Vanguard LifeStrategy Conservative Growth 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
(Change Settings)
The minimum date range must be at least 12 months. 'Date To' cannot be beyond April 2025.
Reset settings
Close
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
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 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 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.
The first official book of
Build wealth
with Lazy Portfolios and Passive Investing
Set your goal
Use top metrics to evaluate
Join the passive investing strategy
Exclusive new asset allocations in EUR and USD

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
50.00
VTI
Vanguard Total Stock Market
50.00
TIP
iShares TIPS Bond
Evaluate your portfolio strategy in 7 different currencies

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)
Swipe left to see all data
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_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.
Tailored Portfolios for every Investment Strategy

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).

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).


Loading data
Please wait
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).

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).


Loading data
Please wait

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)
Swipe left to see all data
LifeStrategy Conservative Growth Couch Potato
Author Vanguard Scott Burns
ASSET ALLOCATION
Stocks 40% 50%
Fixed Income 60% 50%
Commodities 0% 0%
PERFORMANCES
Annualized Return (%) 9.64 10.21
Infl. Adjusted Return (%) 7.42 7.97
DRAWDOWN
Deepest Drawdown Depth (%) -2.06 -3.00
Start to Recovery (months) 2 5*
Longest Drawdown Depth (%) -2.05 -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 (%) 5.64 7.00
Sharpe Ratio 0.86 0.77
Sortino Ratio 1.05 1.02
Ulcer Index 0.94 1.36
Ratio: Return / Standard Deviation 1.71 1.46
Ratio: Return / Deepest Drawdown 4.68 3.40
Metrics calculated over the period 1 May 2024 - 30 April 2025
Swipe left to see all data
LifeStrategy Conservative Growth Couch Potato
Author Vanguard Scott Burns
ASSET ALLOCATION
Stocks 40% 50%
Fixed Income 60% 50%
Commodities 0% 0%
PERFORMANCES
Annualized Return (%) 5.02 8.27
Infl. Adjusted Return (%) 0.46 3.58
DRAWDOWN
Deepest Drawdown Depth (%) -18.57 -19.77
Start to Recovery (months) 31 27
Longest Drawdown Depth (%) -18.57 -19.77
Start to Recovery (months) 31 27
Longest Negative Period (months) 39 32
RISK INDICATORS
Standard Deviation (%) 8.87 10.59
Sharpe Ratio 0.28 0.54
Sortino Ratio 0.38 0.72
Ulcer Index 7.16 7.30
Ratio: Return / Standard Deviation 0.57 0.78
Ratio: Return / Deepest Drawdown 0.27 0.42
Metrics calculated over the period 1 May 2020 - 30 April 2025
Swipe left to see all data
LifeStrategy Conservative Growth Couch Potato
Author Vanguard Scott Burns
ASSET ALLOCATION
Stocks 40% 50%
Fixed Income 60% 50%
Commodities 0% 0%
PERFORMANCES
Annualized Return (%) 4.76 7.04
Infl. Adjusted Return (%) 1.64 3.85
DRAWDOWN
Deepest Drawdown Depth (%) -18.57 -19.77
Start to Recovery (months) 31 27
Longest Drawdown Depth (%) -18.57 -19.77
Start to Recovery (months) 31 27
Longest Negative Period (months) 39 32
RISK INDICATORS
Standard Deviation (%) 7.65 9.44
Sharpe Ratio 0.39 0.56
Sortino Ratio 0.53 0.74
Ulcer Index 5.29 5.50
Ratio: Return / Standard Deviation 0.62 0.75
Ratio: Return / Deepest Drawdown 0.26 0.36
Metrics calculated over the period 1 May 2015 - 30 April 2025
Swipe left to see all data
LifeStrategy Conservative Growth Couch Potato
Author Vanguard Scott Burns
ASSET ALLOCATION
Stocks 40% 50%
Fixed Income 60% 50%
Commodities 0% 0%
PERFORMANCES
Annualized Return (%) 6.45 8.13
Infl. Adjusted Return (%) 3.84 5.48
DRAWDOWN
Deepest Drawdown Depth (%) -21.90 -27.04
Start to Recovery (months) 26 30
Longest Drawdown Depth (%) -18.57 -10.30
Start to Recovery (months) 31 33
Longest Negative Period (months) 50 62
RISK INDICATORS
Standard Deviation (%) 6.93 8.75
Sharpe Ratio 0.60 0.67
Sortino Ratio 0.79 0.88
Ulcer Index 4.40 5.17
Ratio: Return / Standard Deviation 0.93 0.93
Ratio: Return / Deepest Drawdown 0.29 0.30
Metrics calculated over the period 1 May 1995 - 30 April 2025
Swipe left to see all data
LifeStrategy Conservative Growth Couch Potato
Author Vanguard Scott Burns
ASSET ALLOCATION
Stocks 40% 50%
Fixed Income 60% 50%
Commodities 0% 0%
PERFORMANCES
Annualized Return (%) 7.95 9.28
Infl. Adjusted Return (%) 5.03 6.31
DRAWDOWN
Deepest Drawdown Depth (%) -21.90 -27.04
Start to Recovery (months) 26 30
Longest Drawdown Depth (%) -18.57 -10.30
Start to Recovery (months) 31 33
Longest Negative Period (months) 50 62
RISK INDICATORS
Standard Deviation (%) 7.11 9.04
Sharpe Ratio 0.67 0.68
Sortino Ratio 0.90 0.90
Ulcer Index 3.98 4.84
Ratio: Return / Standard Deviation 1.12 1.03
Ratio: Return / Deepest Drawdown 0.36 0.34
Metrics calculated over the period 1 January 1985 - 30 April 2025
The first official book of
Build wealth
with Lazy Portfolios and Passive Investing

