Asset Allocation by Age Calculator
Enter your age and a base number to get the split: roughly "base minus age" percent in stocks and the rest in bonds. It is a simple starting heuristic, not a personalized plan.
How it works
What the rule of thumb is
The most common version puts (base minus age) percent in stocks and the rest in bonds. The intuition is simple: when you are younger you have more years to recover from a downturn, so you can hold more stocks; as you age you shift toward bonds to dampen swings.
100 vs 110 vs 120
The old standard used 100 as the base (at age 35 that is 65/35). But as lifespans and retirements stretch longer, many now favor 110 or 120. At age 35, a base of 100 gives 65/35, 110 gives 75/25, and 120 gives 85/15. A higher base is more aggressive.
How to read your result
The two percentages are a starting point. A result of 75 percent stocks and 25 percent bonds simply means about three quarters of the portfolio in stocks as a rough guide.
One thing to keep in mind
This is a starting heuristic, not personalized advice. A real allocation should reflect your risk tolerance, goals, other income such as pensions, and time horizon — not age alone.
Read next
Understanding the age-based asset allocation glide path →
Frequently Asked Questions
Why subtract from 110 instead of 100?
A base of 100 is the older, more conservative rule. As lifespans lengthen and savings must last longer, many people use 110 or 120 to hold a bit more in growth-oriented stocks.
Is age the only factor that matters?
No. Age is just one signal of your time horizon. Risk tolerance, goals, and other income can matter just as much and should be weighed alongside it.
Should bonds really equal my age?
The bonds-equal-age version is only what you get with a base of 100. It is one variant among several, not a rule. Raising the base shifts you toward a more aggressive mix.
How do I diversify within the stock portion?
This calculator only sets the broad stock-versus-bond split. Within the stock sleeve, mixing domestic and international stocks is a separate choice that helps avoid concentrating in one market.
Does this fit early retirement?
Not necessarily. Retiring early means savings must last longer, so some people hold more stocks than a plain age rule suggests. The longer the horizon, the less a simple heuristic fits as-is.
How often should I rebalance toward the split?
Checking once a year and nudging back to the target is usually enough. As you age the base-minus-age figure falls on its own, so your bond share gradually rises.
This calculator is an educational tool, not individual financial advice.