Do I need a brokerage account to use ETF.PLAN?

Yes — ETF.PLAN tells you what to buy, but you execute the trades yourself on a platform like Robinhood, eToro, or Interactive Brokers. All are free to open and commission-free for ETFs.

Is my money safe with ETF.PLAN?

Your money never touches ETF.PLAN — we don't hold any funds. You invest directly through your regulated brokerage. We only track what you tell us you bought.

Can I lose money investing in ETFs?

Yes — any investment can go down short term. But over 10 years, the S&P 500 has never had a negative return on a 10-year hold. The ~9% balanced return is a historical average. The longer you hold, the safer it gets.

How much money do I need to start?

ETF.PLAN is designed around $50, $100 or $150/month. Most brokers let you start with as little as $1 using fractional shares. ETF.PLAN itself is free.

Yes, ETF.PLAN is 100% free. The core personalised ETF plan will always be free.

How often do the ETF picks change?

Our scoring engine runs every market day. Picks update weekly based on momentum, stability and trend scores across 42 ETFs.

Home→Risk levels

BEGINNER GUIDE · 5 MIN READ

Conservative, Balanced or Aggressive?

All three plans beat a regular savings account. The difference is how much they can fluctuate — and how long you need to hold. Here's everything you need to decide.

QUICK PICKER — WHICH SOUNDS LIKE YOU?

🛡️ Conservative

I don't want to see my portfolio drop more than 10%. I might need this money within 5 years. I'd rather grow slowly than risk a big drop.

⚖️ Balanced

I'm fine with temporary drops of 20-30% as long as I recover. I'm investing for 5-15 years. I won't panic sell.

🚀 Aggressive

I have 10+ years. I genuinely won't touch this money. I can watch my portfolio drop 40% and still hold without selling.

🛡️

Conservative

~5%/yrVery Low riskMax drop: ~8-12%

BND 40%SCHD 30%VTI 20%VOO 10%

PORTFOLIO AT 5YR

$6,920

($100/mo)

PORTFOLIO AT 10YR

$16,024

($100/mo)

PASSIVE INCOME/YR (5YR)

+$346/yr

PASSIVE INCOME/YR (10YR)

+$877/yr

BEST FOR

People within 5 years of needing the money, or anyone who would panic and sell if their portfolio dropped 15%.

NOT FOR

People with 10+ year horizon who want maximum growth.

PROS

✅ Most stable — won't drop much even in crashes

✅ Includes bonds as a shock absorber

✅ Dividend income from SCHD paid quarterly

✅ Closest to a savings account, but better

CONS

⚠️ Lower long-term growth ceiling

⚠️ Bonds drag returns in bull markets

⚠️ May not keep pace with inflation in bad bond environments

⚖️

Balanced

~9%/yrLow–Med riskMax drop: ~20-30%

VOO 40%VTI 25%QQQ 25%SCHD 10%

PORTFOLIO AT 5YR

$7,599

($100/mo)

PORTFOLIO AT 10YR

$19,497

($100/mo)

PASSIVE INCOME/YR (5YR)

+$684/yr

PASSIVE INCOME/YR (10YR)

+$1,755/yr

BEST FOR

Most people. 5–20 year horizon. You can handle seeing your portfolio drop temporarily and you won't panic sell.

NOT FOR

People who need the money within 3 years, or anyone who will lose sleep over a 20% temporary drop.

PROS

✅ Sweet spot of growth vs stability

✅ Mixes large-cap growth (VOO/QQQ) with dividend income (SCHD)

✅ Most popular plan — proven risk/return profile

✅ ~9% historically matches what most financial advisors target

CONS

⚠️ Will drop 20-30% in major crashes

⚠️ Requires patience to hold through downturns

⚠️ Higher volatility than conservative

🚀

Aggressive

~16%/yrMedium riskMax drop: ~40-60%

QQQ 35%VGT 25%TQQQ 25%ARKK 15%

PORTFOLIO AT 5YR

$9,225

($100/mo)

PORTFOLIO AT 10YR

$30,860

($100/mo)

PASSIVE INCOME/YR (5YR)

+$1476/yr

PASSIVE INCOME/YR (10YR)

+$6,057/yr

BEST FOR

People with 10+ year horizon, high risk tolerance, and the discipline NOT to sell during crashes. TQQQ is 3x leveraged — it can drop 60%+ in a bear market.

NOT FOR

Anyone who might need the money within 5 years. Anyone who would panic during a 40% drop.

PROS

✅ Highest long-term growth potential

✅ Tech-heavy — benefits from AI/software mega-trends

✅ TQQQ amplifies gains in bull markets

✅ 15yr CAGR historically ~16%+

CONS

⚠️ TQQQ can drop 60-80% in crashes — it has before

⚠️ Requires genuine long-term discipline

⚠️ NOT suitable if you'll need money within 5 years

⚠️ High volatility means rough years mentally

Side-by-side comparison ($100/month for 10 years)

	Conservative 🛡️	Balanced ⚖️	Aggressive 🚀
TARGET RETURN	~5%/yr	~9%/yr	~16%/yr
PORTFOLIO AT 5YR	$6,920	$7,599	$9,225
PORTFOLIO AT 10YR	$16,024	$19,497	$30,860
PASSIVE INCOME/YR	+$877/yr	+$1,755/yr	+$6,057/yr
MAX DRAWDOWN	~8-12%	~20-30%	~40-60%
KEY ETFS	BND, SCHD, VTI, VOO	VOO, VTI, QQQ, SCHD	QQQ, VGT, TQQQ, ARKK
MIN HOLD PERIOD	3+ years	5+ years	10+ years

Common questions about risk levels

Can I change my risk level after signing up?

Yes — you can change your plan at any time from your dashboard. ETF.PLAN will immediately show you the new ETF picks for your updated plan.

What happens to my portfolio if I switch?

Your historical tracked data stays as-is. Going forward, we'll show picks based on your new plan. You decide when to actually rebalance your broker holdings.

Is Balanced really safe enough for a beginner?

Balanced is the most popular choice for a reason. Yes, it can drop 20-30% in a crash — but over 5-10 years, it has historically recovered every time and delivered strong returns. The key is not panic selling.

Why does Aggressive include TQQQ (3x leveraged)?

TQQQ delivers 3x the daily return of the Nasdaq-100. In bull markets this accelerates gains dramatically. In bear markets it can drop 60-80%. It's only appropriate for a small portion of a long-term portfolio for people who genuinely won't touch the money.

What's the minimum timeline for each plan?

Conservative: 3+ years. Balanced: 5+ years. Aggressive: 10+ years. If you need the money sooner, keep it in a savings account or high-yield savings instead.

⚖️

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Continue reading

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