Family · 8 members · 0 to 100% stocks
Strategic benchmarks
8 ETFIQ benchmarks for strategic and target-risk allocation models. The rule, as the method states it, with x the stock share: “x% VT, (100 - x)% the US bonds sleeve (BND and AGG in equal parts).” Launched on Oct 3, 2026.
The eight members on the stock-share scaleDots: each member’s stock share, measured through its funds’ holdings as of May 31 to Jul 31, 2026. Labels: each rule’s stock share. A return marked * is hypothetical.
02040608095100100
US Bonds0.00% stocks · not in a band−1.85% 1Y*Strategic 2019.80% stocks · band 15 to 30+1.67% 1Y*Strategic 4039.60% stocks · band 30 to 50+5.27% 1Y*Strategic 6059.40% stocks · band 50 to 70+8.93% 1Y*Strategic 8079.19% stocks · band 70 to 85+12.65% 1Y*Strategic 9594.04% stocks · band over 85+15.49% 1Y*Global Stocks98.99% stocks · band over 85+16.45% 1Y*US Stocks99.77% stocks · band over 85+15.38% 1Y*
Over 10 years to Sep 30, 2026, the 8 strategic benchmarks returned +1.11% to +14.69% a year, hypothetical.
One sentence, recomputed every trading night. A benchmark is a rule, not a recommendation.
Family grid
Strategic family · weights in force since Jan 4, 2010Weights by sleeve and by fund, then total returns: YTD to Oct 7, 2026, the trailing windows to Sep 30, 2026, annualised over 3 years and more. A row marked * is hypothetical as a whole.
| Sleeve · fund | US Bonds | Strategic 20 | Strategic 40 | Strategic 60 | Strategic 80 | Strategic 95 | Global Stocks | US Stocks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Global stocks | 0% | 20% | 40% | 60% | 80% | 95% | 100% | 0% |
| VT | · | 20% | 40% | 60% | 80% | 95% | 100% | · |
| US stocks | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 100% |
| VTI | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | 50% |
| ITOT | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | 50% |
| US bonds | 100% | 80% | 60% | 40% | 20% | 5% | 0% | 0% |
| BND | 50% | 40% | 30% | 20% | 10% | 2.5% | · | · |
| AGG | 50% | 40% | 30% | 20% | 10% | 2.5% | · | · |
| Stocks · bonds | 0 · 100 | 20 · 80 | 40 · 60 | 60 · 40 | 80 · 20 | 95 · 5 | 100 · 0 | 100 · 0 |
| YTD* hypothetical | −2.63% | +0.62% | +3.93% | +7.28% | +10.69% | +13.27% | +14.14% | +14.67% |
| 1 year* hypothetical | −1.85% | +1.67% | +5.27% | +8.93% | +12.65% | +15.49% | +16.45% | +15.38% |
| 3 years, annualised* hypothetical | +4.05% | +7.40% | +10.82% | +14.30% | +17.84% | +20.54% | +21.45% | +22.34% |
| 5 years, annualised* hypothetical | −0.63% | +1.77% | +4.17% | +6.57% | +8.96% | +10.75% | +11.35% | +12.57% |
| 10 years, annualised* hypothetical | +1.11% | +3.41% | +5.68% | +7.93% | +10.14% | +11.78% | +12.32% | +14.69% |
Construction rule. The family’s rule, as the method states it, with x the stock share: “x% VT, (100 - x)% the US bonds sleeve (BND and AGG in equal parts).” Rebalanced on the last trading day of each month. *Returns before Oct 5, 2026 are hypothetical.
The eight members through each stress window
Rule version 1 · 11 windows since Jan 4, 2010Every fall of VT of 10% or more and of AGG of 5% or more since Jan 4, 2010, found by a written rule on every run and chosen by no one. For each benchmark, its return from the close of the window’s first day to the close of its last, what $10,000 became, and its largest drawdown inside the window. A window outside a benchmark’s history, or only partly inside it, shows no figure for it: a window is never cut to fit.
