Five Investment Classes of My Collectibles Portfolio
- Anthony Ranaudo
- May 16
- 3 min read
Updated: May 18
As I begin building my new collectibles portfolio from scratch, I wanted to share the investing principles that will guide every card I buy, hold, or sell. I'll even dive into some other classes that include fun pop culture items. This isn’t about hype. It’s about structure. Discipline.
And documenting the journey — transparently — so that anyone, at any budget, can follow along and start their own.
In the world of sports cards and alternative assets, things can feel random.
But they’re not.
Like traditional wealth management, there are different categories of risk, return, and strategy. That’s why I’ll build my portfolio around five core investment classes — each with its own purpose, risk profile, and return expectations.
Let’s break them down.
1. Fixed Income (Low-Risk, Steady Growth)
Think of this like your bond portfolio or dividend-yielding ETF — boring, predictable, but consistent.
Card Types:
Sealed wax from flagship products (Topps Chrome, Bowman, Prizm)
Hall of Fame rookie cards with high POP reports but strong brand value(e.g. Ken Griffey Jr. 1989 Upper Deck, Tony Gwynn RCs, Tim Duncan Topps Chrome)
Goal:
Preserve capital. Steady value. Long-term protection against volatility.
Target ROI:
3–6% annually
Why it works:
These cards are easy to liquidate and hard to gem. High demand in PSA 10s due to low gem rates, even if raw cards are common. Think: low risk, long runway.
2. Blue Chip Assets (Proven Track Record)
These are the S&P 500 stocks of the hobby — iconic cards, iconic players, and always in demand.
Card Types:
PSA 10 rookies of legends and global superstars(e.g. LeBron James 2003 Topps Chrome, Derek Jeter 1993 SP Foil, Aaron Judge Topps Chrome Update)
Vintage GOATs like Mickey Mantle, Bill Russell, Jerry Rice
Goal:
Long-term appreciation. Brand stability. Cultural relevance.
Target ROI:
6–10% annually
Why it works:
Low POP, hard-to-grade cards with long-term prestige. Jeter’s SP Foil PSA 10? Only 21 exist. These are cards you pass down — not flip fast.
3. Speculative Investments (High-Risk, High-Reward)
If Blue Chips are LeBron, Speculative plays are Brenton Doyle/Jahmyr Gibbs (for me haha). Big potential. Big volatility.
Card Types:
Prospects or breakout stars with limited history(e.g. Jahmyr Gibbs, Elly De La Cruz, Jackson Holliday)
Low-numbered parallels, autos, 1st Bowmans, color matches
Goal:
Capitalize on hype cycles and breakout windows.
Target ROI:
25–100%+
Why it works:
This is where timing matters. You’re betting on upside. It’s not “if” the card is valuable — it’s when. You can win big… or miss big. Know your windows. Take your profits.
4. Emerging Markets (Cultural & Niche Trends)
This is where early adopters win. Women’s sports. NIL stars. F1. TCG. Music. Culture.
Collectible Types:
Serena Williams RCs, Caitlin Clark autos, JuJu Watkins speculation
Logan Paul Pokémon sales, VeeFriends, Topps Star Wars
NIL plays like Caleb Williams, Cooper Flagg or high school phenoms
Graded pop-culture items like platinum records, vinyl records, and even video games, VHS tapes, etc
Goal:
Stay ahead of the culture curve.
Target ROI:
10–50% depending on trend cycle
Why it works:
These are underpriced markets with explosive upside — but only if you time it right. Think of them like tech stocks in the early 2000s.
5. Alternative Assets (Luxury / Illiquid / Experimental)
These are museum pieces. The one-of-ones. The dual autos. The curated slabs. Less about liquidity — more about storytelling.
Collectible Types:
1/1s, patch autos, curated art slabs (e.g. Project 70)
Game-used memorabilia cards, doodle, pedigree and inscription cards
Pop culture collabs, art figures with well-known artists, canvas art, items with deep story-telling behind them
Goal:
Hold long-term. Tell a story. Own a piece of sports history.
Target ROI:
Uncapped — but long-term and illiquid
Why it works:
They’re one of one. They’re scarce. And when the right buyer comes, they can command massive premiums. But it might take years — or a Sotheby’s or the realest auction — to realize that value.
Final Thoughts
As I build this portfolio, every asset I add will fall into one of these categories. Some days, I’ll stack safe wax. Other days, I’ll chase a PSA 10 color match of a prospect who’s just been called up. But no matter what — I’m doing it with discipline.
And you’ll be able to follow every step.
This is the new foundation. A personal challenge. A public journal. A transparent look at how I’m rebuilding wealth through the world of collectibles.
Whether you're a seasoned investor or just curious about sports cards or art, I hope this framework helps you make smarter plays — and tells a better story with the pieces you own.
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