How do Core, Balanced, and Growth differ?
All three Starting Index profiles use the same monthly ranking process and individual S&P 500 stock universe. Their main difference is concentration: how many ranked stocks they hold and how much influence each position can have on the portfolio.
Broader expression
Core spreads the signal across more selected stocks. Each company generally has less influence than it would in the more concentrated profiles.
View Core recordMiddle concentration
Balanced holds fewer stocks than Core and more than Growth. It increases the influence of each selected name without using the narrowest portfolio.
View Balanced recordMost focused expression
Growth gives the highest-ranked group the greatest influence. That creates the largest potential differences from the broad market in either direction.
View Growth record- How much of the investor's complete portfolio would follow this model?
- Do other accounts already own overlapping stocks or sectors?
- How would a sharp decline affect near-term goals and decision-making?
- Can the investor tolerate extended underperformance against SPY?
- Can the account implement the target weights and monthly changes?
- Use the same dates and benchmark for all three profiles.
- Review drawdowns and annual periods, not only total return.
- Separate reconstructed history from forward-tracked results.
- Consider position and sector overlap across the full portfolio.
- “Growth” does not mean guaranteed higher future growth.
- More positions do not eliminate stock-market risk.
- The strongest recent profile may not remain strongest.
- A model name cannot determine personal suitability.
Compare the three public records, review concentration risk, and consider following one or more profiles using the paper portfolio process before committing capital.