Gyroscopic Investing

Hi everyone,

I’ve been using the Permanent Portfolio (PP) strategy for a while now and I appreciate its stability and resilience. That said, I’m curious to know what kind of variable portfolio (VP) others are combining with it, if any.

Do you stick with a simple VP of global equities, or do you go for a more aggressive satellite approach with things like:
• Momentum or trend-following strategies?
• Sector/thematic ETFs?
• Individual stock picking (growth, value, dividend)?
• Real estate or REITs?
• Commodities or crypto?
• Factor-based portfolios (e.g. small-cap value, quality, low-volatility)?
• Tactical asset allocation based on macro indicators?

Also, what percentage of your overall portfolio do you allocate to your VP versus the PP?

Would love to hear your thoughts and what has (or hasn’t) worked for you.

Thanks in advance!

My portfolio is 7 equal parts US-LCG, US-SCV, Intl-SCV, Cash, LTT, Gold, Managed Futures, basically 14% each.

So I guess you could say that my MF, and US+Intl SCV holdings are my VP....so that would be 42% of our overall portfolio, with the remaining 2% (7*14%=98%) as just straight up play money which I currently don't do anything with, but I wouldn't feel guilty about taking a flyer on something. That said I've tried a BTC ETF and I don't like it, so I'll liquidate it at some point and then who knows...maybe a fun stock?

joypog wrote: ↑Sat Jun 21, 2025 5:38 pm My portfolio is 7 equal parts US-LCG, US-SCV, Intl-SCV, Cash, LTT, Gold, Managed Futures, basically 14% each.

So I guess you could say that my MF, and US+Intl SCV holdings are my VP....so that would be 42% of our overall portfolio, with the remaining 2% (7*14%=98%) as just straight up play money which I currently don't do anything with, but I wouldn't feel guilty about taking a flyer on something. That said I've tried a BTC ETF and I don't like it, so I'll liquidate it at some point and then who knows...maybe a fun stock?

Hi

What do you have as Managed Futures?


Regards

I just went with the biggest three ETFs at the moment - DBMF, KMLM, CTA. It's kind of a nod towards Wall Street shennanigans/financial magic but not the slow decay of a straight commodity index.

A lot of individual stocks.
Also, Vanguard’s midcap stock index fund.