Target Date Funds Misunderstood
Time to revisit target date funds. I wrote about them three years ago. Come to think of it, I did it twice.
I have a lot of issues with target date funds. These are asset allocation mutual funds that contain a mix of stocks and bonds, and sometimes more exotic things, formulated to meet the investing needs of a person intending to retire in a given year.
To begin with, I object to the basic premise, that a manager can select a risk-return tradeoff for an investor based only on his expected retirement date. Partly, this is because I am not a believer in the conventional view that a person should take a lot of investment risk when young and less as they age. But I concede that I belong to the radical fringe on that particular subject.
Yet, even if you accept that knowing that a person plans to retire in 2035 tells you something about what level of risk is appropriate for that person’s mutual fund, it should be clear that it does not tell you everything. Other factors, such as how much the person has saved already and how long they expect to live in retirement after the target date would rationally have a big role to play.
Then there is the implausible and unstated conceit that the target date fund contains substantially all the saver’s assets. This is obviously rarely the case in the real world. Even if you could know the correct risk-return tradeoff for a person because you know he will stop working in twenty years, there is not much you can do about it unless you know if the other half of his assets are in stocks, bonds, real estate, or antique dolls.
And even if I set aside my fundamental objections to the basic idea, I have a big problem with the way that most target date funds are constructed. Generally, the funds are implemented as a fund-of-funds, a pre-selected basket of a mutual fund complex’s regular mutual fund offerings.
And that means that there is an unavoidable conflict of interest. A company might have any number of reasons to put money into one of its funds other than what is best for the client. For example, the company gets paid higher fees on some of the funds. Indeed, as a general rule the higher risk funds have higher fees, so the mutual fund company will be paid more the more risk it decides the client should take.
All this venting of frustration was brought on by a recent item in the WSJ’s quarterly mutual fund survey One Target, but Many Ways to Hit It. The piece is mostly a round-up of the current approaches of the major target date vendors, but it starts with revealing the apparently non-obvious fact that different target date managers invest in different things.
This echoes a shocking finding in the Times from three years ago, that “Data collected by the S.E.C. shows that target-date funds vary widely in terms of their investment risks, even when they use similar target years or names.”
Would newspaper readers be similarly surprised to read that different stock fund managers not only buy different stocks but sometimes have wildly different, even conflicting, investment philosophies?
Target date funds have been around for a long time, as long as I can remember. But they became a big deal in 2006. That was when our government decreed that 401k plans, which until then used cash as the default investment, could put the savings of employees in target date funds if they otherwise failed to state a preference.
Based on exhaustive quantitative research, I have determined that 2006 was just six years ago. It sure seems longer, like some far off magical land. In those days there was a serious concern that putting worker’s savings into an investment whose only virtue was that it could not lose value was doing that worker a disservice. Some, if not all, of the savings should be put in something with a higher expected return. That way, even if the poor dear is not sophisticated like us, he can share in the unlimited bounty that is the stock market.
I am pretty sure that Congress would enact nothing of the kind today. Cash as default sounds like a good idea after all. It may not be ambitious, but the possibility of robotically losing somebody’s savings on autopilot is not acceptable.
More interesting, and frankly confusing, to me is the continuing misunderstanding over the nature of target funds. Congress seemed to believe, and the media apparently continues to believe, that the appropriate asset mix for a person planning to retire in a given year is a relatively simple question with a correct answer. As if there was a broad consensus on what percent of assets should be in bonds for somebody planning to retire in 2030, possibly subject to tweaks at the margin. Like the question of how big a size L tee shirt should be. There is no precisely correct answer, but all reasonable answers fall into a pretty narrow band.
In fact, there is no consensus answer to the question of how much risk a person retiring in 2030 should take. Clowns like me are even willing to argue it is the wrong question to ask. And target date funds are still mutual funds like any other, run by managers with widely differing views on what strategies are best and how to implement them.
