International stocks as part of paper assets portfolio, Is it necessary?
Most of the companies which are part of S&P 500 get some portion of their revenue from operations outside USA.
So, I side with much respected "Warren Buffet" and respected late "Jack Bogle". For US citizens, there is no need to think beyond US stocks. In the short term (< than 10 years) there would be volatility, corrections, bearish period. But over the longer period (10, 15, 20, 25, 30+ years), US stock market is bullish, and US stocks would be much more valuable than it is today.
So, for longer term: Buy low cost S&P 500 index fund.
Start investing as early as your 18th birthday. Buy and hold, Buy and hold, Buy and hold
You attain financial freedom when you are able to withdraw 2% per year from S&P 500 index fund and you are able to meet all of your expenses
Below are some S&P 500 companies which get revenue from around the globe
Tech stocks: Microsoft, Alphabet/Google, Amazon, Meta/Facebook, Adobe, Salesforce, ServiceNow
Semiconductor/Network: Nvidia, Broadcom, Cisco, Qualcomm, Intel, AMD, Texas Instruments
Software Services: IBM, Accenture, Oracle, Cognizant
Consumer Discretionary: Apple, Diageo, Philip Morris International, Constellation Brands, British American Tobacco
Fashion/Cosmetics: Eli Lilly, Nike, Estee Lauder
Consumer Staples: P&G, Pepsi, Coca-Cola, Costco, Walmart
Oil&Gas: Exxon Mobil, Chevron, ConocoPhillips
Payment Services: Visa, Mastercard, Amex, Paypal
Pharma: Johnson&Johnson, Pfizer, Abbvie, Abbott, Merck
QSR: McDonalds, Dominos, Yum Brands, Starbucks, Chipotle
Auto/Cars: Tesla, General Motors, Ford
Entertainment: Walt Disney, Netflix
Hotels: Mariott, Hilton
Specialized Vehicles (Farmland, Construction, Mining): Deere, Caterpillar
Commodity and Specialty Chemicals and gases, Industrial materials: Linde, Dow, 3M
Armed forces, Defense, Ammunition : Raytheon, Lockheed Martin, General Dynamics
Insurance: Chubb, Metlife, Berkshire, AIG, Travelers
Never bet against US.
Why US..
Stable, democratically elected government and administration. Other developed economies like Canada, Australia, UK, France, Germany, Japan also have this advantage. What differentiates US from the rest. Lets keep going
Fair trade practices, Ease of doing business, Anti-corruption. Other developed economies also have this advantage. What differentiates US from the rest. Lets keep going
Crime rate is less. Other developed economies also have this advantage. What differentiates US from the rest. Lets keep going.
Top ranking colleges and universities. Other developed economies also have this advantage. What differentiates US from the rest. Lets keep going.
Inviting talent and nurturing them. Immigrants are welcome. Friendly people who are open to new immigrants. Near to Nil racist people. Other developed economies also have this advantage. What differentiates US from the rest. Lets keep going.
English. Most commonly spoken business communication language. Other developed economies also have this advantage. What differentiates US from the rest. Lets keep going.
Robust banking system. US has strong banks Chase, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, US Bancorp, PNC to name a few. GDP per capita is good. People are taking mortgage loans, and loans for business development and expansion. Enough liquidity is there. Other developed economies also have this advantage. What differentiates US from the rest. Lets keep going.
Natural resources especially Oil & Gas. Apart from having its own shale reserves in the Permian basin, US based oil and gas companies are buying the right assets at right prices at right time, and they have advanced systems and technologies for oil, gas and mineral wealth exploration. Other developed economies also have this advantage. What differentiates US from the rest. Lets keep going.
Business Leaders with great business acumen, growing companies, expansions, effective sales pitches and marketing campaigns, growth through Merger and Acquisitions. Other developed economies also have this advantage. What differentiates US from the rest. Lets keep going.
Farm lands and Agri produce. Self sustained economy. Other developed economies also have this advantage. What differentiates US from the rest. Lets keep going.
Strong Armed forces and Defense. Other developed economies also have this advantage. What differentiates US from the rest. Lets keep going.
Size and population. Of all developed and advanced economies, US is one of largest with young, diverse population. US has an advantage over other developed economies.
US Dollar is the global reserve currency. This sets US apart from the rest. There is no immediate threat for US Dollar in its supremacy economic powerhouse status. We are not going to go back "Gold Standard".
Take it easy. Peace out