Jan 11 to Feb 8, 2010
VT fell 10.76% from its peak, back at it on Apr 1, 2010
$10,000
| Member | Return | On $10,000 | Max DD |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Bonds | +1.23% | $10,123 | −0.32% |
| Strategic 20 | −1.23% | $9,877 | −1.58% |
| Strategic 40 | −3.65% | $9,635 | −3.90% |
| Strategic 60 | −6.05% | $9,395 | −6.21% |
| Strategic 80 | −8.42% | $9,158 | −8.48% |
| Strategic 95 | −10.18% | $8,982 | −10.18% |
| Global Stocks | −10.76% | $8,924 | −10.76% |
| US Stocks | −7.77% | $9,223 | −8.07% |
Apr 14 to Jun 7, 2010
VT fell 16.44% from its peak, back at it on Oct 13, 2010
$10,000
| Member | Return | On $10,000 | Max DD |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Bonds | +2.46% | $10,246 | −0.43% |
| Strategic 20 | −1.53% | $9,847 | −1.79% |
| Strategic 40 | −5.41% | $9,459 | −5.46% |
| Strategic 60 | −9.18% | $9,082 | −9.18% |
| Strategic 80 | −12.86% | $8,714 | −12.86% |
| Strategic 95 | −15.55% | $8,445 | −15.55% |
| Global Stocks | −16.44% | $8,356 | −16.44% |
| US Stocks | −13.08% | $8,692 | −13.79% |
Apr 29 to Oct 3, 2011
VT fell 23.83% from its peak, back at it on Jan 2, 2013
$10,000
| Member | Return | On $10,000 | Max DD |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Bonds | +5.35% | $10,535 | −1.10% |
| Strategic 20 | −1.06% | $9,894 | −2.41% |
| Strategic 40 | −7.18% | $9,282 | −7.26% |
| Strategic 60 | −13.00% | $8,700 | −13.00% |
| Strategic 80 | −18.55% | $8,145 | −18.55% |
| Strategic 95 | −22.54% | $7,746 | −22.54% |
| Global Stocks | −23.83% | $7,617 | −23.83% |
| US Stocks | −19.94% | $8,006 | −19.94% |
May 2 to Sep 5, 2013
AGG fell 5.14% from its peak, back at it on May 14, 2014
$10,000
| Member | Return | On $10,000 | Max DD |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Bonds | −5.16% | $9,484 | −5.16% |
| Strategic 20 | −3.81% | $9,619 | −4.88% |
| Strategic 40 | −2.45% | $9,755 | −5.69% |
| Strategic 60 | −1.09% | $9,891 | −6.71% |
| Strategic 80 | +0.28% | $10,028 | −7.71% |
| Strategic 95 | +1.31% | $10,131 | −8.46% |
| Global Stocks | +1.65% | $10,165 | −8.70% |
| US Stocks | +4.90% | $10,490 | −5.67% |
May 21, 2015 to Feb 11, 2016
VT fell 19.79% from its peak, back at it on Dec 13, 2016
$10,000
| Member | Return | On $10,000 | Max DD |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Bonds | +2.12% | $10,212 | −1.62% |
| Strategic 20 | −2.53% | $9,747 | −3.20% |
| Strategic 40 | −7.04% | $9,296 | −7.10% |
| Strategic 60 | −11.43% | $8,857 | −11.43% |
| Strategic 80 | −15.68% | $8,432 | −15.68% |
| Strategic 95 | −18.78% | $8,122 | −18.78% |
| Global Stocks | −19.79% | $8,021 | −19.79% |
| US Stocks | −14.69% | $8,531 | −14.74% |
Jan 26 to Dec 24, 2018
VT fell 19.97% from its peak, back at it on Oct 28, 2019
$10,000
| Member | Return | On $10,000 | Max DD |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Bonds | +0.36% | $10,036 | −2.19% |
| Strategic 20 | −3.89% | $9,611 | −3.89% |
| Strategic 40 | −8.05% | $9,195 | −8.05% |
| Strategic 60 | −12.12% | $8,788 | −12.12% |
| Strategic 80 | −16.09% | $8,391 | −16.09% |
| Strategic 95 | −19.01% | $8,099 | −19.01% |
| Global Stocks | −19.97% | $8,003 | −19.97% |
| US Stocks | −16.98% | $8,302 | −20.07% |
Feb 12 to Mar 23, 2020
VT fell 34.23% from its peak, back at it on Aug 24, 2020
$10,000
| Member | Return | On $10,000 | Max DD |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Bonds | −1.08% | $9,892 | −8.83% |
| Strategic 20 | −8.28% | $9,172 | −11.58% |
| Strategic 40 | −15.18% | $8,482 | −16.62% |
| Strategic 60 | −21.81% | $7,819 | −21.81% |
| Strategic 80 | −28.15% | $7,185 | −28.15% |