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)

Loading data
Please wait
Swipe left to see all data
LifeStrategy Conservative Growth Couch Potato
Drawdown
(%)
Recovery
(#Months)
From
To
Drawdown
(%)
Recovery
(#Months)
From
To
-27.04 30 Nov 2007
Apr 2010
-21.90 26 Nov 2007
Dec 2009
-19.77 27 Jan 2022
Mar 2024
-18.57 31 Jan 2022
Jul 2024
-10.72 5 Feb 2020
Jun 2020
-10.30 33 Sep 2000
May 2003
-8.46 6 Feb 2020
Jul 2020
-8.06 8 Sep 2018
Apr 2019
-8.06 5 Jul 1998
Nov 1998
-8.06 28 Feb 2001
May 2003
-6.25 8 May 2011
Dec 2011
-6.09 5 May 2010
Sep 2010
-6.00 9 May 2011
Jan 2012
-5.47 14 Mar 2015
Apr 2016
-5.30 4 Jul 1998
Oct 1998

Loading data
Please wait
Swipe left to see all data
LifeStrategy Conservative Growth Couch Potato
Drawdown
(%)
Recovery
(#Months)
From
To
Drawdown
(%)
Recovery
(#Months)
From
To
-27.04 30 Nov 2007
Apr 2010
-21.90 26 Nov 2007
Dec 2009
-19.77 27 Jan 2022
Mar 2024
-18.57 31 Jan 2022
Jul 2024
-16.03 17 Sep 1987
Jan 1989
-10.72 5 Feb 2020
Jun 2020
-10.30 33 Sep 2000
May 2003
-9.95 10 Sep 1987
Jun 1988
-8.78 14 Feb 1994
Mar 1995
-8.46 6 Feb 2020
Jul 2020
-8.06 8 Sep 2018
Apr 2019
-8.06 5 Jul 1998
Nov 1998
-8.06 28 Feb 2001
May 2003
-7.58 6 Aug 1990
Jan 1991
-7.29 6 Aug 1990
Jan 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 - 30 April 2025 (~40 years)


Head To Head (Ptf 1 vs Ptf 2):
US Inflation Adjusted:

Loading data
Please wait

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.

Swipe left to see all data
LifeStrategy Conservative Growth Couch Potato
Year Return
(%)
Drawdown
(%)
Return
(%)
Drawdown
(%)
2025
1.74 -1.52 -0.57 -2.83
2024
7.83 -2.75 12.73 -3.08
2023
12.64 -6.30 14.66 -6.50
2022
-14.98 -18.57 -16.31 -19.77
2021
6.29 -2.35 15.67 -2.76
2020
10.90 -8.46 15.93 -10.72
2019
15.98 -1.67 19.51 -2.63
2018
-3.06 -4.63 -3.32 -8.06
2017
11.40 0.00 12.07 0.00
2016
5.76 -1.97 8.75 -2.08
2015
-0.23 -4.56 -0.70 -5.47
2014
6.30 -1.55 8.07 -2.34
2013
9.27 -3.00 12.48 -3.18
2012
10.01 -3.02 11.42 -2.32
2011
2.86 -6.00 7.12 -6.25
2010
10.21 -3.68 11.78 -6.09
2009
17.23 -8.65 18.92 -9.98
2008
-13.37 -17.25 -18.47 -22.29
2007
7.58 -1.31 8.64 -1.70
2006
10.35 -1.58 7.99 -1.54
2005
5.91 -1.60 4.40 -1.83
2004
9.28 -2.28 10.53 -3.54
2003
16.21 -1.18 19.38 -1.09
2002
-2.19 -6.39 -1.93 -6.44
2001
-0.37 -6.05 -1.68 -8.57
2000
1.40 -3.80 3.54 -5.60
1999
10.23 -2.26 9.67 -3.30
1998
14.76 -5.30 16.26 -8.06
1997
10.41 -2.78 21.85 -3.41
1996
8.12 -1.36 11.14 -2.76
1995
20.68 0.00 29.40 0.00
1994
-0.91 -4.90 -3.21 -8.78
1993
14.36 -2.48 13.19 -1.53
1992
4.96 -3.22 8.92 -2.25
1991
19.55 -2.33 25.50 -2.55
1990
-0.50 -7.29 1.06 -7.58
1989
16.53 -1.00 21.95 -1.62
1988
12.93 -1.67 11.91 -2.50
1987
6.77 -9.95 1.19 -16.03
1986
22.93 -3.26 16.48 -5.55
1985
29.44 -0.72 28.66 -1.87
The first official book of
Build wealth
with Lazy Portfolios and Passive Investing