Samuel Jeffery | Investment Strategist & Portfolio Architect | Picture Perfect Portfolios

Definition: Picture-Perfect (adjective: NORTH AMERICAN)
Meaning: lacking in defects or flaws; ideal.
“a picture-perfect summer day” or “a picture-perfect portfolio“

A retro-style illustration of an open vintage leather suitcase resting on a cluttered desk with old cameras and magnifying glasses. Inside the suitcase lid, text defines "PICTURE-PERFECT" as "lacking in defects or flaws; ideal." Below the definition are two circular illustrations: on the left, a sunny landscape labeled "A PICTURE-PERFECT SUMMER DAY"; on the right, an open ledger filled with financial charts and graphs labeled "A PICTURE-PERFECT PORTFOLIO."
Defining the Ideal: This vintage illustration captures the essence of our mission. Just as one imagines a flawless summer day, we utilize rigorous research and data to construct “Picture-Perfect Portfolios”—investment strategies designed to be robust, efficient, and ideally aligned with your financial goals.

Welcome to Picture Perfect Portfolios.

I am Samuel Jeffery, an independent investment strategist, media publisher, and researcher. While I spent over a decade building a global travel media brand, my focus has shifted from mapping the world to mapping out asset allocation and creative portfolio design.

This site is the dedicated home for DIY investors who are tired of the standard “60/40” advice. It is for those who want to pursue structural alpha, capital efficiency, and true diversification.

Samuel Jeffery, global investor and creator of Picture Perfect Portfolios (also known as globetrotter Nomadic Samuel), pausing on a lakeside hiking path surrounded by autumn colors in the German Alps.
A Global Perspective: Before founding Picture Perfect Portfolios, my years traveling as “Nomadic Samuel” (pictured here in the German Alps) shaped my investment worldview. Understanding different cultures and economies firsthand is crucial to developing truly diversified, global macro strategies.

From Global Nomad to Quantitative Strategist

For years, I operated as a digital nomad, running some of the world’s top travel YouTube channels and travel sites. But when the global lockdowns of 2020 paused the travel industry, I didn’t sit idle. I treated investing with the same obsessive rigor I applied to my media business.

I went deep. I devoured white papers, analyzed historical drawdowns, and began testing strategies that most retail investors ignore.

What started as personal research evolved into Picture Perfect Portfolios. My mission is to bridge the gap between “institutional” strategies—like Risk Parity and Managed Futures—and the DIY investor’s brokerage account.

My brain is now a competitive landscape of concepts like Factor Investing, Return Stacking, and Trend Following.

Retro-style infographic illustrating six "Current Areas of Research: Key Pillars of Portfolio Construction." Panels include: 1) Equity Optimization (factors like Value, Momentum); 2) True Diversification (Stocks, Bonds, Alts); 3) Capital Efficiency (Leverage, Return Stacking, Expanded Canvas); 4) Contrarianism (avoiding the 60/40 herd); 5) Alternative Investments ("All Weather" defense using Managed Futures, Gold, Crypto); and 6) Defensive Asset Allocation (optimizing Sharpe, Sortino, MAR ratios).
This retro-styled infographic outlines the six key areas driving portfolio construction at Picture Perfect Portfolios: Equity Optimization, True Diversification, Capital Efficiency through Expanding the Canvas, Contrarian thinking, comprehensive Alternative Investments, and Defensive Asset Allocation.

Current Areas of Research

Currently, I am focused on six key pillars of portfolio construction:

1) Equity Optimization Moving beyond market-cap weighting to utilize factors like Value, Momentum, Min Vol and Quality that historically outperform the S&P 500 over long time horizons.

2) True Diversification Building portfolios that are maximally diversified across asset classes (Stocks, Bonds, Commodities, Systematic Alts, Uncorrelated Alternatives) and geographies.

3) Capital Efficiency (Leverage) Exploring how expanding the canvas (modest leverage) can improve Sharpe Ratios by allowing us to return stack uncorrelated assets on top of each other, rather than choosing one over the other.

4) Contrarianism Skating to where the puck is going. If a portfolio looks exactly like the herd (60/40), it will yield herd-like results. We aim for better.

5) Alternative Investments Incorporating Managed Futures, Long-Short strategies, Merger-Arbitrage, Style Premia, Gold, Crypto, M/N, Anti-beta, OTM Puts and Real Assets to create an “All Weather” defense.

6) Defensive Asset Allocation: Building portfolios that have the potential for excellent returns but optimizing more for defensive aspects with regards to Sharpe, Sortino, MAR, etc.

Retro-style infographic illustrating the Picture Perfect Portfolios "1-2-3 Allocation Framework" decision tree. A three-tiered pyramid structure shows the hierarchy of investment priorities: "1. Capital Efficiency (The Foundation)" at the base, highlighting "Expanded Canvas" and "Stacked Exposure"; "2. Maximum Diversification (The Shield)" in the middle, featuring "Trend Following" and "Real Assets"; and "3. Optimization (The Edge)" at the apex, focusing on "Value" and "Momentum" factors.
Our proprietary decision tree for evaluating investment strategies. We prioritize Capital Efficiency (expanding the canvas) as the foundation, followed by Maximum Diversification (incorporating uncorrelated alternatives), and finally Strategy Optimization (applying factor tilts like value and momentum).

The Strategy: The 1-2-3 Allocation Framework

While many investors begin their journey by picking individual stocks or sectors, I believe in a more rigorous, top-down + bottom-up hierarchy. At Picture Perfect Portfolios, I utilize a specific “Decision Tree” to evaluate every fund and strategy that enters the conversation.

