Vanguard LifeStrategy Conservative Growth Portfolio vs Merrill Lynch Edge Select Moderately Conservative 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:
Vanguard LifeStrategy Conservative Growth Portfolio
1.00$
Initial Capital
May 1995
6.52$
Final Capital
April 2025
6.45%
Yearly Return
6.93%
Std Deviation
-21.90%
Max Drawdown
26months
Recovery Period
1.00$
Initial Capital
May 1995
3.10$
Final Capital
April 2025
3.84%
Yearly Return
6.93%
Std Deviation
-24.82%
Max Drawdown
44months*
Recovery Period
* in progress
1.00$
Initial Capital
January 1985
21.91$
Final Capital
April 2025
7.95%
Yearly Return
7.11%
Std Deviation
-21.90%
Max Drawdown
26months
Recovery Period
1.00$
Initial Capital
January 1985
7.23$
Final Capital
April 2025
5.03%
Yearly Return
7.11%
Std Deviation
-24.82%
Max Drawdown
44months*
Recovery Period
* in progress
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

As of April 2025, in the previous 30 Years, the Vanguard LifeStrategy Conservative Growth Portfolio obtained a 6.45% compound annual return, with a 6.93% standard deviation. It suffered a maximum drawdown of -21.90% that required 26 months to be recovered.

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.

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
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
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
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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_vanguard.webp LifeStrategy Conservative Growth
Vanguard
1.74 0.77 2.08 9.64 5.02 4.76 6.45 7.95
//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
Return over 1 year are annualized.
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Capital Growth as of Apr 30, 2025

Vanguard LifeStrategy Conservative Growth Portfolio: an investment of 1$, since May 1995, now would be worth 6.52$, with a total return of 551.88% (6.45% annualized).

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).


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Vanguard LifeStrategy Conservative Growth Portfolio: an investment of 1$, since January 1985, now would be worth 21.91$, with a total return of 2090.57% (7.95% annualized).

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).


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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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LifeStrategy Conservative Growth Edge Select Moderately Conservative
Author Vanguard Merrill Lynch
ASSET ALLOCATION
Stocks 40% 37%
Fixed Income 60% 63%
Commodities 0% 0%
PERFORMANCES
Annualized Return (%) 9.64 9.88
Infl. Adjusted Return (%) 7.42 7.65
DRAWDOWN
Deepest Drawdown Depth (%) -2.06 -2.05
Start to Recovery (months) 2 2
Longest Drawdown Depth (%) -2.05 -1.87
Start to Recovery (months) 3 3
Longest Negative Period (months) 7* 7*
Drawdowns / Negative periods marked with * are in progress
RISK INDICATORS
Standard Deviation (%) 5.64 5.61
Sharpe Ratio 0.86 0.90
Sortino Ratio 1.05 1.11
Ulcer Index 0.94 0.93
Ratio: Return / Standard Deviation 1.71 1.76
Ratio: Return / Deepest Drawdown 4.68 4.83
Metrics calculated over the period 1 May 2024 - 30 April 2025
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LifeStrategy Conservative Growth Edge Select Moderately Conservative
Author Vanguard Merrill Lynch
ASSET ALLOCATION
Stocks 40% 37%
Fixed Income 60% 63%
Commodities 0% 0%
PERFORMANCES
Annualized Return (%) 5.02 5.32
Infl. Adjusted Return (%) 0.46 0.75
DRAWDOWN
Deepest Drawdown Depth (%) -18.57 -18.53
Start to Recovery (months) 31 30
Longest Drawdown Depth (%) -18.57 -18.53
Start to Recovery (months) 31 30
Longest Negative Period (months) 39 39
RISK INDICATORS
Standard Deviation (%) 8.87 8.97
Sharpe Ratio 0.28 0.31
Sortino Ratio 0.38 0.42
Ulcer Index 7.16 6.98
Ratio: Return / Standard Deviation 0.57 0.59
Ratio: Return / Deepest Drawdown 0.27 0.29
Metrics calculated over the period 1 May 2020 - 30 April 2025
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LifeStrategy Conservative Growth Edge Select Moderately Conservative
Author Vanguard Merrill Lynch
ASSET ALLOCATION
Stocks 40% 37%
Fixed Income 60% 63%
Commodities 0% 0%
PERFORMANCES
Annualized Return (%) 4.76 5.05
Infl. Adjusted Return (%) 1.64 1.92
DRAWDOWN
Deepest Drawdown Depth (%) -18.57 -18.53
Start to Recovery (months) 31 30
Longest Drawdown Depth (%) -18.57 -18.53
Start to Recovery (months) 31 30
Longest Negative Period (months) 39 39
RISK INDICATORS
Standard Deviation (%) 7.65 7.66
Sharpe Ratio 0.39 0.43
Sortino Ratio 0.53 0.58
Ulcer Index 5.29 5.15
Ratio: Return / Standard Deviation 0.62 0.66
Ratio: Return / Deepest Drawdown 0.26 0.27
Metrics calculated over the period 1 May 2015 - 30 April 2025
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LifeStrategy Conservative Growth Edge Select Moderately Conservative
Author Vanguard Merrill Lynch
ASSET ALLOCATION
Stocks 40% 37%
Fixed Income 60% 63%
Commodities 0% 0%
PERFORMANCES
Annualized Return (%) 6.45 6.68
Infl. Adjusted Return (%) 3.84 4.06
DRAWDOWN
Deepest Drawdown Depth (%) -21.90 -20.48
Start to Recovery (months) 26 25
Longest Drawdown Depth (%) -18.57 -18.53
Start to Recovery (months) 31 30
Longest Negative Period (months) 50 50
RISK INDICATORS
Standard Deviation (%) 6.93 6.88
Sharpe Ratio 0.60 0.64
Sortino Ratio 0.79 0.85
Ulcer Index 4.40 4.12
Ratio: Return / Standard Deviation 0.93 0.97
Ratio: Return / Deepest Drawdown 0.29 0.33
Metrics calculated over the period 1 May 1995 - 30 April 2025
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LifeStrategy Conservative Growth Edge Select Moderately Conservative
Author Vanguard Merrill Lynch
ASSET ALLOCATION
Stocks 40% 37%
Fixed Income 60% 63%
Commodities 0% 0%
PERFORMANCES
Annualized Return (%) 7.95 8.23
Infl. Adjusted Return (%) 5.03 5.30
DRAWDOWN
Deepest Drawdown Depth (%) -21.90 -20.48
Start to Recovery (months) 26 25
Longest Drawdown Depth (%) -18.57 -18.53
Start to Recovery (months) 31 30
Longest Negative Period (months) 50 50
RISK INDICATORS
Standard Deviation (%) 7.11 7.11
Sharpe Ratio 0.67 0.71
Sortino Ratio 0.90 0.96
Ulcer Index 3.98 3.76
Ratio: Return / Standard Deviation 1.12 1.16
Ratio: Return / Deepest Drawdown 0.36 0.40
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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LifeStrategy Conservative Growth Edge Select Moderately Conservative
Drawdown
(%)
Recovery
(#Months)
From
To
Drawdown
(%)
Recovery
(#Months)
From
To
-21.90 26 Nov 2007
Dec 2009
-20.48 25 Nov 2007
Nov 2009
-18.57 31 Jan 2022
Jul 2024
-18.53 30 Jan 2022
Jun 2024
-8.46 6 Feb 2020
Jul 2020
-8.06 28 Feb 2001
May 2003
-7.78 5 Feb 2020
Jun 2020
-6.14 27 Feb 2001
Apr 2003
-6.00 9 May 2011
Jan 2012
-5.80 8 Jun 2011
Jan 2012
-5.30 4 Jul 1998
Oct 1998
-5.01 4 Jul 1998
Oct 1998
-4.75 6 Sep 2018
Feb 2019
-4.63 6 Sep 2018
Feb 2019
-4.56 13 May 2015
May 2016

