This project aimed to create portfolios for different characters – our characters were Mr. McGregor from Peter Rabbit, Forrest Gump from Forrest Gump, and Elle Woods-Richmond from Legally Blonde. Each character represented a different income level, from the lower to upper classes. Investments were based on characters’ attributes, such as their morals, personality, and more. For example, with Mr. McGregor being an environmentalist, his investments include an Energy Group that supports clean and sustainable energy.
Read more to find out more about our project and what we did for each character!
We have created 3 different personas to represent different economic classes. We allocated their investments depending on their interests and their economic goals.
Lilian’s investments include technology stocks and the S&P 500. She does not have much knowledge about investing, so she has most of her money in a high-yield savings account.
Peter is a 30-year old with software engineering expenses. His investments are also technology based, with more stocks due to high reward.
Peter is near his retirement age, so he is more conservative with his investments. He mostly has low return mutual funds as they are considered safe. He also believes that having cash is one of the safest methods of saving money. This is a traditional way of thinking for older people.
Alexander Barnes
Alexander Barnes' investment portfolio is a well-diversified mix aimed at balancing growth and stability. His stocks constitute 60% of his investments, with a significant portion in NCLH (18.86). This stock, having plummeted during the pandemic, is now on a recovery trajectory, potentially offering substantial gains as it returns to pre-COVID levels. RCL (163.52) is another key holding, benefiting from the post-pandemic travel boom and consistently hitting new highs, reflecting strong market confidence. Additionally, APPL (230.96), a blue-chip company, bolsters his portfolio with its impressive market performance and solid fundamentals. KMI (21.08), an energy company known for its high dividend yield and stability, provides a reliable income stream, further securing his investments. Barnes also invests 15% in the SPY ETF (559.34), a stable and steadily appreciating fund, offering broad market exposure and minimizing risk. His allocation to gold, at 10%, serves as a hedge against market volatility and inflation, preserving the value of his portfolio. Finally, real estate represents 15% of his investments, including his home and a rental property, which not only appreciates over time but also generates rental income, diversifying his revenue streams and enhancing his financial security.
Billy Smyth
Billy Symth's investment portfolio reflects a balanced approach tailored to his financial goals and risk tolerance. With 10% allocated to AAPL (Apple Inc.), he seeks to capitalize on the growth potential of a leading technology company known for innovation and market strength. The largest portion, comprising 50%, is invested in the SPDR S&P 500 Trust, providing broad exposure to the U.S. stock market and diversification across various sectors. Holding 10% in cash ensures liquidity for immediate needs or opportunities while mitigating short-term market fluctuations. Finally, 30% invested in Series I Bonds offers stability and income through inflation protection and guaranteed returns, further enhancing the portfolio's resilience. This strategic mix allows Billy to participate in equity growth, maintain liquidity, and safeguard a portion of his investments against market volatility.
Roy White
Roy White has a diversified investment portfolio with a strong focus on long-term growth and stability. He has allocated 20% of his portfolio to company stocks, specifically Oracle, because he was awarded employer stock options, and Hershey, chosen for its consistent revenue growth and strong brand portfolio. Another 25% is invested in the iShares Energy Storage & Materials ETF, which specializes in EV batteries and has high potential for future growth. Another 35% is allocated to Series EE Savings Bonds, benefiting from a guaranteed rate of return of 2.7% and doubling in value after 20 years. The remaining 20% is in real estate, with a property rented out in Walnut Creek and a rental home in the Sunset District of San Francisco for work purposes. This balanced approach allows for both immediate income and long-term capital appreciation.
Bobby Witts
Bobby Witt has his investments well spread: bonds, stocks, real estate, and ETFs for an equal growth-to-risk ratio. Thirty percent of his investments are in the iShares U.S. Treasury Bond ETF. A nice government-backed, low-risk kind of money sitting, paying a 9.62% interest rate, which adjusts for inflation and provides tax advantages when paying for his kid's education. One fifth of his holdings are in blue-chip stocks—Microsoft (MSFT), Alphabet (GOOGL), and Amazon (AMZN)—which provide a safer investment profile and fairly stable performance in the market. Another quarter goes to Equity Residential as an investment in real estate operations; however, that has brought continuous appreciation during the last half-year and is currently yielding 4%, creating a constant cash flow. The other twenty-five percent is in the Vanguard S&P 500 ETF, which encompasses all the companies in the S&P 500; therefore, this provides wide market exposure and high diversity in risks.