303 Comments
Other Links to this Post
-
bathtub reglazing — March 10, 2023 @ 9:38 am
-
embroidered shirts — March 10, 2023 @ 11:20 am
-
fireplace specialist — March 10, 2023 @ 1:44 pm
-
clock accessories — March 10, 2023 @ 5:21 pm
-
tradeshow signs — March 10, 2023 @ 6:03 pm
-
Learn More — March 10, 2023 @ 7:18 pm
-
gas fireplace maintenance service near me — March 10, 2023 @ 8:13 pm
-
imprinted safety glasses — March 11, 2023 @ 12:50 am
-
custom printed face masks — March 11, 2023 @ 1:56 am
-
fireplace inspection — March 11, 2023 @ 2:49 am
-
tub glazer near me — March 11, 2023 @ 6:46 am
-
reusable face masks — March 11, 2023 @ 8:41 am
-
bathtub reglazing near me — March 11, 2023 @ 8:51 pm
-
first aid kits — March 11, 2023 @ 9:49 pm
-
gas fireplace service & repair — March 11, 2023 @ 10:29 pm
-
promo products suppliers — March 12, 2023 @ 4:52 am
-
gas fireplace repairman near me — March 12, 2023 @ 5:03 am
-
Click Here — March 12, 2023 @ 11:22 am
-
porcelain tub refinishing — March 12, 2023 @ 5:40 pm
-
Click Here — March 12, 2023 @ 6:03 pm
-
printed water bottles — March 12, 2023 @ 6:53 pm
-
phoenix fireplace repair — March 13, 2023 @ 12:41 am
-
embroidered hats — March 13, 2023 @ 12:56 am
-
accessories for clocks — March 13, 2023 @ 1:52 am
-
gas fireplace service phoenix — March 13, 2023 @ 7:21 am
-
best clock movements — March 13, 2023 @ 12:40 pm
-
cheapest storage units near me — March 13, 2023 @ 3:16 pm
-
safety kits — March 13, 2023 @ 3:22 pm
-
wireless time systems — March 13, 2023 @ 3:24 pm
-
labor day weekend music festival — March 13, 2023 @ 5:28 pm
-
USA Made clock movements — March 13, 2023 @ 6:50 pm
-
self storage — March 13, 2023 @ 9:55 pm
-
PA speakers for businesses — March 13, 2023 @ 10:16 pm
-
mechanism for clocks — March 14, 2023 @ 1:21 am
-
clock motor suppliers — March 14, 2023 @ 2:40 am
-
storage units near me — March 14, 2023 @ 4:05 am
-
imprinted knee pads — March 14, 2023 @ 4:38 am
-
music festival usa — March 14, 2023 @ 6:03 am
-
clock movement — March 14, 2023 @ 7:43 am
-
Clock making parts — March 14, 2023 @ 9:03 am
-
mini storage near me — March 14, 2023 @ 10:12 am
-
clocks large facilities — March 14, 2023 @ 10:34 am
-
Learn More — March 14, 2023 @ 3:34 pm
-
indoor rv storage near me — March 14, 2023 @ 4:30 pm
-
outdoor clocks for hospitals — March 14, 2023 @ 4:54 pm
-
colorado country music festival — March 14, 2023 @ 6:45 pm
-
best clock movement — March 14, 2023 @ 8:55 pm
-
badge reel holder — March 14, 2023 @ 10:08 pm
-
accessories for clocks — March 14, 2023 @ 10:41 pm
-
car stroage — March 14, 2023 @ 11:28 pm
-
custom printed signage — March 15, 2023 @ 12:59 am
-
first aid kits — March 15, 2023 @ 4:38 am
-
outdoor clocks for hospitals — March 15, 2023 @ 7:03 am
-
promo items — March 15, 2023 @ 8:26 am
-
missoula storage units for rent — March 15, 2023 @ 1:25 pm
-
Clock making parts — March 15, 2023 @ 1:45 pm
-
public address transmitters — March 15, 2023 @ 2:13 pm
-
tradeshow signs — March 15, 2023 @ 3:52 pm
-
logo t shirts — March 15, 2023 @ 5:28 pm
-
clock mechanisms — March 15, 2023 @ 9:27 pm
-
metal water bottles — March 15, 2023 @ 11:16 pm
