These investment vehicles offer diversified portfolios designed to achieve specific financial goals, typically retirement, by allocating assets across a mix of stocks, bonds, and other asset classes based on a target date. For instance, a portfolio targeting a retirement date further in the future might hold a higher percentage of stocks for growth potential, while one nearing its target date might hold a greater percentage of bonds for capital preservation.
A key advantage of this approach is its automated management; the asset allocation is adjusted over time to become more conservative as the target date approaches, requiring less active management from the investor. This “glide path” strategy aims to manage investment risk and optimize returns based on the time horizon. Historically, this approach has provided a relatively simple and effective method for individuals to save for retirement without requiring extensive investment expertise.