Portfolio optimization is a critical area in finance, aiming to maximize returns while minimizing risk. Metaheuristic algorithms were shown to solve complex optimization problems efficiently, with Genetic Algorithms and Particle Swarm Optimization being among the most popular methods. This paper introduces an innovative approach to portfolio optimization that incorporates pre-assignment to limit the search space for investor preferences and better results. Additionally, the approach takes margin trading strategies into account and uses a rare performance ratio to evaluate portfolio efficiency. Through an illustrative example, this paper demonstrates that the metaheuristic-based methodology yields superior risk-adjusted returns compared to traditional benchmarks. The results highlight the potential of metaheuristics with the help of assets filtering in enhancing portfolio performance in terms of risk-adjusted return.