Best Vanguard Target Retirement Funds
Eric is currently a duly licensed Independent Insurance Broker licensed in Life, Health, Property, and Casualty insurance. He has worked more than 13 years in both public and private accounting jobs and more than four years licensed as an insurance producer. His background in tax accounting has served as a solid base supporting his current book of business.
Deciding which mutual funds are appropriate for a retirement portfolio requires a good understanding of investment strategies. Vanguard target-date funds do the work of rebalancing over time so investors don’t have to. They start with an allocation favoring stocks in the early years of an investor’s life cycle, typically 90% stocks and 10% bonds.
As an investor approaches his retirement age, Vanguard gradually rebalances its asset allocation in favor of less risky securities, such as bonds and short-term reserves. Vanguard target-date funds come with an average expense ratio of 0.10%. The industry average expense ratio for comparable target-date funds is 0.60%. Beginning in February 2015, Vanguard increased the international equity and fixed income allocations for its target-date funds to provide investors with improved global diversification.
Best Target Date Retirement Fund : Vanguard Target Retirement 2050 Fund Investor Shares
Vanguard comes back on the list for the 2050 retirement target. The balance of low fees and high returns make it the top choice for this group. Their hold similar balances as the T.Rowe Price 2055 fund, but with a couple of percentage points higher in domestic bonds. They only invest in other Vanguard funds.
Are Target Date Funds Held To Or Through Retirement
Target date funds continue holding equities in a persons portfolio when entering retirement. However, the allocation will depend on whether the investor has access to target date funds which transition through retirement or to retirement.
The former offers a greater allocation in equities because these funds understand the holder continues to seek capital appreciation through a higher stock allocation than fixed income investments. The latter holds a more conservative allocation.
More specifically, target funds inherently manage an investors assets in relation to an intended retirement date. With target date funds employing the to approach, this results in funds adopting higher allocations to fixed income investments at or toward the retirement date.
The investors portfolio allocation will remain static thereafter.
Whereas with through retirement target date funds, the retirement date helps guide investors through retirement with the goal of accumulating wealth long after the retirement date.
Funds which adopt this approach have higher stock allocations at the target date and follow with a decreasing allocation 10-30 years post retirement.
These fund approaches differ dramatically in terms of risk/return potential. Make sure you understand the risk/reward trade-off made through these funds and how they invest in stocks and bonds over time.
The charts below illustrate the differences in allocations to stocks and bonds in both a to and through approach.
Also Check: How Much Is Army Retirement Pay
Are Target Date Funds Actively Managed
Target date funds provide a simplified way to save for retirement. They offer exposure to a variety of asset classes, markets, and active and passive management .
Regarding the active vs. passive management component, investors need to remain aware of the assets held in the target date funds.
Said differently, despite the simplicity of these investments, investors must should be conscious of the underlying asset allocation, fees, and portfolio risk of their target date investments.
In fact, some fund companies offer two type of target date investments: target date funds and target date index funds.
Pick A Mutual Fund Provider
In general, you should pick the target-date fund from the company where you invest your money in order to minimize transaction costs.
Vanguard, Fidelity, and Schwab are the three major players in the target-date fund market. You cant go wrong with any of these three options.
Vanguard
Vanguard calls their target-date funds Target Retirement Funds.
| Ticker |
| Schwab Target 2060 Index Fund | 0.08% |
Read Also: What Happens To Retirement Funds In Divorce
The Vanguard Target Retirement 2040 Fund
The Vanguard Target Retirement 2040 Fund offers a one-stop broadly diversified portfolio with a target date between 2038 and 2042. Like other Vanguard target-date funds, this fund invests in four Vanguard index funds with asset allocations of about 85% in equities and 15% in corporate and sovereign bonds.
About 50.20% of the fund’s assets are allocated to domestic equities, while 33% are dedicated to international equities. There is a 12% allocation in U.S. corporate and Treasury bonds and a 4.80% allocation of international bonds. As the fund is nearly 20 years away from its target date, it will continue allocating more assets to risky securities in the next five to 10 years.
The Vanguard Target Retirement 2040 Fund has an expense ratio of 0.14% and it has a four-star rating from Morningstar. Due to Vanguard’s larger emphasis on international bonds and international equities, the fund provides broader diversification and better return prospects in the long run, as overseas marketsespecially emerging marketstend to grow faster compared to developed markets.
The Vanguard Target Retirement 2040 Fund is most appropriate for investors whose target retirement is between 2038 and 2042 and would like to invest in one fund and not have to worry about rebalancing until their retirement.
