Investing advice often feels overwhelming: thousands of funds, endless opinions, and constant market news. The 3-fund portfolio cuts through all of it. It uses just three broad index funds to cover essentially the entire investable world, and it is the default setup behind a large share of FIRE plans and retirement portfolios.

Its power is not sophistication but simplicity. Three funds, one allocation decision, and a maintenance routine that takes minutes a year. This guide explains each piece and how to put it together.