How It Works

Everything you need to know about following Peregrine's portfolio models — from your first login to your monthly routine. No jargon, no assumptions.

The Short Version

Peregrine tells you what to own each month

Every month, our models analyze market conditions and produce a short list of ETFs with exact percentage weights. You log into your brokerage account, buy those ETFs in those amounts, and hold until the next update. That's the entire process. No stock picking, no guesswork, no daily monitoring.

The models do the thinking. You do the clicking. Most subscribers spend 10 to 20 minutes per month.

1

Subscribe

Start with a 30-day free trial. You get immediate access to all four strategies and their current allocations on the dashboard.

2

Follow

Each month-end, the dashboard updates with new ETF allocations. Log into your broker and update your holdings to match.

3

Repeat

That's your routine: one check per month, a few trades, done. The Saturday Briefing keeps you informed between updates.

Getting Started

Your first week, step by step

Here's exactly what happens from the moment you sign up. Nothing here requires any financial expertise — if you can log into a website and place a basic trade at your broker, you have all the skills you need.

1

Start your free trial

Visit the pricing page and sign up. No charge for 30 days. You'll get a login to the Peregrine dashboard immediately.

2

Choose a strategy

Read through the four strategy pages to find the one that fits your situation. Most people start with one strategy in one account. You can always add another later. If you're unsure, the strategy guide at the bottom of this page can help.

3

Open your dashboard

The dashboard shows the current allocation for your chosen strategy — a simple table listing each ETF ticker and its target weight as a percentage. For example, SRM+ might show something like: XLK at 50%, GLD at 30%, TLT at 20%.

4

Calculate your dollar amounts

Take the total value of the account you're using and multiply by each percentage. If you have $50,000 and the allocation says 50% / 30% / 20%, that means $25,000 / $15,000 / $10,000. You can also use our investment calculator to see projected growth over time.

5

Place your trades

Log into your brokerage account (Fidelity, Schwab, Vanguard, IBKR, or wherever you hold your investments). Search for each ETF by its ticker symbol. Place a market order for each one in the dollar amount you calculated. All the ETFs used by Peregrine strategies are commission-free at most major brokers.

6

You're done until next month

After you've placed your trades, there's nothing more to do. The model holds its positions until the next month-end update. You don't need to check the market, read earnings reports, or make any decisions in between. The Saturday Briefing arrives weekly by email with macro context, but it's informational — no action required.

Timing

What if I join in the middle of the month?

The dashboard always shows the current month's allocation. If you sign up on the 15th, the allocation posted at the start of the month is still valid — those positions are designed to be held until the next update.

Simply buy the posted allocation at today's prices. You'll get your first fresh update at the end of the month, just like every other subscriber. There's no advantage to waiting for the 1st — the sooner your money is positioned according to the model, the sooner it starts working for you.

Your first partial month

Your returns for that first partial month won't perfectly match the model's reported performance, since you entered at a different price than the month-start. That's normal and expected. From the first full month onward, your returns should track the model closely.

The Monthly Routine

What happens each month

On the last trading day of each month, the models run and the dashboard updates with fresh allocations. Here's what your routine looks like:

1

Get notified

You'll receive an email letting you know the dashboard has been updated with new allocations.

2

Compare to your current holdings

Open the dashboard and compare the new allocation to what you currently own. Often the changes are small — one ETF swapped out, or weights shifted by a few percentage points. Some months, nothing changes at all.

3

Make the trades

Sell what's no longer in the allocation. Buy what's new or increased. Adjust anything that's shifted weight. Historically, subscribers make one to three trades per month on average. The whole process takes 10 to 20 minutes.

4

Close the laptop

You're done for another month. No daily monitoring, no intraday decisions. The Saturday Briefing provides weekly context on what the models are seeing, but it's not an instruction to act — it's background so you understand what's happening in markets.

A worked example

Suppose you're following SRM+ with $50,000. Last month's allocation was XLK 50%, GLD 30%, TLT 20% — so you held $25,000 of XLK, $15,000 of GLD, and $10,000 of TLT.

