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Comment by ALL_IN_VTSAX | Hacker News Reader

All-in VTSAX is a tried and true strategy

I've seen this strategy around the web on reddit and bogleheads and I appreciate the sentiment, but 2020 has made me more aware of risk than ever before.

I feel like the past decade has given investors a false sense of confidence about their stomach for risk. Especially young investors who enter the market AFTER 2008. On top of that, the extremely risky options available on platforms like robinhood make investing in 100% stocks look like a risk-averse choice.

Sure, if you're 22 100% VTSAX is reasonable. But I feel like this approach is too common given the risk involved. Staying the course with an asset allocation you can stomach is more important than potential for gains

I think the only way the US government let’s asset prices drop is if a new superpower shows up with a more in demand currency. Until then, they will do whatever it takes to keep VTSAX and real estate prices going up and to the right. The USD will probably lose value.

If you assume the above is true like me, then 100% equities for any funds not needed for 5 years is appropriate.

If you’re a university endowment you’re forever a 22 year old. You never need the money, your timeline is infinite, and you can easily borrow the 4-5% a year you distribute to your operating expenses if you have nothing liquid or there’s been a recent large market drop.

Are you the same guy from Reddit?

Ha, I know exactly who you're talking about.

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