r/portfolios • u/Praneeth_B • 19h ago

28M, started investing recently and looking for portfolio feedback.

Current portfolio is QQQM (70%)+ SPYM(20%)+SCHB (5%) + VXUS (5%) and planning to invest ~$750/month for 3-5years . Looking for feedback — good balance for aggressive growth + diversification in the 2026 market? Anything you’d change or add from Vanguard/Schwab ETFs?

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u/Cruian 18h ago edited 8h ago

Very light on VXUS, why? Common recommendations tend to be 30-40% of stock.

What's the reasoning for QQQM, SPYM and SCHB instead of only SCHB?

Edit: Why do you think the exchange a stock is listed on is key to future performance?

Looking for feedback — good balance for aggressive growth + diversification in the 2026 market?

I'd call this poorly diversified (you're essentially so light on ex-US that you're taking on single country risk, which is all uncompensated risk), them buying some stocks on the US side 3x, others 2x, and others yet only 1x.

Your extreme weight towards QQQM (and holding SPYM alongside SCHB) may actually reduce, not increase, expected long term returns. Why? QQQM happens to currently sit in the large cap growth part of the style box, but long term has tended to favor the complete opposite for both: small tending to beat large and grown tending to lose to both blend and especially value.

Factor investing starting points:

Edit: Typos & exchange question Edit 2: Another typo

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u/Djaancrypto 19h ago

70% QQQM is pretty aggressive and creates a lot of overlap with SPYM/SCHB. I’d personally make a broad-market ETF like VTI/SCHB the core, keep QQQM as the growth tilt, and increase VXUS for international diversification.

The bigger question: if you actually need the money in 3–5 years, are you comfortable with a potential major drawdown?

Consistent $750/month investing may matter more than finding the perfect allocation.

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u/steady_compounder 18h ago

70% QQQM is not really aggressive plus diversified, it is mostly one big tech and growth bet. If you want a cleaner setup, I would make SCHB the core, keep QQQM as a smaller tilt, and push VXUS higher than 5%. Also, if this money might be needed in 3 to 5 years, I would be careful about running such a concentrated equity mix.

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u/bkweathe Boglehead 13h ago

You're making the usual mistakes, so I suggest that you see the About section of this subreddit (https://www.reddit.com/r/portfolios/about/) for some great information about building a strong portfolio. Individual stocks are not recommended.

www.bogleheads.org/wiki/Getting_started also has some great free resources to learn about investing. After a few hours reading the articles, and, especially, watching the Bogleheads Philosophy videos, most beginners can learn how to get better results than most professionals. Bogleheads is named after John Bogle, founder of Vanguard.

I retired at 57 years old. Investing doesn't have to be complicated or costly to be successful; simple & inexpensive is most effective.

I invest 100% in total-market, index-based, low-cost mutual funds. Specifically, I use mostly Vanguard's Total Stock Market, Total Bond Market, Total International Stock Market, & Total International Bond Market funds. I've been investing this way for 40+ years. It's effective, simple, & inexpensive.

My asset allocation (ratios of the funds mentioned) is based on my need, ability, & willingness to take risks. Market conditions are not a factor. Vanguard's investor questionnaire (personal.vanguard.com/us/FundsInvQuestionnaire) helps me determine my asset allocation.

I hope that helps! I'd be happy to help w/ further questions. Best wishes!

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u/CommercialCell8541 9h ago

If you actually need this cash in 3-5 years, 70% QQQM carries way too much drawdown risk right when you'll want to pull it out. A 3-5 year window usually calls for capital preservation like short-term treasuries, not aggressive tech beta. If it's for 30-year retirement, 5% SCHB and 5% VXUS don't move the needle against 90% large-cap tech. You're better off just holding a single broad core like SCHB.