VanEck has a new pitch for anyone tired of assembling a portfolio piece by piece: just buy one fund. The firm launched the VanEck Wealth Builder ETF (WBMO), an actively managed vehicle that mixes global equities, fixed income, real assets and a measured Bitcoin allocation. The gross expense ratio comes in at 0.33%.

The idea is to simplify portfolio construction by handling asset selection, allocation and rebalancing all inside a single fund. The strategy also folds in exposure to transformative technologies, gold and other real assets, alongside diversified global stocks and multiple sources of fixed income.

"The traditional 60/40 portfolio was built for a different investment landscape," said David Schassler, portfolio manager and head of Multi-Asset Solutions at VanEck. He said extending allocations beyond stocks and bonds could help investors navigate a wider range of economic conditions.

The fund builds on VanEck's Wealth Builder model portfolios, using both VanEck and third-party ETFs to implement the firm's long-term macro outlook.

Why Bother Leaving 60/40 Behind?

The traditional 60/40 portfolio puts 60% in equities and 40% in bonds. That mix pairs growth potential with income and diversification, but it can stumble when stocks and bonds fall together, as they do during stretches of persistent inflation.

Multi-asset strategies try to broaden diversification with things like gold, commodities and, in some cases, Bitcoin. These assets carry different risk and return characteristics and may respond differently to inflation, interest rates and market volatility. The catch: adding more asset classes does not guarantee lower losses or better returns.

Actively managed allocation funds give investors exposure to multiple investments while leaving asset selection and rebalancing to the portfolio manager. Before jumping in, investors should weigh management fees, underlying fund expenses, allocation decisions and the risks tied to volatile assets such as bitcoin.