09/02/2026
What is portfolio drift?
It happens when your investments gradually move away from the allocation you originally intended.
You may have started with a thoughtful balance between stocks, bonds, cash, and other investments. But markets move at different speeds. One part of the portfolio grows faster than another, and over time, the mix can look very different from where you began.
Nothing has necessarily gone wrong.
The portfolio has simply changed while life was happening.
That matters because the amount of risk you are taking today may no longer match the amount of risk you intended to take—or what you need from your money now.
That is one reason regular portfolio reviews matter.
We look at what has changed in the markets, but also what has changed for you: your goals, income, spending needs, taxes, family, timeline, and priorities.
A portfolio does not need constant attention.
It does need deliberate attention from time to time.
If it has been a while since you looked at whether your investments still fit your financial life, that is a good place to begin.