Portfolio stress testing

Evaluate how client portfolios may respond in extreme market conditions using scenario analysis. Stress tests apply historical market events and hypothetical shocks to help you visualize risk, compare portfolios, and guide client conversations with confidence.

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Identify risk

Uncover portfolio vulnerabilities by stress testing against historical market events and hypothetical shocks, revealing where risk is concentrated and where portfolios may be most exposed.

Validate performance

See how portfolios may perform across a range of scenarios—from past market drawdowns to forward‑looking events—using scenario analysis across performance metrics at both the portfolio and sleeve level.

Build confidence

Use clear stress‑test visuals and client‑ready reports to explain potential outcomes, compare strategies, and demonstrate preparedness before markets put plans to the test.

View a sample report

View a sample stress test report showing the effects of a tariff hike.

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Try it out

Select a hypothetical client persona to view the impact of relevant market events.

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Can your clients' portfolios handle market stress?

Watch a walkthrough of Vanguard’s portfolio stress testing feature and see how to run scenario analysis on client portfolios. Learn how to simulate historical market events and hypothetical shocks to assess resilience during recessions, interest rate changes, and other market conditions. Compare portfolios, apply sleeve‑level strategies, and generate client‑ready reports.

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Frequently asked questions

Using Portfolio Analytics and Vanguard’s consulting expertise, we model scenarios at both the portfolio and sleeve level, with hypothetical performance and visual outputs that highlight potential drawdown, sensitivities, and trade‑offs.

Advisors can simulate a range of market scenarios, including global equity shocks, rapid interest‑rate increases, and inflation surprises. The scenario library includes both widely applicable stress tests and regularly updated historical events, such as the 2008 global financial crisis, hawkish Federal Reserve cycles, and tariff‑driven trade disruptions. Get a preview of select client personas and past market event examples any time, or sign in to run full portfolio stress tests.

Yes. You can compare portfolios, models, and proposed allocations side-by-side under the same stress‑test scenarios, including analysis at the sleeve level. This helps refine allocation decisions and clearly explain trade‑offs to clients.

Signing in lets you securely load client portfolios, configure portfolio‑ and sleeve‑level settings, and export client‑ready reports. It also enables more tailored analysis and insights based on your portfolio inputs. You can preview personas and sample scenarios without signing in, but a sign‑in is required to run analysis.

Have questions? Contact your representative.

Call or email your representative to dive even deeper.

Disclosures and footnotes

All investments involve some risk. Be aware that fluctuations in the financial markets and other factors may cause declines in the value of a client's account. There is no guarantee that any particular asset allocation or mix of funds will meet a client's investment objectives or provide him/her with a given level of income.