-
americana music festivals — March 15, 2023 @ 11:18 pm
-
logo printed face masks — March 15, 2023 @ 11:55 pm
-
clock repair videos — March 16, 2023 @ 1:32 am
-
boat storage facility — March 16, 2023 @ 3:13 am
-
PA systems — March 16, 2023 @ 4:32 am
-
clock dial face fit ups — March 16, 2023 @ 5:11 am
-
Americana music festival — March 16, 2023 @ 6:40 am
-
luggage tags — March 16, 2023 @ 6:41 am
-
self storage facility — March 16, 2023 @ 10:05 am
-
clocks for businesses — March 16, 2023 @ 11:42 am
-
plastic dial hand — March 16, 2023 @ 12:42 pm
-
branded products — March 16, 2023 @ 12:42 pm
-
custom lanyards — March 16, 2023 @ 2:08 pm
-
Clock kits and dials — March 16, 2023 @ 3:56 pm
-
storage near me — March 16, 2023 @ 5:08 pm
-
embroidered hats — March 16, 2023 @ 7:05 pm
-
wireless time clocks — March 16, 2023 @ 7:07 pm
-
music festivals near me — March 16, 2023 @ 9:21 pm
-
Click Here — March 16, 2023 @ 9:40 pm
-
click Here — March 16, 2023 @ 11:15 pm
-
wholesale promotional products — March 17, 2023 @ 1:22 am
-
hour hands for clocks — March 17, 2023 @ 3:46 am
-
labor day weekend — March 17, 2023 @ 4:37 am
-
customized lanyards — March 17, 2023 @ 5:01 am
-
Clock kits and dials — March 17, 2023 @ 6:50 am
-
custom surgical masks — March 17, 2023 @ 7:43 am
-
Building management services — March 17, 2023 @ 9:36 am
-
clock repair parts — March 17, 2023 @ 11:15 am
-
custom lanyards — March 17, 2023 @ 12:24 pm
-
missoula storage units for rent — March 17, 2023 @ 1:56 pm
-
promotional items — March 17, 2023 @ 2:00 pm
-
clock hands repair — March 17, 2023 @ 2:32 pm
-
small clock inserts — March 17, 2023 @ 6:43 pm
-
americana music festivals — March 17, 2023 @ 7:12 pm
-
Click Here — March 17, 2023 @ 8:24 pm
-
storage units for rent — March 17, 2023 @ 8:50 pm
-
clock Inserts videos — March 17, 2023 @ 9:59 pm
-
hospital clock system — March 18, 2023 @ 12:25 am
-
americana music festival colorado — March 18, 2023 @ 2:24 am
-
promotional products — March 18, 2023 @ 2:39 am
-
storage units missoula mt — March 18, 2023 @ 3:45 am
-
Best digital clocks — March 18, 2023 @ 7:33 am
-
luggage tags — March 18, 2023 @ 8:51 am
-
pendulum movements — March 18, 2023 @ 9:18 am
-
Clock kits and dials — March 18, 2023 @ 12:33 pm
-
sync clocks for hospitals — March 18, 2023 @ 2:38 pm
-
music festival with camping — March 18, 2023 @ 4:38 pm
-
storage rental — March 18, 2023 @ 5:04 pm
-
Click Here — March 18, 2023 @ 5:11 pm
-
sync clocks for hospitals — March 18, 2023 @ 10:01 pm
-
rv storage missoula mt — March 18, 2023 @ 11:39 pm
-
mechanisms for clocks — March 19, 2023 @ 2:47 am
-
rv storage near me — March 19, 2023 @ 6:23 am
-
best motor for clocks — March 19, 2023 @ 6:29 am
-
weston colorado live music festival — March 19, 2023 @ 7:05 am
-
embroidered hats — March 19, 2023 @ 7:21 am
-
badge holder — March 19, 2023 @ 9:33 am
-
mechanisms for clocks — March 19, 2023 @ 9:53 am
-
learn more — March 19, 2023 @ 12:42 pm
-
trailer storage — March 19, 2023 @ 1:11 pm
-
imprinted promotional gifts — March 19, 2023 @ 2:26 pm
-
Printed Gear — March 19, 2023 @ 3:42 pm
-
