What ETFs are included in the backtester?

The tool includes 16 ETFs: SPY (S&P 500), QQQ (Nasdaq 100), IWM (US Small-Cap), EFA (International Developed), VWO (Emerging Markets), AGG (US Total Bond), TLT (Long-Term Treasuries), LQD (Investment-Grade Corp Bonds), HYG (High Yield Bonds), GLD (Gold), VNQ (Real Estate), XLK (Technology), XLV (Health Care), XLF (Financials), XLE (Energy), and ARKK (ARK Innovation).

How far back does the backtest go?

It depends on which ETFs you select. SPY data goes back to 1994 (30 years), sector ETFs (XLK, XLV, XLF, XLE) to 1999, and most others to the mid-2000s. ARKK only goes back to 2014. The backtest period is automatically limited to the oldest year all selected ETFs share.

What is portfolio CAGR?

CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate) is the annualized rate at which your investment grew from the starting amount to the final value. A CAGR of 10% means your money doubled every ~7.2 years. The benchmark compares your portfolio CAGR to what 100% S&P 500 (SPY) would have returned over the same period.

What does max drawdown mean?

Max drawdown is the largest peak-to-trough decline in portfolio value during the backtest period. A max drawdown of -30% means your portfolio fell 30% from its highest point before recovering. It's a key measure of downside risk and how much pain you'd have had to stomach.

Is past performance a guarantee of future results?

No. This tool shows historical backtested returns, which are useful for understanding how a portfolio mix has behaved in different market environments, but are not a prediction of future performance. Past returns can be significantly different from future returns.

Tools›ETF Portfolio Builder

ETF Portfolio Builder

Backtested

Build a custom ETF basket, set your allocation, and see exactly how your portfolio would have performed — powered by real annual return data going back up to 30 years.

✓ Real historical data✓ Up to 30 years✓ 23 ETFs✓ S&P 500 comparison

Quick start — popular portfolios

Investment setup

Starting amount

Monthly contribution

Backtest period

Choose your ETFs(2/5 selected)

Portfolio allocation

Drag the slider or type a percentage — others adjust automatically

SPYS&P 500

AGGUS Total Bond

SPY60%AGG40%

= 100% ✓

Backtesting 20 years (2005–2024)

Final value

$44,098

from $10,000 invested

Portfolio CAGR

+7.7%

▼ 2.6% vs S&P 500 (+10.3%)

Total gain

+$34,098

SPY benchmark: +$60,709

Max drawdown

-19.0%

Best yr: +22% (2019)

Your mix lagged the S&P 500 by 2.6% per year

Compounded over 20 years, that gap is $26,611 less than a simple S&P 500 index fund.

What if you added a monthly contribution?

Your 7.7%/yr CAGR, applied to ongoing contributions over 20 years:

Portfolio growth

2005–2024

Your portfolioS&P 500 benchmark

Your portfolio$44,098

100% S&P 500$70,709

How your portfolio weathered market crashes

Every long-term investor faces downturns. Here's what yours looked like.

2008 Financial Crisis

-19.0%

Recovered by 2010 (2 yrs)

2022 Rate Hike Crash

-16.1%

Recovered by 2024 (2 yrs)

The key is staying invested. Selling at the bottom locks in losses permanently.

Stomach check: worst single year was -19% (2008)

On $10,000, that's a paper loss of $1,904 in one year. Investors who stayed in recovered and went on to make far more.

Annual returns, year by year

2005+4%

2006+11%

2007+6%

2008-19%

2009+17%

2010+12%

2011+4%

2012+11%

2013+19%

2014+11%

2015+1%

2016+8%

2017+15%

2018-3%

2019+22%

2020+14%

2021+17%

2022-16%

2023+18%

2024+15%

Scale:≥30%15–30%5–15%0–5%-10–0%-25–-10%≤-25%

Your ETF mix

SPYS&P 500

0.09% expense ratio · 1994–2024

60%

avg +12.2%/yr

-37% to +38%

AGGUS Total Bond

0.03% expense ratio · 2005–2024

40%

avg +3.0%/yr

-13% to +8%

Ready to invest?

Build this exact portfolio — commission-free

The top brokerage accounts let you buy all of these ETFs with no trading commissions and fractional shares. Your 7.7%/yr backtested strategy starts with opening an account.

Compare brokerage accounts →Browse investing products →

Past performance does not guarantee future results. Historical returns are for educational purposes only — not investment advice.

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