Target Retirement Date Funds Resource Center

Target Retirement Date Funds Resource Center

Target retirement date funds, which are also called target date or lifecycle funds, are one of the most important innovations in retirement savings. These funds provide a convenient way for a retirement plan participant to purchase a mix of asset classes, professionally designed and managed, that is rebalanced and becomes more conservative as the participant ages. As of June 30, 2021, approximately $1.8 trillion was invested in target date mutual funds.

ICI and its members have worked to enhance understanding of target date funds. This page provides information and resources on target date funds prepared by ICI. It includes FAQs, Five Principles to Enhance Understanding of Target Date Funds, links to ICI’s testimony on target date funds, and links to other relevant information. ICI will update this page as events unfold.

ICI Materials to Enhance Understanding of Target Retirement Date Funds

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ICI Viewpoints

The Fact(or)s Matter When Measuring TDF Performance

October 14, 2024—Target date funds (TDFs) have steadily become a mainstream option among retirement...
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Fact Sheet

Quick Facts on Target Date Funds (pdf)

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Fact Sheet

Quick Facts on Target Date Fund Use in Retirement Plans (pdf)

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FAQ

Target Date Funds: FAQs

Target date funds, which are also called lifecycle funds, are designed to offer a convenient way to...
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Publication

Board Oversight of Target Retirement Date Funds

Target retirement date funds—also called lifecycle funds—are an important innovation in retirement...
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Paper

Principles to Enhance Understanding of Target Date Funds (pdf)

Research and Statistics on Target Retirement Date Funds

Comment Letters & Testimony

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Comment Letter

ICI Comment Letter in Response to DOL's Request for Comment on Its Target Date Fund Disclosure Propo...

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Comment Letter

ICI Submits Comment Letter in Response to SEC's Latest Target Date Funds Release (pdf)

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Comment Letter

ICI Submits Comment Letter to DOL on the SEC TDF Study (pdf)

News Releases

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News Release

Target Date Funds Continue to Be Popular Investment Among Younger 401(k) Plan Participants

Target date fund investing continues to be prevalent in 401(k) plans, particularly among younger 401...
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News Release

New EBRI/ICI Report Sheds Light on How Savers Use Target Date Funds in 401(k) Plans

A growing number of investors save for retirement through target date funds (TDFs), according to a...
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News Release

Target Date Funds Remain Popular Investment in 401(k) Plans

Target date funds are a popular choice for 401(k) plans’ investment lineups, according to an updated...