{
  "publisher": "BARDAX Capital",
  "model": "core",
  "name": "BARDAX cores",
  "version": 2,
  "as_of": "2026-11-05",
  "published_at": "2026-11-05T23:00:00Z",
  "personalized": false,
  "audience": "The same three published cores for every member. Not advice for any individual.",
  "cores": [
    {
      "key": "growth",
      "name": "Growth core",
      "when": "The default for money you won't need for at least 3 years.",
      "fund": "iShares LifePath Target Date ETF for your retirement year",
      "tickers_by_year": { "2030": "ITDB", "2035": "ITDC", "2040": "ITDD", "2045": "ITDE", "2050": "ITDF", "2055": "ITDG", "2060": "ITDH", "2065": "ITDI", "2070": "ITDJ" },
      "year_rule": "Use the fund year closest to the year you reach your retirement age. After 2070, use 2070.",
      "expense_ratio_pct": 0.12,
      "stocks_note": "The 2070 fund was about 98.5% stocks on Nov 4, 2026. Each fund moves toward bonds as its year gets closer."
    },
    {
      "key": "steady",
      "name": "Steady core",
      "when": "For members who sold some or all of their investments during their last big drop.",
      "ticker": "AOA",
      "fund": "iShares Core 80/20 Aggressive Allocation ETF",
      "stocks_pct": 80,
      "expense_ratio_pct": 0.15,
      "stocks_note": "Stays about 80% stocks and 20% bonds. It does not move with age."
    },
    {
      "key": "cash",
      "name": "Cash first",
      "when": "For money you'll need within 3 years.",
      "vehicle": "An FDIC-insured high-yield savings account or a money market fund"
    }
  ],
  "split": {
    "core_pct": 90,
    "picks_pct": 10,
    "picks_parked_in": "The core fund, inside the separate picks account, until a pick is bought from a published case",
    "max_picks": 5,
    "max_per_pick_pct": 2,
    "no_picks": "Members who don't make picks keep 100% in the core."
  },
  "accounts": {
    "core": "A Roth IRA if the member has income from work. Otherwise an individual brokerage account.",
    "picks": "A Robinhood Agentic account, funded with the 10% only. An AI connected to it can use only the money in that account."
  },
  "rules": {
    "cash_first": "Money needed within 3 years is set aside in cash before anything is invested.",
    "steer_with_new_money": "To change the mix, change where new deposits go before selling anything.",
    "rebalance": "The core fund rebalances itself. Picks: at most 5 companies at 2% each, added only after a published case.",
    "switching": "Switch cores only at the yearly review or after a life change. Never because of news or a market drop. In a Roth IRA, switching costs no tax.",
    "big_drop": "In a big drop, keep the monthly buy running and change nothing. A drop alone is never a reason to switch cores."
  },
  "assumptions": {
    "expected_real_return_pct": { "growth": 5, "steady": 4.5, "cash": 1 },
    "note": "Yearly returns after inflation, for illustration. Assumptions, not forecasts."
  },
  "disclosures": "Impersonal research for education. Not individualized investment advice. The author may hold securities discussed; see each issue's disclosures.",
  "changelog": [
    { "version": 1, "date": "2026-11-01", "change": "First version: the Normal model (VTI 44, VXUS 36, BND 7, IBIT 3, research sleeve 10)." },
    { "version": 2, "date": "2026-11-05", "change": "Three cores built on single funds (a target-date ETF, an 80/20 fund, cash) replace the Normal, Safe and Safe+ mixes. Bitcoin leaves the core; it can enter the picks only through a published case. Picks move to a separate account." }
  ]
}