In this month’s episode of Nurturing Financial Freedom, we dig into a topic that’s becoming more critical in today’s investment landscape—concentration risk. We’ve talked about the "Magnificent Seven" tech stocks—Apple, Microsoft, Nvidia, Amazon, Meta, Alphabet, and Tesla—before, but now we're zooming in on the downside of their dominance. While these mega-cap companies have driven much of the market's recent growth, their outsized influence poses a risk that many investors overlook.
We start by revisiting the concept of diversification, which we believe is often misunderstood. As Alex explains, owning cash at different banks or multiple funds that move in lockstep isn't real diversification. What matters is what’s inside those funds—are they all large-cap U.S. stocks, or do they include small caps, international equities, or different sectors? Too often, investors think they’re diversified when, in reality, their holdings are heavily skewed toward the same handful of companies.
We also discuss how concentration creeps in—especially through popular indexes like the S&P 500, which is now heavily weighted toward just a few tech giants. Ed points out a striking stat: Nvidia and Microsoft alone represent as much of the S&P 500 as the bottom 400 companies combined. This “index drift” means that even supposedly diversified portfolios—like target date retirement funds—may be overly reliant on the same names.
To build resilience, we stress the importance of intentional diversification. That means expanding beyond large-cap U.S. stocks to include mid- and small-cap companies, international equities, and even alternative assets like gold, real estate, and commodities. Fixed income is also relevant again, with bonds and cash offering meaningful yield for the first time in years.
We wrap up by emphasizing the need for proactive rebalancing. Don’t try to time the market. Instead, rebalance regularly on a schedule to keep your allocation aligned with your goals. And understand that even strong companies stumble, so don’t let recent winners dominate your portfolio.
At the end of the day, this isn’t about abandoning tech or being a contrarian—it’s about knowing what you own and why you own it. Because building a durable portfolio isn’t a one-time setup. It’s an ongoing process that needs regular attention.