.76
Sharpe Ratio 0.49 0.39
Sortino Ratio 0.64 0.51
Ulcer Index 9.87 12.16
Ratio: Return / Standard Deviation 0.68 0.54
Ratio: Return / Deepest Drawdown 0.19 0.15
Metrics calculated over the period 1 April 1995 - 31 March 2025
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Core Four Ultimate Buy and Hold Strategy
Author Rick Ferri Paul Merriman
ASSET ALLOCATION
Stocks 80% 100%
Fixed Income 20% 0%
Commodities 0% 0%
PERFORMANCES
Annualized Return (%) 10.27 11.47
Infl. Adjusted Return (%) 6.42 7.58
DRAWDOWN
Deepest Drawdown Depth (%) -44.44 -57.21
Start to Recovery (months) 40 63
Longest Drawdown Depth (%) -27.90 -57.21
Start to Recovery (months) 42 63
Longest Negative Period (months) 116 68
RISK INDICATORS
Standard Deviation (%) 12.03 15.33
Sharpe Ratio 0.50 0.47
Sortino Ratio 0.66 0.62
Ulcer Index 8.13 10.17
Ratio: Return / Standard Deviation 0.85 0.75
Ratio: Return / Deepest Drawdown 0.23 0.20
Metrics calculated over the period 1 January 1976 - 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 1976 - 31 March 2025 (~49 years)

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Core Four Ultimate Buy and Hold Strategy
Drawdown
(%) 		Recovery
(#Months)		 From
To		 Drawdown
(%) 		Recovery
(#Months)		 From
To
-57.21 63 Nov 2007
Jan 2013
-44.44 40 Nov 2007
Feb 2011
-27.90 42 Sep 2000
Feb 2004
-27.54 11 Jan 2020
Nov 2020
-24.70 27 Jan 2022
Mar 2024
-23.46 26 Jan 2022
Feb 2024
-20.46 13 Apr 1998
Apr 1999
-20.10 30 Feb 2001
Jul 2003
-17.12 7 Jan 2020
Jul 2020
-15.17 11 May 2011
Mar 2012
-15.11 22 Feb 2018
Nov 2019
-12.55 5 Jul 1998
Nov 1998
-12.10 14 Jun 2015
Jul 2016
-10.12 8 Sep 2018
Apr 2019
-8.65 5 Sep 2000
Jan 2001

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Core Four Ultimate Buy and Hold Strategy
Drawdown
(%) 		Recovery
(#Months)		 From
To		 Drawdown
(%) 		Recovery
(#Months)		 From
To
-57.21 63 Nov 2007
Jan 2013
-44.44 40 Nov 2007
Feb 2011
-27.90 42 Sep 2000
Feb 2004
-27.54 11 Jan 2020
Nov 2020
-25.26 17 Sep 1987
Jan 1989
-24.70 27 Jan 2022
Mar 2024
-23.46 26 Jan 2022
Feb 2024
-21.87 17 Jan 1990
May 1991
-20.46 13 Apr 1998
Apr 1999
-20.10 30 Feb 2001
Jul 2003
-19.82 18 Jun 1981
Nov 1982
-19.07 17 Sep 1987
Jan 1989
-17.12 7 Jan 2020
Jul 2020
-15.17 11 May 2011
Mar 2012
-15.11 22 Feb 2018
Nov 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 1976 - 31 March 2025 (~49 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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Core Four Ultimate Buy and Hold Strategy
Year Return
(%)		 Drawdown
(%)		 Return
(%)		 Drawdown
(%)
2025
 -0.11 -2.87 1.56 -1.54
2024
 13.43 -3.81 8.12 -4.57
2023
 18.34 -8.99 15.12 -11.49
2022
 -17.83 -23.46 -15.37 -24.70
2021
 17.18 -3.72 19.37 -3.67
2020
 13.93 -17.12 6.40 -27.54
2019
 24.04 -4.20 23.62 -6.09
2018
 -6.41 -10.12 -11.86 -15.11
2017
 17.86 0.00 21.78 -0.19
2016
 8.53 -4.54 12.36 -6.13
2015
 -0.67 -7.93 -1.21 -10.45
2014
 8.52 -2.80 3.86 -4.78
2013
 19.22 -2.72 24.33 -3.16
2012
 14.47 -6.30 18.52 -9.57
2011
 -0.63 -15.17 -6.03 -21.49
2010
 14.71 -9.66 17.95 -12.96
2009
 26.02 -16.84 32.93 -22.58
2008
 -29.77 -33.12 -39.47 -43.68
2007
 6.37 -4.87 3.86 -8.69
2006
 17.60 -2.92 25.26 -4.59
2005
 8.20 -2.68 14.55 -4.36
2004
 14.45 -3.58 24.50 -4.95
2003
 28.09 -3.31 45.35 -4.40
2002
 -11.49 -17.29 -8.70 -19.82
2001
 -7.43 -16.02 -4.24 -16.27
2000
 -4.44 -9.70 -0.62 -8.65
1999
 18.14 -2.86 20.93 -3.33
1998
 15.32 -12.55 4.55 -20.46
1997
 18.08 -4.11 7.53 -6.22
1996
 14.61 -3.35 14.79 -4.92
1995
 22.74 -1.10 16.47 -2.82
1994
 1.06 -5.04 -2.37 -7.70
1993
 15.79 -3.96 30.62 -3.22
1992
 3.42 -3.82 7.12 -3.87
1991
 23.73 -4.00 32.16 -5.51
1990
 -8.36 -14.61 -15.66 -21.87
1989
 20.02 -2.01 27.73 -3.75
1988
 17.02 -2.82 25.20 -2.71
1987
 8.59 -19.07 6.29 -25.26
1986
 26.76 -4.50 33.82 -4.97
1985
 33.14 -2.36 40.18 -2.65
1984
 6.41 -6.59 7.34 -6.12
1983
 20.06 -2.93 26.91 -2.38
1982
 17.46 -9.28 9.42 -16.41
1981
 -0.58 -10.04 -0.23 -10.99
1980
 24.04 -10.43 24.58 -12.52
1979
 17.81 -7.52 19.34 -9.15
1978
 12.62 -7.80 21.17 -9.46
1977
 4.23 -3.09 13.48 -1.92
1976
 19.80 -2.37 22.54 -3.46
Mastering Etf Investing
The first official book of
Mastering ETF Investing
Build wealth
with Lazy Portfolios and Passive Investing
Buy now
English book
Buy now
Italian book