Best Target Date Funds: Schwab Vs Vanguard Vs Fidelity
Target date funds are a great way for investors to gain exposure to investments which match the risk-tolerance best-suited to where they are in their careers. The funds allow investors to:
Companies like Vanguard, Fidelity, Schwab, T. Rowe Price and others offer these products through various tax-advantaged investment plans and after-tax brokerage accounts.
An important aspect to keep in mind for any investment is that they entail risk. Markets go up, markets go down. When that happens, your balance in the investment will naturally change.
Thats market risk and its just one type of risk youre exposed to when you invest. Theres also interest rate risk, inflation risk, currency risk, and many more.
However, target date funds attempt to lessen the severity of some risk by gradually and automatically transitioning your asset mix of stocks and bonds to a more conservative mix as you approach retirement.
This is obviously a time youll need the money youve saved during your wealth accumulation phase and transitioned toward wealth preservation. Both are crucial components for reaching financial independence.
Because no two are the same , lets learn more about these powerful products used by millions to prepare for a safe and secure retirement.
You May Like: Retirement Communities In Nashville Area
How Are These Target Date Series Chosen
We think every target date fund series should be rated on sustainability. Our goal is to expand this database over the next year to cover all target date fund series offered by major asset managers. We started with these 12 because they are some of the largest and most commonly-owned target date funds on the market, with hundreds of billions in assets under management. Check back regularly to see if your target date fund series has been added to our database.
Want us to rate the target date fund series in your retirement plan? Get in touch with us
What Are Target Date Funds
Target date funds invest in assets which match the recommended risk preferences of investors with their intended retirement date. Depending on the age at purchase, the mix of underlying assets can comprise various allocations toward stocks and bonds.
Please note all funds are not the same. Most follow a similar strategy:
However, despite these simple steps, these funds can differ dramatically. This includes the investments held in each fund, various levels of fees associated with the fund and underlying investments, and even what happens with the investments from present to target date and beyond .
In fact, some funds cease the transition to more conservative investments at the target date while others transition slower and continue shifting toward more fixed-income/cash allocations. The advantage of the latter would be more potential for growth into your retirement years.
For target date funds to qualify as one of the best investments for young adults, Id only consider the latter since continued portfolio growth in our later years is important.
I say this because as things currently stand, we might not have as many retirement resources as our parents and grandparents with Social Security and Medicare currently slated to run out of money before we retire.
Recommended Reading: Do You Pay Taxes On Retirement Pension
Are Target Date Funds A Good Investment
According to a CNBC article, one man who held employer-sponsored retirement accounts from four previous employers and one from his most recent employer, saw his losses would have been significantly less had all the assets been invested in an equivalent target fund in his most-recent employers retirement fund.
His previous employers retirement accounts heavily invested in stock portfolios and resulted in far steeper losses than he would have under a comparable stock/bond allocation in his target fund.
Target date funds would have transitioned some of his funds from stocks to bonds and possibly resulted in smaller losses.
Looking at Morningstars data included in the article, we can see accounts held in funds closer to retirement performed less-poorly than those intended for later dates.
This is because those later-dated target funds held higher allocations in equities and thus experienced more adverse returns during the recession.
For investors who wish to automate their retirement savings in diversified, low-cost passive investments, target funds can be valuable financial instruments.
The funds automatically transition from heavier stock allocations to bond allocations as the employee ages, thereby taking less risk in their retirement portfolios.
If these types of investments interest you, consider opening an account with Axos Self-Directed Trading. The service boasts over 10,000 mutual fund options and allows you to invest in a large number of target date funds.
Whats Vanguard Target Retirement 2050 Is It Worth Investing In
Retirement is surely a dream worth investing in. Imagine being able to go to your dream destinations, having your own vacation house, and enjoying life like a youth. You can do everything with the right retirement fund or account.
Retirement is surely a dream worth investing in. Imagine being able to go to your dream destinations, having your own vacation house, and enjoying life like a youth. You can do everything with the right retirement fund or account.
And, speaking of retirement, Vanguard is a famous company offering retirement funds. Hereâs a complete overview of its Target Retirement 2050.
You May Like: Primrose Retirement Community Newburgh Indiana
Pros And Cons Of Target Date Funds
Investing in a target date fund has both advantages and disadvantages. The major benefits include:
- Simplicity: Most 401 plans only offer one target date fund . If you invest in a target date fund, you don’t need anything else in your retirement portfolio.
- Automation: Target date funds automate the process of adjusting your asset allocation. You don’t need to ever manually rebalance your portfolio if you invest in a target date fund.
The primary drawbacks to target date funds are:
- Lack of customization: Every investor in a target date fund has the same asset allocation, regardless of their individual risk tolerances or investing goals.
