CRG Balanced ETF Model
OBJECTIVE:
The Balanced ETF Model Portfolio is designed for investors seeking a harmonious blend of growth and income with a moderate level of risk. This portfolio aims to provide steady capital appreciation while managing volatility through diversified exposure to both equities and fixed income assets.
RISK LEVEL | Balanced |
TIME HORIZON (YRS) | 5 – 7 |
RISK SCORE RANGE | 41 – 60 |
EST. NOMINAL RETURN | 5 – 7% |
EST. VOLATILITY | 8 – 12% |

HOLDINGS |
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TICKER | RATIONALE | LITERATURE |
QQQ (Invesco QQQ Trust)
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Including QQQ in a balanced ETF model portfolio provides targeted growth exposure, sector diversification within equities, liquidity, and a historically strong performance profile.
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TIP (iShares TIPS Bond ETF)
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Including TIP in a balanced ETF model portfolio enhances inflation protection, diversifies fixed income exposure, reduces interest rate and inflation risk, and helps preserve real purchasing power. This makes TIP an effective tool to improve the portfolio’s risk-adjusted returns and maintain stability in varying economic environments.
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FACTSHEET |
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VEA (iShares MSCI EAFE ETF)
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Including VEA in a balanced ETF model portfolio provides broad, cost-effective exposure to developed international equity markets, enhancing geographic diversification, reducing home-country bias, and complementing domestic equities.
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VOO (Vanguard S&P 500 ETF)
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Including VOO in a balanced ETF model portfolio offers broad, diversified, low-cost exposure to the U.S. large-cap equity market. It serves as a foundational growth component, helping to drive long-term returns while maintaining liquidity and cost efficiency, making it a core holding for balanced investment strategies.
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IGIB (iShares Intermediate-Term Corporate Bond ETF)
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IAU (iShares Gold Trust)
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Including IAU in a balanced ETF model portfolio enhances diversification, provides inflation protection, offers a safe-haven asset during market stress, and adds a low-cost, liquid way to gain exposure to gold.
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BND (Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF)
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Including BND in a balanced ETF model portfolio offers broad, diversified, and cost-effective exposure to the U.S. investment-grade bond market. It provides income, reduces portfolio volatility, and enhances capital preservation, making it a foundational fixed income holding that balances the equity portion of the portfolio.
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BNDX (Vanguard Total International Bond ETF)
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BNDX offers broad exposure to investment-grade bonds outside the U.S., hedged to USD to reduce currency risk. Including BNDX provides geographic diversification and reduces reliance on U.S. interest rate movements, enhancing portfolio stability and income diversification in a conservative allocation.
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