The Coffeehouse Simple Index Investing System
Build wealth through three simple principles while ignoring Wall Street
The Coffeehouse Investor system distills successful investing into three core principles. First asset allocation: divide your portfolio between stocks and bonds based on time horizon and risk tolerance as this single decision determines over 90% of long-term performance. Second approximate the stock market average by using low-cost index funds rather than trying to pick winners because most professional managers fail to beat the index and fees compound devastatingly over decades. Third save regularly by consistently investing regardless of market conditions because time in the market matters far more than timing the market. The beauty is radical simplicity: once set up you can literally ignore Wall Street and focus on family career and personal fulfillment.
- Asset allocation determines over 90% of long-term portfolio performance
- Trying to beat the market is a losing game for most investors
- Low-cost index funds outperform most active funds over time
- Consistent saving matters more than brilliant investing
- Time in the market beats timing the market
- Determine your asset allocationBased on age risk tolerance and time horizon decide what percentage goes to stocks versus bonds. This is the most important investment decision determining the vast majority of long-term returns and risk level.
- Build diversified portfolio with index fundsFor stocks use a mix of low-cost index funds covering large-cap small-cap and international equities. Split across several categories to capture returns from different market segments. Never pick individual stocks.
- Set up automatic contributionsEstablish automatic monthly transfers into investment accounts. Amount matters less than consistency. Monthly investing naturally buys more shares when prices are low and fewer when high through dollar-cost averaging.
- Rebalance annually then ignoreOnce per year check if allocation has drifted from target. If stocks grew too large sell some and buy bonds or vice versa forcing you to sell high and buy low. Beyond this annual check ignore your portfolio completely.
Schultheis contrasts an index fund investor who sets up a portfolio and ignores Wall Street with an active trader spending hours researching and trading. Over 20 years the index investor's low costs and consistent contributions significantly outperform.
Schultheis uses climbing Mt. Rainier to illustrate perspective. At 14,410 feet he could see the earth's curve. This long-range view parallels how investors should view portfolios over decades rather than from daily market noise.
Bill Schultheis spent thirteen years working with retail and institutional accounts at a major Wall Street firm in Seattle before taking a break. During conversations across the Pacific Northwest he discovered that for every person caught up in Wall Street's daily drama many more simply wanted a successful portfolio without spending energy on it. These were people passionately involved with families and careers who needed a radically different investment story than Wall Street's traditional narrative of active management and expert stock picking.