Capital keeps moving. Quietly. Week by week, steady flows are landing in the same few names while the headlines jump from crisis to comeback. The strategy hasn’t changed much. Just build the position, stay consistent, and let the weight of time and compounding take care of the rest.
The current top setup remains VOO + QQQ + VXUS. Clean, broad, and balanced.
VOO covers the S&P 500, giving access to the strongest names in American industry. QQQ tilts toward growth and tech, bringing in the leaders that continue to dominate in AI, semis, and software. VXUS adds international diversification, which is finally delivering value again.
A popular allocation this year has been 50% VOO, 30% QQQ, 20% VXUS. Year to date, that trio has returned around 17.6%, with the upside mainly driven by Nvidia, Apple, Microsoft, and surprising strength out of Japanese equities inside VXUS.
VXUS deserves another look in 2025. Japanese banks, Indian manufacturing, and European industrials have helped lift it out of the dead money camp. Chinese weightings still drag, but their impact is diluted.
For those preferring simplicity, 70% VOO and 30% VXUS still works. Less volatile. Broader reach. Lower correlation to tech-heavy indexes.
Another configuration that’s holding up in 2025:
• 45% SCHG for pure growth exposure
• 25% SCHA to tap small caps that may benefit from domestic reshoring
• 20% SCHF for developed international markets
• 10% SCHD for dividend stability without heavy tech overlap
This structure leans toward recovery names and market breadth. Small caps are showing signs of bottoming after a rough 2023 and 2024. Dividend stocks are quietly grinding higher again now that rate cuts are in the 2026 outlook.
The benefits for these ETF allocations
• VOO remains led by earnings-heavy mega caps
• QQQ benefits from continued AI spending and digital infrastructure investment
• VXUS has improved contribution from Japan and Europe
• SCHG and SCHA benefit from broader participation beyond big tech
• Consistent performance with lower portfolio churn
Current sentiment and volume
VOO and QQQ dominate ETF flow in July 2025. Both have seen inflows increase by over 8% month over month, according to weekly fund tracking data. VXUS is gaining traction in global asset allocator circles, with steady coverage in financial media and upticks in Twitter search mentions.
Tradable levels
• VOO support sits at 506, with resistance at 530
• QQQ pivot is at 470, with major breakout at 498
• VXUS in accumulation range between 61 and 65, with breakout trigger above 66
These ETFs are not for headlines. They are for staying power. In a cycle defined by uncertainty, tariffs, and election drama, this kind of structure offers clarity. Let the market argue. Just automate and keep moving.
Disclaimer: This is not financial advice