I’m new to investing, but I think my long term approach will be to divide the money I put in, and the returns, in roughly this way:
40% in a few ETFs - most in relatively standard fare subject to good due diligence on my part, and then maybe a quarter of it in a slightly more conviction-driven direction.
30% spread across a maximum of 10 somewhat diverse, equally weighted stocks where the long term fundamentals look good and where I understand at a base level how they make their money and why they are well positioned within the industry (this is the hardest bit and that’s why I want as few stocks in this bracket as I can credibly go with). Changing a position in these stocks should be a relatively big call because the idea is that I’m backing companies I understand to on average outperform their industry (without that outperformance needing to be earth-shattering).
20% where I target maybe a dozen give-or-take stocks in volatile sectors, where I’m managing them somewhat more actively. I’d evaluate them more frequently. On the one hand I’d be more willing to sell than the ones above if I think short term growth is more of a bubble than a trend and I have a suitable buy lined up, but the whole point of going for high risk is that you’re looking for an instance of “explosive” growth or 2-3 of “great” growth to cover off some near-certain duds.
10% completely free hand and very much a short term outlook - not day trading but short term. Stocks where I feel the market has overreacted and will bounce back, possibly in short order. Company restructure and/or special dividend situations where I believe I have a feel for how it will play out and that I can make a tidy profit, and am relatively confident that I can time things to break even if I’m wrong, that kind of thing.
So my portfolio would probably be around 25-35 holdings at a given time. But why it’s that number is more important than the number IMO.