Core Viewpoint - Bank of America highlights the "permanent portfolio" as a strong alternative to the traditional 60/40 investment strategy, noting its impressive performance over the past decade and particularly in 2025 [1] Group 1: Portfolio Performance - The permanent portfolio, consisting of 25% stocks, 25% bonds, 25% gold, and 25% cash, has achieved an average annual return of 8.7% over the last ten years [1] - The year 2025 marked the best single-year performance for the portfolio since 1979, with gains of 23% [1] - In the previous year, the S&P 500 rose by 15%, while gold prices surged by 65%, contributing to the portfolio's success [2] Group 2: Recent Market Trends - Despite a recent 12% drop in gold prices, the metal remains positive year-to-date, and stock prices have also seen slight increases [3] - Cash-equivalent investments, such as short-term Treasury notes, yielded between 3.8% and 4.3% [2] Group 3: Investment Options - Investors can gain exposure to the permanent portfolio through various exchange-traded funds (ETFs), including the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust, BondBloxx Bloomberg Ten Year Target Duration US Treasury ETF (XTEN), SPDR Gold Trust (GLD), and iShares 0-3 Month Treasury Bond ETF (SGOV) [4] Group 4: Alternative Strategies - Other investment firms, like Vanguard, have also proposed alternatives to the traditional 60/40 portfolio, suggesting a 60% allocation to bonds and 40% to stocks, reflecting a bullish stance on fixed income [5] - Vanguard has recommended that investors consider allocating up to 70% to bonds due to expectations of subdued stock returns in the coming years [5]