Boot Camp #9 - 2 Funds for Life and Target-Date Funds

About this episode

Chris and Paul discuss target-date funds and how to enhance them with small-cap value for better diversification.

Chris and Paul explain what target-date funds are and do, and how to augment them with some small-cap value to get the broad diversification benefits of the other Sound Investing portfolios. They describe several approaches and tools investors can use to determine what might be best for them. CHAPTERS 00:00 Intro 03:03 Target-Date Funds 07:00 Glide Paths 15:17 TDF Backtesting 19:55 TDF Weaknesses 26:20 "Easy" 2FFL 34:46 "Moderate" 2FFL 37:48 "Aggressive" 2FFL 41:00 Customizer 52:15 Calculator 61:07 Books 66:00 Outro LINKS: Wharton: Target Date Funds & Portfolio Choice in 401(k) Plans Morningstar: “2026 Target-Date Fund Landscape” Chris' Tables of 2 Funds for Life and Target Date Funds (PDF)

People in this episode

Host: Paul Merriman

Guest: Chris

Topics covered

• target-date funds
• investment strategies
• portfolio diversification
• small-cap value
• financial tools

Keywords

• target-date funds
• small-cap value
• investment strategies
• portfolio diversification
• financial tools

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Wharton, Morningstar

Books & works: 2026 Target-Date Fund Landscape, Chris' Tables of 2 Funds for Life and Target Date Funds

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