Target-date funds (TDFs) offered by Fidelity Investments are designed to simplify retirement investing. These funds automatically adjust their asset allocation over time, becoming more conservative as the target retirement date approaches. Costs associated with these funds are typically expressed as an expense ratio, representing the annual percentage of assets deducted to cover management and administrative expenses. For example, a 0.50% expense ratio means $50 is charged annually for every $10,000 invested.
Understanding these charges is crucial for long-term investment success. Even seemingly small differences in expense ratios can significantly impact returns over time, especially in retirement accounts where funds remain invested for decades. Historically, actively managed funds carried higher expense ratios, but the rise of passively managed and blended strategies offers investors a wider spectrum of cost options. Choosing a fund with a competitive expense ratio can contribute substantially to overall portfolio growth.