The Hierarchy of Priorities

  1. Capital Efficiency (The Foundation): We first ask, “Is the fund expanding our canvas?” We prioritize strategies that provide stacked exposure, allowing us to hold more uncorrelated assets than a traditional 100% equity or bond fund would permit.
  2. Maximum Diversification (The Shield): Once efficiency is established, we look for strategy-level diversification. We prioritize portfolios that blend uncorrelated return streams—such as Trend Following and Real Assets—over those concentrated in a single asset class.
  3. Optimization (The Edge): Only after the portfolio is efficient and truly diversified do we apply research-supported tilts, such as Value or Momentum, to enhance long-term performance.

Applying the Framework: GDE vs. AVGV

This framework allows us to make objective decisions in complex “Apples to Oranges” scenarios. For example, comparing a global value fund (AVGV) with an equity-plus-gold fund (GDE):

  • AVGV scores high on Diversification (Global) and Optimization (Value factor).
  • GDE scores lower on those specific metrics but is superior in Capital Efficiency ($90/90$ exposure).

Because Capital Efficiency is our #1 priority, the framework favors GDE. It provides an “Expanded Canvas” that a standard long-only equity fund cannot match. Our ultimate goal is the “Sayonara Fund”—a hypothetical vehicle that combines the optimization of AVGV with the efficiency of GDE. This does not exist yet. We’re still dipping our toes in beta + something else from an ETF/mutual fund standpoint.

Retro comic-style illustration titled "Expanded Canvas Portfolio Pioneered by Nomadic Samuel." An investor-artist in a suit and beret uses oversized paint tubes labeled "Leverage," "Diversification," and "Return Stacking" to paint a giant canvas filled with "Managed Futures," "Global Systematic Macro," "Gold," and "Real Assets" alongside "Traditional Assets."
The Art of the Expanded Canvas: Visualizing the core methodology of Picture Perfect Portfolios. By applying capital efficiency, we expand the investment “canvas” beyond traditional stocks and bonds to include a robust set of uncorrelated alternative investments.

Pioneering the “Unicorn” Research Space

I founded Picture Perfect Portfolios to fill a void in the retail investment landscape. At the time, the site was a “unicorn”—the only destination providing institutional-level deep dives (with travel narrative grade writing and creativity) into sophisticated, capital-efficient funds like BLNDX and CAOS for DIY investors.

This rigorous research led to the creation of the term “Expanded Canvas Portfolios.” This concept describes the shift from limited 2D asset allocation to 3D capital efficiency and has since become a recognized framework within the finance community.

Retro-style infographic illustration titled "The Operator: Real World Asset Management." A central vintage control panel directs workflows to "Media & Digital Assets" on the left (showing icons for Nomadic Samuel & That Backpacker, Samuel and Audrey YouTube & Facebook, and Samuel y Audrey Spanish channels). On the right, it directs to "Real Estate & Boutique Travel" (showing icons for Che Argentina Patagonia & Estancia Experiences and Hotel Renovation Córdoba). A global map at the bottom features a banner reading "Managing Diversified Digital & Physical Portfolios."
The Operator in Practice: I am not just an investment theorist; I am an active operator. This infographic maps out my diversified portfolio of real-world assets, ranging from our global media properties like Nomadic Samuel and That Backpacker to physical real estate projects like Che Argentina and our current hotel renovation in Córdoba.

The Operator: Real World Asset Management

I am not just a theorist; I am an active operator. My insights on capital allocation come from managing a diversified portfolio of digital and physical assets.

Beyond Picture Perfect Portfolios, I manage a media and real estate network alongside my wife Audrey Bergner:

I apply the same rigorous, data-driven approach to this website that I do to my business operations: Calculated risk, strategic diversification, and long-term vision.

Important Information

Comprehensive Investment Disclaimer:

All content provided on this website (including but not limited to portfolio ideas, fund analyses, investment strategies, commentary on market conditions, and discussions regarding leverage) is strictly for educational, informational, and illustrative purposes only. The information does not constitute financial, investment, tax, accounting, or legal advice. Opinions, strategies, and ideas presented herein represent personal perspectives, are based on independent research and publicly available information, and do not necessarily reflect the views or official positions of any third-party organizations, institutions, or affiliates.

Investing in financial markets inherently carries substantial risks, including but not limited to market volatility, economic uncertainties, geopolitical developments, and liquidity risks. You must be fully aware that there is always the potential for partial or total loss of your principal investment. Additionally, the use of leverage or leveraged financial products significantly increases risk exposure by amplifying both potential gains and potential losses, and thus is not appropriate or advisable for all investors. Using leverage may result in losing more than your initial invested capital, incurring margin calls, experiencing substantial interest costs, or suffering severe financial distress.

Past performance indicators, including historical data, backtesting results, and hypothetical scenarios, should never be viewed as guarantees or reliable predictions of future performance. Any examples provided are purely hypothetical and intended only for illustration purposes. Performance benchmarks, such as market indexes mentioned on this site, are theoretical and are not directly investable. While diligent efforts are made to provide accurate and current information, “Picture Perfect Portfolios” does not warrant, represent, or guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of any information provided. Errors, inaccuracies, or outdated information may exist.

Users of this website are strongly encouraged to independently verify all information, conduct comprehensive research and due diligence, and engage with qualified financial, investment, tax, or legal professionals before making any investment or financial decisions. The responsibility for making informed investment decisions rests entirely with the individual. “Picture Perfect Portfolios” explicitly disclaims all liability for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or other losses or damages incurred, financial or otherwise, arising out of reliance upon, or use of, any content or information presented on this website.

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