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LifeStrategy Conservative Growth Edge Select Moderately Conservative
Drawdown
(%)
Recovery
(#Months)
From
To
Drawdown
(%)
Recovery
(#Months)
From
To
-21.90 26 Nov 2007
Dec 2009
-20.48 25 Nov 2007
Nov 2009
-18.57 31 Jan 2022
Jul 2024
-18.53 30 Jan 2022
Jun 2024
-10.69 13 Sep 1987
Sep 1988
-9.95 10 Sep 1987
Jun 1988
-8.46 6 Feb 2020
Jul 2020
-8.06 28 Feb 2001
May 2003
-7.78 5 Feb 2020
Jun 2020
-7.56 6 Aug 1990
Jan 1991
-7.29 6 Aug 1990
Jan 1991
-6.31 7 Jan 1990
Jul 1990
-6.14 27 Feb 2001
Apr 2003
-6.00 9 May 2011
Jan 2012
-5.80 8 Jun 2011
Jan 2012

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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LifeStrategy Conservative Growth Edge Select Moderately Conservative
Year Return
(%)
Drawdown
(%)
Return
(%)
Drawdown
(%)
2025
1.74 -1.52 1.30 -1.54
2024
7.83 -2.75 8.31 -2.70
2023
12.64 -6.30 13.70 -6.23
2022
-14.98 -18.57 -14.91 -18.53
2021
6.29 -2.35 6.44 -2.24
2020
10.90 -8.46 11.65 -7.78
2019
15.98 -1.67 16.41 -1.82
2018
-3.06 -4.63 -2.89 -4.75
2017
11.40 0.00 11.44 0.00
2016
5.76 -1.97 6.14 -1.87
2015
-0.23 -4.56 -0.48 -4.33
2014
6.30 -1.55 6.29 -1.64
2013
9.27 -3.00 8.82 -3.06
2012
10.01 -3.02 9.99 -2.86
2011
2.86 -6.00 3.41 -5.80
2010
10.21 -3.68 10.48 -3.50
2009
17.23 -8.65 17.30 -8.37
2008
-13.37 -17.25 -11.92 -16.14
2007
7.58 -1.31 6.98 -1.47
2006
10.35 -1.58 9.60 -1.69
2005
5.91 -1.60 5.47 -1.53
2004
9.28 -2.28 8.54 -2.54
2003
16.21 -1.18 16.19 -1.02
2002
-2.19 -6.39 -0.79 -4.95
2001
-0.37 -6.05 0.35 -5.56
2000
1.40 -3.80 2.03 -3.51
1999
10.23 -2.26 9.63 -2.17
1998
14.76 -5.30 13.94 -5.01
1997
10.41 -2.78 12.19 -3.09
1996
8.12 -1.36 9.06 -1.42
1995
20.68 0.00 21.86 0.00
1994
-0.91 -4.90 -1.15 -5.18
1993
14.36 -2.48 15.17 -1.67
1992
4.96 -3.22 6.09 -2.25
1991
19.55 -2.33 24.65 -2.13
1990
-0.50 -7.29 1.69 -7.56
1989
16.53 -1.00 19.80 -0.51
1988
12.93 -1.67 12.42 -1.76
1987
6.77 -9.95 3.90 -10.69
1986
22.93 -3.26 19.56 -3.61
1985
29.44 -0.72 27.56 -0.71
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