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Portfolios 4 min read

Diversification: spread it out

Don't put all your eggs in one basket — especially if that basket is one hyped-up stock.

What a portfolio is

Your portfolio is everything you invest in, all together. A good portfolio is built so one bad pick can't wreck it.

Diversify across…

Many companies (not just one), many industries (not just tech), different asset types (stocks and bonds), and different countries.

A total market fund already does a lot of this for you in one purchase.

Concentration risk

Big companies fail too. Diversification means you don't need to predict which ones will.

Real example

Two friends, one bad year

Noah puts $1,000 into one popular stock. Zoe puts $1,000 into a total market fund. Noah's company has a scandal.

Noah's stock
−60% → $400
Zoe's fund
+8% → $1,080
Companies Zoe owns
Thousands
Companies Noah owns
1

Remember this

  • A portfolio is all your investments together.
  • Spread across companies, industries, asset types and countries.
  • Broad funds give you instant diversification.

Quick quiz

Did it click?

Question 1 of 30 correct

Diversification means…

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