This month, the allocation changes to XLK 50%, XLE 30%, GLD 20%. XLK stays the same. You sell all your TLT ($10,000), sell $5,000 of GLD, and buy $15,000 of XLE. Three trades, five minutes.

What's Not Required

Things you don't need to do

Peregrine handles the analysis so you don't have to. Here's what you can safely skip:

Watch the market daily. The model rebalances monthly. What happens between updates is noise, not signal.

Read earnings reports. The model doesn't use individual company data. It reads sector-level trends and macroeconomic conditions.

Time your entries. Market orders at any point during the trading day are fine. The difference between buying at the open versus the close is negligible over a monthly holding period.

Understand the internal mechanics. You don't need to know how the model works to follow it. The strategy pages explain the logic if you're curious, but it's not a prerequisite.

Make judgment calls. The model gives you exact weights. Follow them exactly. The most common mistake subscribers make is second-guessing the allocation when it feels counterintuitive.

Use special software. You need a web browser and a brokerage account. That's it. No spreadsheets, no data feeds, no programming.

Picking Your Strategy

Which model is right for you?

All four strategies are included in every subscription. Most people start with one, in one account. Here's a quick guide:

Momentum School

SRM+

Best for: investors who want the highest long-term returns and are comfortable with sector ETFs in an IRA or taxable account. The most popular strategy.

Learn more
Momentum School

Core Momentum

Best for: 401(k) and employer plan investors, or anyone who wants a simpler momentum strategy with fewer holdings and the shallowest drawdowns.

Learn more
Macro School

Growth

Best for: investors who want strong returns driven by macro conditions rather than momentum. Highest Sharpe ratio in the lineup — the best return per unit of risk.

Learn more
Macro School

Fortress

Best for: wealth preservation. The smoothest ride, the tightest range of outcomes. Suited for investors who prioritise protecting what they have over maximising growth.

Learn more

Can I follow more than one strategy?

Yes. Many subscribers run different strategies in different accounts — for example, SRM+ in an IRA and Growth in a taxable account. Each strategy is independent; they don't overlap or conflict.

Common Questions

Frequently asked questions

What broker should I use?
Any major online broker works. Fidelity, Charles Schwab, Vanguard, and Interactive Brokers are all popular with subscribers. All the ETFs used by Peregrine strategies trade commission-free at these brokers. If you already have a brokerage account, you don't need to open a new one.
How much money do I need to start?
There's no minimum required. That said, $5,000 or more is practical because it allows you to split your portfolio into the exact percentages the model specifies. With very small accounts, rounding to the nearest share may force you to deviate slightly from the target weights. This is not a problem — close enough is fine.
What if I miss the update by a few days?
The allocation stays the same all month. If the update posts on the 31st and you don't get to it until the 3rd, that's fine. The positions are designed to be held for a full month. A few days' delay has minimal impact on long-term performance.
What if I make a mistake with a trade?
ETF trades settle in one business day at most brokers. If you buy the wrong ticker or the wrong amount, simply sell it and buy the correct one. The cost of a small mistake is negligible — these are liquid, heavily-traded ETFs with tight bid-ask spreads.
What's the Saturday Briefing?
A free weekly email that provides macro context — what regime conditions look like, what the models are seeing, and how to interpret the current environment. It does not contain allocation updates and does not require any action. Think of it as background reading to keep you informed.
Is this investment advice?
No. Peregrine Research provides systematic model allocations for educational and informational purposes. We are not a registered investment advisor. The decision to follow any strategy, and the responsibility for executing trades, is entirely yours.
Ready to get started?
Start with a free trial and see for yourself

All four strategies, full dashboard access, the Saturday Briefing — everything included for 30 days. No commitment, no card charged until the trial ends.

Choose your strategy, follow your first allocation, and experience the monthly routine before you decide. Most subscribers know within a week whether Peregrine is right for them.

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Peregrine Research provides portfolio model subscriptions for informational and educational purposes only. We are not a registered investment advisor or broker-dealer. Nothing on this page constitutes personalised investment advice. All investment decisions are solely your responsibility. Past performance does not guarantee future results. All investments carry risk, including the potential loss of principal. Consult a qualified financial professional before making investment decisions.