Investing In Your 20s & 30s The Core-Satellite Way

Your 20s and 30s are the best time to start investing.

Don’t have the time or inclination to pick investments or watch the market? You can go with ready-made portfolios for convenience, such as Syfe Core or Syfe REIT+

Want to express certain investment ideas? You can build your own ETF portfolio with Syfe. 

The beauty of a core-satellite approach is that it allows you to do both easily. Here are two hypothetical client portfolios that could serve as inspiration for your own core-satellite strategy. These examples are for illustration purposes only and your asset allocation should be based on your own financial needs and objectives.  

Case study: Brandon (20s)

Brandon is a young architect in his 20s. 

He is saving up to own a Tesla Model 3 in a few years while keeping his wealth building objectives on track for the longer term.

He tackles these goals using two different Syfe Core portfolios.

Overview of Brandon’s core-satellite portfolio

Goal 1: Saving $50,000 for a car in 5 years

Solution: Syfe Core Balance 

Rationale: With a shorter time frame of 5 years, the balanced mix of equity and bond ETFs within Core Balance will help him manage risk while still achieving a moderate level of potential returns over time.

Plan: $700 / month for 5 years to achieve forecasted returns of $53,369

Goal 2: Attain a net worth of $1 million in 25 years

Solution: Syfe Core Equity100

Rationale: The 100% exposure to equities allows him to maximise his long-term potential returns. Although the risk exposure is very high, he’s comfortable taking on that level of risk given his age and risk appetite.

Plan: $500 / month for 25 years to achieve forecasted returns of $1,177,513

Since Brandon cares deeply for the environment and wants to make a positive impact on society and the planet, he also chooses Syfe’s ESG & Clean Energy portfolio as his satellite investment. The portfolio lets him invest in solar power, wind energy, water sustainability, and electric vehicles all within one portfolio. 

Case study: Abby (30s)

abby's core satellite portfolio

Abby is a busy mom with a successful banking career. She’s in her 30s and wants to save up for a family vacation when her child is older. She also wants to set aside an education fund for her child.

Overview of Abby’s core-satellite portfolio

Goal 1: Take a family vacation to Europe ($30,000) in 3 years 

Solution: Syfe Core Defensive

Rationale: Abby goes with a more conservative portfolio as her investing time frame is short. She seeks stability and relatively lower risk (with lower potential returns) in her portfolio by investing mostly in bond ETFs, with a small allocation to equity ETFs

Plan: A lump sum of $5,000 followed by $600 / month for 3 years to achieve forecasted returns of $30,062

Goal 2: Set aside $200,000 (medical school plus living expenses) for her child’s university education in 16 years

Solution: Syfe Core Growth

Rationale: Abby chooses Core Growth as the high exposure to equity ETFs provides greater return potential while her bond and gold ETFs cushion against volatility

Plan: $400 / month for 16 years to achieve forecasted returns of $208,175

Abby also enjoys having the flexibility to create her own portfolio. She creates a Custom portfolio on Syfe Select and uses that as her satellite investment.

She chooses four thematic ETFs that she thinks will have good long-term potential: VanEck Vectors Semiconductor ETF (SMH), iShares Exponential Technologies ETF (XT), Global X Cloud Computing ETF (CLOU), First Trust NASDAQ Cybersecurity ETF (CIBR).

Build your own core satellite portfolio

Interested to create your own core satellite strategy? Explore your own portfolio projections on our website and get started here.

For illustrative purposes only. To forecast future returns we use sophisticated techniques such as forward-looking Monte Carlo simulation to determine a realistic range of return.
Past performance does not guarantee future results, which may vary.
The sample asset allocations and return forecasts have inherent limitations and no representation is being made that any investor will, or is likely to achieve, performance similar to that shown.
Your asset allocation should be based on what you feel best fits your goals and risk tolerance.

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