Now that performance benchmarking is built into M1, it’s easier than ever to see your portfolio’s performance in context. However, it’s important to make sure you choose benchmarks that accurately test your strategy. Here are some tips to help find the right investing benchmarks and take advantage of this powerful tool. 

1. Compare against our default benchmarks  

How to: Click “benchmark my performance,” and you’ll see two defaults: Vanguard Total World Stock ETF (VT) & iShares Core Growth Allocation ETF (AOR). 

VT is Vanguard’s Total World Stock Market ETF (learn more here). It seeks to track the performance of the FTSE Global All Cap Index, which covers US and International, developed and emerging markets. This is useful for globally diversified portfolios of 100% stocks. 

AOR is iShares Core 60/40 Balanced Allocation ETF (learn more here). It seeks to track the performance of an index composed of a portfolio of 60% equity and 40% fixed income funds intended to represent a growth allocation target risk strategy. This is a common benchmark used for diversified portfolios with a mix of stocks and bonds. It accounts for both growth and stability goals. 
 
But these are just the start—you can completely customize your investing benchmarks according to your strategy.  

2. Compare against an ETF tracking a market index  

How to: Type the ticker symbol in the search bar to add.  

What to search: Depending on your personal investment strategy, there are various options to include.  

Broad market benchmarks can give you a baseline comparison for overall market returns or specific index returns. 

Examples include: VT (Total World Stock), SPY (S&P 500), VOO (Vanguard S&P 500), VTI (Total US Stock Market), ACWI (All Country World Index) 

Sector-specific benchmarks can be useful for insight into different economic sector dynamics. These can help you identify if your portfolio has overperformed or underperformed in a sector. This is especially useful for sector-focused Pies or Sub pies within your portfolio. 
Examples include: XLK (Technology Sector), XLF (Financial Sector), XLE (Energy Sector), XLV (Healthcare Sector), QQQ (Nasdaq-100 Tech) 

International benchmarks may help you compare parts of your portfolio that contain global equities.  
Some examples: EFA (Developed International Markets), IEMG (Emerging Markets), VEA (Developed Markets), EEM (Emerging Markets), VXUS (Vanguard Total International Stock Index Fund ETF) 

Bond/fixed income benchmarks demonstrate fixed income market performance. These can help you assess portfolio income and stability of a portfolio.  
Examples: AGG (US Aggregate Bond), BND (Total Bond Market), TLT (Long-Term Treasury), BNDW (Vanguard Total World Bond ETF) 

Alternative asset benchmarks may be useful to explore correlation between traditional assets and non-traditional investments.  
Examples include: GLD (Gold), IAU (Gold), VNQ (Real Estate), DBC (Commodities) 

Risk/allocation benchmarks reflect different risk tolerance levels, giving you balanced performance comparisons. These can be useful for retirement and lifecycle investing. 
Examples: AOR (Growth Allocation), AOA (Aggressive Allocation), AOK (Conservative Allocation) 

3. Compare against another Pie 

You can create a custom investing benchmark by building a new Pie in “My Pies.” Or you can choose a Pie that’s being used in another Invest account.  

This allows you to completely customize your benchmarks—and it’s what sets M1’s benchmarking tool apart from others. You can build a custom portfolio to use as a benchmark that best matches your investment strategy, risk tolerance, and goals. This gives you the power to explore different strategies like a three-fund portfolio, a custom mix of stocks and bonds, sector-specific selections, even a friend’s portfolio.  

On web: To add a Pie as a benchmark, start typing in the search field. From the drop-down menu, select “Choose a Pie.” 

On mobile: When searching for a benchmark, toggle to the “My Pies” tab and make your selection.  

Ready to try it for yourself?  

Log in to start benchmarking your performance.

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