- Potentially high fees: With the expense ratios of many target date funds approaching 1%, the fees associated with target date funds can significantly lower your investment returns. While 1% might not sound like a lot, the nature of compound interest means that small annual fees can add up to substantial lost value for your portfolio over time.
- Lack of control: Investors in target date funds don’t get to choose which specific securities the target date funds invest in.
Put Our Approach To Work For You
Retirement plan advisors and sponsors: Ask a John Hancock Investment Management Defined Contribution Investment Only specialist for a detailed review of how John Hancock Multimanager Target-Date Portfolios can fit into your plan or practice.
Your submission was successful
Diversification does not guarantee a profit or eliminate the risk of a loss.
MF1798599
Read Also: Best Places To Retire Near Raleigh Nc
How Much Does The Fund Cost
Vanguard Target Retirement 2050 doesn’t charge a load or other upfront fees. Annual expense ratios are 0.16%, or $16 per year for every $10,000 invested in the fund. Investors have to have an initial investment of $1,000 per Vanguard’s rules, which apply to regular taxable accounts, as well as IRAs, or other specialized account types.
Not All Target Date Funds Are Good Investments
Ive chosen one fund that exemplifies some suboptimal aspects that should signal investors to steer clear. I do this not to belittle the mutual fund company or fund in particular, but to illustrate what potential negative qualities of target date funds can cost investors future returns.
The fund is called the American Century One Choice 2050, ticker ARFMX. I would avoid the fund for two main reasons.
First off, the funds expense ratio is simply too high. American Century charges over 1%, making it more than 10 times as expensive as the fund options weve looked at. Unfortunately, that isnt the end of the fees associated with investing in the fund. ARFMX has a front load fee, meaning theres a sales charge paid every time you buy into the fund. Purchasing through a 401 would bypass that fee. Otherwise, and I cant caution against this enough, that fee would recur every time a contribution is made.
The second reason why Im not a fan of this fund is its asset allocation.
Remember that American Centurys target date is a 2050 fund just like the 4 funds we explored. That means the typical investor in the fund is 30 years away from retirement. Nevertheless, the fund allocations 22% in bonds. For some investors, that conservative approach might be attractive. But in my estimation, that is too cautious a strategy for investors with such long time horizons.
The American Century fund performance in comparison to Vanguards offering should bear out my concerns.
Also Check: Things To Do When You Retire Book
Best Target Date Retirement Fund 204: Vanguard Target Retirement 2045 Fund Investor Shares
If 2045 is your target then you sit somewhere midway in your career. At this point, investors look to hold a bit more bonds than those with more years to go. The Vanguard 2045 fund comes out as the top pick due to the lower fees and consistent historical performance. The mix of equities varies from the 2050 fund by only a few percentage points across categories.
Vanguard Target Date Funds
Choosing the best target date fund depends on the number of years to retirement but you will want to choose funds with lower costs.
Vanguard, for example, offers all-in-one funds called Vanguard Target Retirement Funds and average 0.12% as an expense ratio . The industry average expense ratio for comparable target-date funds runs 0.60% per their research.
Vanguard offers a number of target date index funds, but the ones of most interest to this sites readers are likely the Vanguard Target Retirement 2050, 2055, and 2060 Funds .
These funds all offer 0.15% expense ratios when this was written.
Vanguard keeps its expense ratios low by having passive index ETFs make up the assets held in the target date funds. The active component only comes when making the transition from stocks to fixed-income ETF holdings.
Otherwise, the ETFs held in the funds track various broader market indices.
Also Check: How Much Money To Retire At 50
A Portfolio That Adjusts As Participants’ Careers Progress
At Voya, our glide path relative to peers has a higher equity allocation for younger participants to build wealth and a lower equity allocation for participants near and in retirement to reduce risk in those critical years. Younger participants can afford to take on more investment risk in exchange for greater potential returns. However, in the later years, participants are more vulnerable to a market downturn, particularly the day they retire.
The Portfolio may periodically deviate from the Target Allocation, generally within the range of +/- 10% relative to the current Target Allocation. The sub-adviser may determine to deviate by a wider margin in order to protect the Portfolio, achieve its investment objective, or to take advantage of particular opportunities. This chart is for illustrative purposes only and may not reflect the current allocations of the Voya Target Solution Trust Series. This illustration is intended to show how the Voya Target Solution Trust Series transitions over time.
Are Target Date Retirement Funds Diversified
Diversification is important to any investor. Investing in a single mutual fund seems counter to that idea, but not in the case of target date retirement funds. Target date retirement funds provide ready-made diversified portfolios that hold thousands of domestic and international stocks and tens of thousands of bonds of various credit qualities. So yes, these funds are well diversified.
You May Like: How To Transfer Retirement Account
