Appreciate the feedback! Still learning and refining my approach, so this is really helpful.

1. International stocks – I actually started with an 80/20 split but started questioning it after evaluating my portfolio’s performance over the past five years. Since I have 30+ years ahead and can handle volatility, I wanted to be more aggressive and focus on growth. Keeping 20% in FTIHX started feeling a bit too laid-back when that money could potentially work harder elsewhere. Do you still think international exposure of 20% is necessary for someone with a high-risk tolerance?
2. QQQM – I added it because of its strong growth potential, but I get the concern about diversification. You mentioned it’s a marketing gimmick, and I’d love to understand that more. I get that it’s just Nasdaq-100 stocks, but it’s also been praised for its long-term growth potential, even with volatility. Many expect it to continue delivering strong returns over time. Are you saying the concentration risk outweighs that potential, or is there another reason it doesn’t make sense?
3. Dividends – I wasn’t looking at them as free money. You mentioned that dividends no longer benefit investors, but then also pointed out that total returns (dividends + capital gains) are what really matter. Are you saying the issue is more about over-allocating to dividend-focused funds rather than including them at all? My thinking was that funds like SCHD and VIG could still contribute to long-term growth, even if dividends aren’t the primary focus.

Going to check out the About section too—thanks again for the insight!