Investing
When a target-date fund is the whole plan, when a three-fund portfolio is worth it, and the fee and glide-path questions that actually matter.
Updated 2026-09-08 · 8 min read
One ticker, automatic rebalance, stocks and bonds that get more conservative as the date approaches. In a 401(k) with limited options, it is often the least-bad default and sometimes the best.
Total US stock, total international, total bond. Pick a stock/bond split, rebalance once a year, ignore the rest. This only beats a target-date fund if you actually do it — including in a crash.
Run the numbers: retirement calculator.
Some glide paths add bonds earlier than a stock-heavy investor would like. Read the glide path once. If you want more equity, pick a later date or a three-fund mix — then leave it alone.
Educational only. Verify IRS limits and loan quotes before acting.