The 3-2-1 Portfolio Model applies investment principles to friendship building. Just as financial advisors recommend diversified portfolios, your social life needs strategic distribution across different relationship types and life domains.
The model breaks down as:
3 Activity Partners (Zone 3)
Regular companions for shared interests across different life areas: - One from your professional/career domain - One from your recreational/hobby domain - One from your geographic/neighborhood domain2 Close Friends (Zone 4)
Deep connections who provide emotional support: - One who shares your current life stage/circumstances - One who brings different perspective/experience1 Inner Circle Member (Zone 5)
Your closest confidant who knows your whole storyThis creates a 6-person core social portfolio that provides: - Diverse perspectives and support types - Resilience against life changes - Manageable maintenance requirements - Clear investment priorities
The Four Life Domains
The portfolio model emphasizes diversity across four key life domains:
Professional Domain: Work colleagues, industry contacts, career-focused relationships
Geographic Domain: Neighbors, local community members, proximity-based friendships
Interest Domain: Hobby groups, recreational activities, passion-based connections
Values Domain: Relationships built on shared beliefs, causes, or life philosophies
A balanced portfolio includes meaningful connections across multiple domains, preventing over-dependence on any single area.