This post is inspired by Optimized Portfolio’s totally on-point version of the “distracted boyfriend” meme. AVGE, Avantis’s All Equity Markets ETF, has gotten a lot of buzz lately - does it deserve a strong wandering eye from the Risk Parity investor as well?
After an anti-climactic Round Two which saw no low(er) beta equity fund emerge with any type of advantage, the search returns, this time with dividend-focused ETFs. Will they make a difference? Does a special allocation to low(er) beta or dividend funds make sense in a RP portfolio?
This one is really an experiment - comparing three equity funds, VPU, PFF and USMV, with somewhat low correlation with the S&P 500. Putting them through their paces to get a sense of whether low(er) beta equity funds may be another arrow in the RP quiver.
Although I have long invested in REITs, I’m actually undecided about whether they are a unique asset class and if they deserve an allocation in a RP portfolio going forward. That being said, Vanguard’s Real Estate ETF (VNQ) is my preferred way to invest in REITs…for now.
