

We’re not sure what classifies as “reasonable.” However, we can at least use some broad based indices to give you a point of reference. If at the beginning of 1999 you split $1,000 between the S&P 500 index (Large U.S. stocks) and 50 percent in the Barclays bond index (U.S. fixed income) and left it alone at the end of July 2012 you would have had about $1,900. That represents a total return of around 90 percent. That at least provides a rough benchmark and represents a bit less than 5 percent per year on an annualized basis. Hope that helps.