pendulum movements — March 19, 2023 @ 4:59 pm
-
innovation wireless systems — March 19, 2023 @ 8:01 pm
-
mini storage — March 19, 2023 @ 8:16 pm
-
best clock movement — March 19, 2023 @ 8:38 pm
-
monument lake resort caveman music festival — March 19, 2023 @ 9:30 pm
-
Click Here — March 19, 2023 @ 9:44 pm
-
best clock movements — March 20, 2023 @ 12:01 am
-
clocks for schools — March 20, 2023 @ 3:25 am
-
storage near me — March 20, 2023 @ 3:29 am
-
clock repair videos — March 20, 2023 @ 3:44 am
-
branded face masks — March 20, 2023 @ 4:40 am
-
hospital clock system — March 20, 2023 @ 10:51 am
-
luggage tags — March 20, 2023 @ 11:50 am
-
colorado live music festival — March 20, 2023 @ 12:17 pm
-
how to replace clock hands — March 20, 2023 @ 1:53 pm
-
promotional coffee mugs — March 20, 2023 @ 3:27 pm
-
storage places near me — March 20, 2023 @ 6:25 pm
-
wholesale promotional products — March 20, 2023 @ 7:05 pm
-
folk music festival 2023 — March 20, 2023 @ 7:41 pm
-
personalised engraved pens — March 20, 2023 @ 9:24 pm
-
get more info here — March 21, 2023 @ 12:54 am
-
mini storage missoula mt — March 21, 2023 @ 1:48 am
-
caveman americana festival — March 21, 2023 @ 2:47 am
-
parts for clocks — March 21, 2023 @ 3:39 am
-
visit website here — March 21, 2023 @ 7:59 am
-
auto sync clocks — March 21, 2023 @ 8:49 am
-
logo face masks — March 21, 2023 @ 9:09 am
-
missoula storage unit prices — March 21, 2023 @ 9:11 am
-
wholesale promotional products — March 21, 2023 @ 9:16 am
-
folk music festival — March 21, 2023 @ 9:54 am
-
metal hands — March 21, 2023 @ 10:32 am
-
imprinted knee pads — March 21, 2023 @ 2:58 pm
-
wholesale promotional products — March 21, 2023 @ 4:27 pm
-
utility trailer storage — March 21, 2023 @ 4:34 pm
-
get more info here — March 21, 2023 @ 5:21 pm
-
water bottles with logo — March 21, 2023 @ 8:51 pm
-
pendulum movements — March 21, 2023 @ 10:06 pm
-
synchronized wireless clock systems — March 21, 2023 @ 11:02 pm
-
embroidered hats — March 21, 2023 @ 11:52 pm
-
monument lake resort americana festival — March 22, 2023 @ 12:14 am
-
clock dial face fit ups — March 22, 2023 @ 5:16 am
-
mechanisms for clocks — March 22, 2023 @ 7:06 am
-
clock repair videos — March 22, 2023 @ 2:00 pm
-
self storage units near me — March 22, 2023 @ 2:43 pm
-
promo items — March 22, 2023 @ 2:43 pm
-
custom logo design — March 22, 2023 @ 3:00 pm
-
weston colorado americana festival — March 22, 2023 @ 10:40 pm
-
Learn More — March 23, 2023 @ 2:34 am
-
click here — March 23, 2023 @ 3:41 am
-
badge holder — March 23, 2023 @ 5:17 am
-
storage units near me — March 23, 2023 @ 5:19 am
-
folk music festival 2023 — March 23, 2023 @ 5:59 am
-
personal promotional products — March 23, 2023 @ 8:22 am
-
clock parts manufacturing — March 23, 2023 @ 10:31 am
-
Check It Out Here — March 23, 2023 @ 10:52 am
-
car stroage — March 23, 2023 @ 12:42 pm
-
folk music festival 2023 — March 23, 2023 @ 1:31 pm
-
mechanism for clocks — March 23, 2023 @ 5:30 pm
-
wireless clocks transmitter — March 23, 2023 @ 6:23 pm
-
fireplace repair — March 23, 2023 @ 10:27 pm
-
click Here — March 23, 2023 @ 11:08 pm
