Kiplinger 25 Model Portfolios: Investment Strategies for All Risk Levels

We’ve constructed three portfolios using only funds from the Kiplinger 25, our list of our favorite no-load mutual funds, designed for investors with different goals, time horizons and levels of risk tolerance. (See Kiplinger’s 25 Favorite No-Load Mutual Funds for the complete list of funds with their performances.) Beef up your stocks if want to be more aggressive, or increase the bond portion of your portfolio if you’re risk-averse. Over the past 12 months, our aggressive portfolio lost 6.5%, the moderate mix lost 7.0%, and the conservative model returned 0.8%.

h3 class="kip-md-see-also inline">See Also Our Complete Guide to the Kiplinger 25

For Long-Term Savers: 11+ years away

With growth as the primary goal, this portfolio holds 85% in stock funds, with one bond fund (TIAA-CREF Core Impact Bond) for a touch of ballast.

Dodge & Cox Stock (DODGX): 20% Primecap Odyssey Growth (POGRX): 20% TIAA-CREF Core Impact Bond (TSBRX): 15% Parnassus Mid Cap (PARMX): 15% Fidelity International Growth (FIGFX): 10% Wasatch Small Cap Value (WMCVX): 10% T. Rowe Price QM U.S. Small-Cap Growth Equity Fund (PRDSX): 10%

For College: 6-10 years away

This package is ideal for building up a tuition fund for a kid with Ivy League stars in his eyes. Or you can use it for other goals — say, an approaching retirement in a decade (or a bit sooner). With that shorter time frame, more bond funds (35%) are in the mix.

Vanguard Equity-Income (VEIPX ): 20% DoubleLine Total Return Bond (FMIJX): 15% TIAA-CREF Core Impact Bond (TSBRX): 15% Fidelity International Growth (FIGFX): 15% Primecap Odyssey Growth (POGRX ): 15% T. Rowe Price Small-Cap Value (PRSVX): 10% Vanguard Wellington (VWELX): 10%

For Income: Five Years or less

Short time frames require more caution. This package holds 70% of its assets in bond funds. It yields 3.1%.

DoubleLine Total Return Bond (DLTNX): 25% Fidelity Strategic Income (FSICX): 20% T. Rowe Price Dividend Growth (PRDGX): 15% Vanguard Equity-Income (VEIPX): 15% Vanguard Short-Term Investment Grade (VFSTX): 15% Fidelity New Markets Income (FNMIX): 5% Vanguard High Yield Corporate (VWEHX): 5%