After spending quite a bit of time learning about investing, portfolio construction, and ETFs, I finally started investing at 28 and wanted to get some feedback from people who’ve been doing this longer than I have. My portfolio is structured as:
Core (84.5%) VTI: 68% VXUS: 21.1% SMH: 10.5%
Satellite (15.5%) ROKT/NASA (Space): 57.2% URA/URNM (Uranium/Nuclear): 42.9%
My reasoning is that I want the vast majority of my portfolio in diversified, low-cost ETFs that capture broad market returns (VTI and VXUS). I added SMH because I’ve a strong long-term conviction in semiconductors given the growth of AI, data centers, and advanced manufacturing.
For the satellite portion, I wanted exposure to a couple of themes that I believe could’ve significant growth potential over the next 1-2 decades: Space economy (satellites/launch/defense-related aerospace, etc.) Nuclear energy/uranium due to increasing electricity demand, AI-related power requirements.
My goal isn’t to beat the market every year or chase the latest trend. I prefer keeping most of my portfolio in diversified ETFs while reserving a smaller allocation for thematic investments and individual stocks where I have higher conviction.
I also own a few individual stocks- NVDA, SMCI, RDDT, CRWV, CCJ, SIFY, RDW, LUNR,and PL, but keep them as a small part of my portfolio to limit single-stock risk. I’ve invested about $13k total so far (ETFs + stocks + maxed Roth IRA). My focus is on consistently investing and holding long term rather than chasing short-term gains.
I’m sharing this primarily to discuss portfolio construction and the role of thematic investing within a largely passive portfolio. For those who use a core-satellite approach, how do you think about balancing broad market exposure with higher conviction themes such as semiconductors, space, or nuclear energy at the moment?