-
sync system clock — March 24, 2023 @ 1:48 am
-
click Here — March 24, 2023 @ 3:24 am
-
fireplace maintenance — March 24, 2023 @ 6:23 am
-
replacement parts for clocks — March 24, 2023 @ 6:54 am
-
Get More Info — March 24, 2023 @ 7:46 am
-
Facility wireless clocks — March 24, 2023 @ 9:09 am
-
DIY clock hands repair — March 24, 2023 @ 11:17 am
-
fireplace service and repair — March 24, 2023 @ 2:01 pm
-
clocks large facilities — March 24, 2023 @ 2:27 pm
-
plastic dial hand — March 24, 2023 @ 2:30 pm
-
sync warehouse clocks — March 24, 2023 @ 4:27 pm
-
clock mechanisms — March 24, 2023 @ 7:05 pm
-
fireplace screen replacement — March 24, 2023 @ 9:27 pm
-
sync warehouse clocks — March 24, 2023 @ 11:35 pm
-
Clock kits and dials — March 25, 2023 @ 2:50 am
-
gas fireplace cleaning service — March 25, 2023 @ 4:57 am
-
countertop resurfacing — March 25, 2023 @ 4:58 am
-
synchronized wireless time systems — March 25, 2023 @ 5:22 am
-
clock repair parts — March 25, 2023 @ 5:26 am
-
auto sync clocks — March 25, 2023 @ 6:50 am
-
visit website here — March 25, 2023 @ 10:38 am
-
imp source — March 25, 2023 @ 11:55 am
-
fireplace screen replacement — March 25, 2023 @ 12:24 pm
-
metal hands — March 25, 2023 @ 12:51 pm
-
clocks for businesses — March 25, 2023 @ 1:01 pm
-
synchronized wireless clocks — March 25, 2023 @ 1:58 pm
-
clock movement — March 25, 2023 @ 6:20 pm
-
fireplace repair services peoria — March 25, 2023 @ 7:47 pm
-
innovation wireless systems — March 25, 2023 @ 8:42 pm
-
wireless time clocks — March 25, 2023 @ 9:05 pm
-
visit website here — March 26, 2023 @ 1:56 am
-
bathtub refinishing — March 26, 2023 @ 2:07 am
-
fireplace service — March 26, 2023 @ 3:35 am
-
hour hands for clocks — March 26, 2023 @ 3:42 am
-
Facility wireless clocks — March 26, 2023 @ 4:16 am
-
wireless clocks sync — March 26, 2023 @ 4:21 am
-
clock hands repair — March 26, 2023 @ 9:21 am
-
best hands for clocks — March 26, 2023 @ 11:07 am
-
wireless clocks transmitter — March 26, 2023 @ 11:27 am
-
synchronized Hospital clocks — March 26, 2023 @ 11:45 am
-
this website — March 26, 2023 @ 4:31 pm
-
best motor for clocks — March 26, 2023 @ 4:46 pm
-
clock making replacement parts — March 26, 2023 @ 6:35 pm
-
fireplace maintenance near me — March 26, 2023 @ 6:56 pm
-
auto sync clocks — March 26, 2023 @ 7:18 pm
-
small clock inserts — March 27, 2023 @ 12:10 am
-
elapsed time clock for operating rooms — March 27, 2023 @ 1:56 am
-
PA systems — March 27, 2023 @ 3:01 am
-
mechanisms for clocks — March 27, 2023 @ 9:30 am
-
gas fireplace maintenance — March 27, 2023 @ 9:54 am
-
large clock hands — March 27, 2023 @ 11:53 am
-
metal hands — March 27, 2023 @ 1:57 pm
-
refinish bathtub and tile — March 27, 2023 @ 2:04 pm
-
gas fireplace cleaning services — March 27, 2023 @ 5:15 pm
-
parts for clocks — March 27, 2023 @ 7:50 pm
-
refinish tub and tile — March 27, 2023 @ 9:02 pm
-
clock repair videos — March 27, 2023 @ 9:29 pm
-
synchronized wireless clocks — March 27, 2023 @ 11:42 pm
-
fireplace repair near me — March 28, 2023 @ 12:28 am
-
clock inserts suppliers — March 28, 2023 @ 3:39 am
