Deciding how much to take

A personal question, honestly framed.

Three inputs

Capacity is what your finances can absorb. Need is what return your goals require. Tolerance is what you can hold through. The smallest of the three should govern.

Taking more risk than needed is a choice, not a requirement.
If a plan only works with heroic returns, the plan is the problem.

The honest caveat

This course explains concepts. What allocation suits you depends on your obligations, timeline and temperament, and a qualified adviser is the right place for that specific question.