Designing successful target-date strategies for defined contribution plans - Stacy Schaus

One of the hottest investment products of the past few years, target–date retirement funds have taken hold in the world of 401(k) and other defined contribution plans, forcing you, as a plan administrator or sponsor, to rethink your program.

Written by one of the nation's most qualified and experienced experts in the field, Designing Successful Target–Date Strategies for Defined Contribution Plans gives you the detailed answers you need to your questions about defined contribution plan design and building custom target–date strategies, with in–depth coverage of:

• Defined contribution plans in the American retirement system




• Evolving DC plan design




• Target–date strategies: packaged versus custom




• Legal and fiduciary considerations




• Recordkeeping and trust setup




• Communication issues




• Evaluating costs




• Glide path design




• Asset classes and alternatives




• Protecting DC assets




• Benchmarking




• Advice and retirement planning




• Retirement income and guarantees

Since target–date strategies place participants on "autopilot," you need to take a good, long look at what you offer so you can confirm that participants will arrive at the right destination. Designing Successful Target–Date Strategies¿for Defined Contribution Plans demystifies the often daunting and confusing task of understanding these retirement investments, with sound advice from experts across the industry on the best way to design your own asset allocation, keep plan fees at the lowest possible level, and help protect both plan participants and sponsors from risk.