The page shows the relationship between 15-year annualized returns and volatility for a selection of asset classes, along with several illustrative portfolios (conservative, balanced, high yielding and aggressive). These sample portfolios each exist on different points of the risk spectrum and are appropriate for different types of investors. The high-yielding portfolio suggests that there are benefits to careful income investing. Investors should always focus on building a portfolio based on their risk tolerance levels and investment objectives, instead of investing in a single asset class, in order to reach an optimal balance between risk and return.