Portfolio Literacy for Federal Markets

Student Quick Reference — Print this (2 pages)

SWII Literacy + Portfolio Mindset = Capital Formation Portfolio

The Six Portfolio Behaviors

  1. Build a watchlist — 5–12 lanes (featured + user-defined)
  2. Position-size — Light/Heavy/Zero by lifecycle state
  3. Map network gaps — 6 questions per lane
  4. Prepare early — Where gaps closable: build before artifact
  5. Pass when too large — Gap exceeds lead time → reallocate
  6. Rebalance quarterly — SWIIVA day: drop/add/re-size/re-assess

The Monthly Habit (20 min)

  1. Read Brief (first Tuesday)
  2. Composite + your vertical
  3. State changes → watchlist impact?
  4. Decision pattern for top lanes
  5. Quick convergence check (one other index)
  6. Three sentences. File.

Gap Mapping (6 Questions)

1Capability fit?Y / Partial / N
2Evidence gap?None / Closable / Large
3Relationship gap?None / Closable / Large
4Partner gap?None / Closable / Large
5Timing gap?Sufficient / Tight / Gone
6Decision?PURSUE / WATCH / PASS

Where to Read (All Free)

Indextheshapingwindow.com
Your watchlisttheshapingwindow.com/watchlist
SWIIVAtheshapingwindow.com/swiiva
Methodologytheshapingwindow.com/methodology
Curriculumlearn.theicon.ai/portfolio-literacy

Position Sizing

EMERGINGMinimal (watch only)
FORMINGLight (begin mapping)
ACCELERATINGHeavy (active prep)
CONVERTINGMaximum (execute)
STALLED/DORMANTZero (drop)

Lead-Lag (Cross-Index)

Lobbying → Procurement~8 quarters
Research → Commercialization~6 quarters
Foundation NTEE + Lobbying → NOFO~2-3 years

Elevator Description

"I read a free public index that measures where federal capital is forming. I maintain a watchlist of 5–8 areas sized by formation stage. 20 minutes monthly, 45 quarterly. Helps me focus resources on lanes where we can compete."

Portfolio Template (Mini)

# | Lane | Type | State | Size | Decision 1 | _________________ | Feat/Own | _____________ | L/M/H | P/W/X 2 | _________________ | Feat/Own | _____________ | L/M/H | P/W/X 3 | _________________ | Feat/Own | _____________ | L/M/H | P/W/X 4 | _________________ | Feat/Own | _____________ | L/M/H | P/W/X 5 | _________________ | Feat/Own | _____________ | L/M/H | P/W/X Pass: _________________ Reason: _________________ Next rebalance: _________________ (SWIIVA day)

Portfolio Literacy for Federal Markets v2.2 — learn.theicon.ai/portfolio-literacy — Based on the Shaping Window Intelligence Index (theshapingwindow.com) — Free to distribute with attribution.