-
bathtub refinishing — March 28, 2023 @ 3:57 am
-
small clock inserts — March 28, 2023 @ 4:59 am
-
pendulum movements — March 28, 2023 @ 5:54 am
-
clocks for hospitals — March 28, 2023 @ 7:07 am
-
gas fireplace repairman near me — March 28, 2023 @ 7:40 am
-
resurface bathtub — March 28, 2023 @ 10:56 am
-
accessories for clocks — March 28, 2023 @ 1:07 pm
-
gas fireplace service cost — March 28, 2023 @ 2:57 pm
-
tub refinishing los angeles — March 28, 2023 @ 5:56 pm
-
best hands for clocks — March 28, 2023 @ 6:45 pm
-
USA Made clock movements — March 28, 2023 @ 8:03 pm
-
clock parts manufacturing — March 28, 2023 @ 8:19 pm
-
sync system clock — March 28, 2023 @ 9:34 pm
-
fireplace maintenance near me — March 28, 2023 @ 10:18 pm
-
how to build your own clock — March 29, 2023 @ 2:14 am
-
mechanisms for clocks — March 29, 2023 @ 3:29 am
-
best clock movements — March 29, 2023 @ 3:32 am
-
gas fireplace services and repairs — March 29, 2023 @ 5:47 am
-
ceramic tile resurfacing — March 29, 2023 @ 7:51 am
-
quartz clock fit-ups — March 29, 2023 @ 10:42 am
-
Clock making parts — March 29, 2023 @ 11:04 am
-
fireplace repair phoenix — March 29, 2023 @ 1:21 pm
-
plastic dial hand — March 29, 2023 @ 5:19 pm
-
accessories for clocks — March 29, 2023 @ 5:54 pm
-
public address transmitter software — March 29, 2023 @ 7:15 pm
-
my review here — March 29, 2023 @ 8:51 pm
-
clock accessories — March 30, 2023 @ 12:47 am
-
best motor for clocks — March 30, 2023 @ 2:03 am
-
public address transmitters — March 30, 2023 @ 2:23 am
-
fireplace screen replacement — March 30, 2023 @ 4:18 am
-
clock mechanisms — March 30, 2023 @ 7:56 am
-
get more info here — March 30, 2023 @ 9:32 am
-
bathtub reglazing san fernando valley — March 30, 2023 @ 10:38 am
-
clock inserts suppliers — March 30, 2023 @ 3:07 pm
-
clock accessories — March 30, 2023 @ 3:30 pm
-
innovation wireless systems — March 30, 2023 @ 4:37 pm
-
gas fireplace services and repairs — March 30, 2023 @ 7:08 pm
-
parts of a clock — March 30, 2023 @ 10:15 pm
-
wireless time clocks — March 30, 2023 @ 11:42 pm
-
hour hands for clocks — March 31, 2023 @ 12:28 am
-
get redirected here — March 31, 2023 @ 2:14 am
RSS feed for comments on this post. TrackBack URI
By jcompton, July 11, 2012 @ 1:05 pm
You make good points about target date funds, but I think the rationale behind the 2006 rule change is pretty easy to understand. It was an imperfect, but probably still worthwhile, way to try to solve a problem you summed up very well:
“What we have done in America is to replace centralized corporate pension schemes with millions of individual pension schemes. There are a few drawbacks to this, principally that if you make every worker his own pension fund manager, most workers will have totally incompetent pension fund managers.”
Allowing target funds to be default elections was an easy, off-the-shelf patch to this rather gaping hole in the execution of DC plans.
By James Ellis, December 18, 2012 @ 3:53 pm
I’d just like to say thank you for all your information, i enjoyed reading it.
By バッグ ブランド 人気, September 11, 2013 @ 8:44 pm
rushguard