Portfolio Check · by An Pham · 2026-09-22

3 funds and chill... until you open the ETF screener

Anybody else intellectually believe in the 3-fund setup and then emotionally want to add six side quests?

Mine is mostly:
US total market 63%
Intl total market 22%
Bonds 10%
then I keep eyeing small-cap value, REITs, gold, dividend funds, maybe a tiny BTC sleeve...

I can't tell if extra funds would improve anything or if I'm just bored because saving money is repetitive.

9 sparks · 6 comments

Comments

Maia Brown · 23 likes

The ETF screener is basically online shopping for control freaks.

Rapid Sparrow · 5 likes

You are bored. I say this with love because I am also bored.

Pixel Coder · 6 likes

If you can explain why each new fund exists in one sentence, maybe add it. If the sentence is 'seems neat,' close the tab.

Camila Rocha · 0 likes

A 5% sandbox account cured this for me. My retirement stays plain oatmeal, my hobby account gets cinnamon.

Chloe Davis · 11 likes

I did the opposite. Started with ten funds and merged down to three after tax time humbled me.

Bianca Santos · 0 likes

Tax paperwork as portfolio simplification therapy lol