This refers to a specific target-date fund offered by The Vanguard Group. Target-date funds are designed to simplify investing for retirement by providing a diversified portfolio of underlying funds that automatically adjusts its asset allocation over time. A fund with a 2015 target date would have been designed for investors planning to retire around that year. These funds typically transition from a more aggressive mix of stocks and bonds in earlier years to a more conservative mix as the target date approaches, aiming to reduce investment risk as retirement nears.
The key benefit of such a fund lies in its automated approach to managing risk over time. This simplifies the investment process for individuals who may not have the time or expertise to manage their portfolios actively. The underlying fund selection and rebalancing strategy is handled by professional fund managers. Given the 2015 target date, this specific fund would likely have completed its glide path to a more conservative allocation by now and may have even been renamed or merged into another offering as part of Vanguard’s fund lineup. Analyzing historical performance can provide valuable insights into the fund’s overall strategy and its effectiveness in meeting its objectives during its active lifecycle.