Lifecycle funds and wealth accumulation for retirement

evidence for a more conservative asset allocation as retirement approaches

Authors

  • Wade D. Pfau National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS)

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.61190/fsr.v19i1.4963

Keywords:

Asset allocation, Retirement planning:, Target date funds, Lifecycle funds

Abstract

A line of recent studies cast doubt on the eflficacy of the lifecycle investment strategy, which calls for switching into a more conservative investment portfolio as retirement approaches, as a suitable way to provide for the retirement needs of workers with defined-contribution pensions. After com­paring simulation outcomes for lifecycle and fixed asset allocation strategies, we determine that the lifecycle strategy can be justified even in a framework including only financial wealth. We find that investors with very reasonable amounts of risk aversion may prefer the lifecycle approach, despite the tendency for aggressive fixed allocation strategies to produce larger expected wealth.

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Published

2010-03-30

Issue

Section

New Original Submission

How to Cite

Lifecycle funds and wealth accumulation for retirement: evidence for a more conservative asset allocation as retirement approaches. (2010). Financial Services Review, 19(1), 59-74. https://doi.org/10.61190/fsr.v19i1.4963