| Strategic 95 | −32.74% | $6,726 | −32.74% |
| Global Stocks | −34.23% | $6,577 | −34.23% |
| US Stocks | −34.75% | $6,525 | −35.00% |
Mar 6 to Mar 18, 2020
AGG fell 9.58% from its peak, back at it on May 21, 2020
$10,000
| Member | Return | On $10,000 | Max DD |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Bonds | −8.83% | $9,117 | −8.83% |
| Strategic 20 | −11.50% | $8,850 | −11.50% |
| Strategic 40 | −14.18% | $8,582 | −14.18% |
| Strategic 60 | −16.90% | $8,310 | −16.90% |
| Strategic 80 | −19.63% | $8,037 | −19.63% |
| Strategic 95 | −21.70% | $7,830 | −21.70% |
| Global Stocks | −22.39% | $7,761 | −22.39% |
| US Stocks | −20.74% | $7,926 | −20.74% |
Aug 4, 2020 to Oct 20, 2022
AGG fell 18.44% from its peak, not yet back at it
$10,000
| Member | Return | On $10,000 | Max DD |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Bonds | −18.50% | $8,150 | −18.50% |
| Strategic 20 | −13.97% | $8,603 | −18.74% |
| Strategic 40 | −9.36% | $9,064 | −20.32% |
| Strategic 60 | −4.69% | $9,531 | −22.31% |
| Strategic 80 | +0.04% | $10,004 | −24.34% |
| Strategic 95 | +3.62% | $10,362 | −25.87% |
| Global Stocks | +4.81% | $10,481 | −26.39% |
| US Stocks | +12.89% | $11,289 | −25.36% |
Nov 8, 2021 to Oct 12, 2022
VT fell 26.39% from its peak, back at it on Jan 29, 2024
$10,000
| Member | Return | On $10,000 | Max DD |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Bonds | −15.50% | $8,450 | −15.86% |
| Strategic 20 | −17.69% | $8,231 | −17.85% |
| Strategic 40 | −19.87% | $8,013 | −19.92% |
| Strategic 60 | −22.05% | $7,795 | −22.05% |
| Strategic 80 | −24.22% | $7,578 | −24.22% |
| Strategic 95 | −25.85% | $7,415 | −25.85% |
| Global Stocks | −26.39% | $7,361 | −26.39% |
| US Stocks | −25.04% | $7,496 | −25.36% |
Feb 18 to Apr 8, 2025
VT fell 16.51% from its peak, back at it on May 16, 2025
$10,000
| Member | Return | On $10,000 | Max DD |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Bonds | +1.00% | $10,100 | −1.78% |
| Strategic 20 | −2.67% | $9,733 | −3.64% |
| Strategic 40 | −6.26% | $9,374 | −6.39% |
| Strategic 60 | −9.76% | $9,024 | −9.76% |
| Strategic 80 | −13.18% | $8,682 | −13.18% |
| Strategic 95 | −15.69% | $8,431 | −15.69% |
| Global Stocks | −16.51% | $8,349 | −16.51% |
| US Stocks | −19.25% | $8,075 | −19.37% |
Questions people ask about the strategic benchmarks
- What is an ETFIQ benchmark?
- A rule over broad, low-cost ETFs, written down before its returns were looked at, that measures model portfolios the way the S&P 500 measures large US stocks. Its weights, rule and returns are published.
- Can I invest in an ETFIQ benchmark?
- No. A benchmark is a published yardstick, not a fund, and ETFIQ publishes no trades for any of them. It takes no payment from the issuer of any fund a benchmark holds.
- Why are some returns hypothetical?
- Each family’s rule is frozen on a stated date. Returns before it apply today’s rule and funds to earlier prices, which is look-ahead; returns from it are tracked. The price source does not carry funds that closed before 2016, so nothing here is free of survivorship bias.
Other families
ETFIQ, Strategic benchmarks: all 8, data as of Oct 7, 2026. https://etfiq.com/benchmarks/strategic/
Free to use with attribution for figures ETFIQ computes; issuer data stays under its owner's terms. The underlying files are at Open data. Figures before Oct 5, 2026 are hypothetical.
Prices and distributions, every fund the benchmarks holdData sourced by Tiingo · end of day · Oct 7, 2026The risk-free rate, for the Sharpe ratioU.S. Treasury daily bill rates
Computed by ETFIQ from Tiingo daily prices. Data sourced by Tiingo.