Target Date Fund Glide Path Consulting for Plan Sponsors
Your plan participants depend on target date funds to guide their long-term retirement savings through decades of asset allocation changes. PointOak Retirement Advisors helps you evaluate glide path design and select target date funds aligned with your participant population.
Independent glide path analysis
Documented fiduciary selection process
$120 billion evaluated quarterly
Why Choose Us for Target Date Fund Glide Path Consulting?
Target date fund assets recently surpassed $4 trillion, yet equity exposure can vary by 40% among funds sharing the same target retirement date. Many plan sponsors struggle to determine which glide path truly fits their workforce. PointOak has been wholly focused on retirement plan consulting since day one, generating over 90% of our revenue from corporate retirement plans.
What sets us apart is our independence. We're not affiliated with any fund family or recordkeeper, so our target date fund recommendations are based solely on your plan's objectives and participant population. Our meticulous documentation protects your investment decision if it's ever questioned.
Our Target Date Fund Glide Path Services
TDF Suitability Analysis
Your participant population has unique characteristics that affect which glide path design makes sense. Our Target Date Fund (TDF) Consulting begins with comprehensive analysis of workforce demographics, contribution patterns, and retirement behaviors.
- Participant demographic analysis
- Retirement behavior assessment
- Risk tolerance evaluation by age
Glide Path Comparison
Not all target date funds are created equal. Even funds with identical target retirement dates can have dramatically different asset allocation strategies and equity allocation throughout the glide path. Our side-by-side comparison examines how different fund families approach portfolio construction.
- Side-by-side glide path analysis
- Equity allocation comparison by age
- Underlying fund evaluation
"To" vs "Through" Retirement Analysis
One of the most important glide path design decisions involves whether target date funds reach their most conservative point at the target date or continue adjusting through retirement years. Our analysis helps you understand which approach supports successful retirement outcomes for your participant population.
- To vs through comparison
- Post-retirement asset mix analysis
- Longevity and inflation risk assessment
Qualitative TDF Evaluation
Beyond glide path comparison, we assess the broad range of qualitative factors that affect future performance and retirement outcomes. Our evaluation examines investment manager tenure, fund style consistency, and how asset classes work together throughout the glide path design.
- Investment manager evaluation
- Asset class diversification review
- Risk management assessment
TDF Fee and Share Class Review
Fees directly impact long term retirement savings. A 1% difference in expenses over 35 years can reduce a participant's nest egg by tens of thousands of dollars. Our fee analysis identifies opportunities to reduce added expenses through appropriate share class selection.
- Expense ratio comparison
- Share class optimization
- Fee impact modeling
TDF Documentation Support
Department of Labor guidance makes clear that plan fiduciaries need a documented process for selecting and periodically review target date funds. Our Fiduciary Support services include comprehensive documentation demonstrating your prudent evaluation methodology.
- Complete selection documentation
- Investment Policy Statement integration
- Ongoing monitoring records
Common Target Date Fund Glide Path Challenges
| Challenge | What It Looks Like | How We Help |
|---|---|---|
| Overwhelming fund options | Over 60 glide path strategies exist with equity exposure varying 40% among same-date funds, making comparison difficult. | Our structured evaluation framework narrows options to those aligned with your participant population and investment objectives. |
| Demographic mismatch | Off-the-shelf target date funds assume average participants, but your workforce may retire earlier, later, or have different financial situation factors. | We analyze your actual participant data to recommend glide paths designed for populations with similar characteristics. |
| To vs through confusion | The difference between reaching the most conservative point at retirement versus through retirement affects how much investment risk participants carry. | We explain practical implications of each approach and recommend based on how your plan participants actually behave. |
| Documentation gaps | DOL guidance requires documented selection process, but many plan sponsors lack evidence of the analysis behind their investment decision. | Our comprehensive documentation demonstrates your prudent fiduciary process for your Virtual 401(k) Fiduciary File. |
| Proprietary product concerns | Recordkeeper-affiliated advisors may favor their firm's date fund over alternatives, creating potential conflicts in investment advice. | As an independent firm with no products to sell, our recommendations are based solely on what serves your participants. |
What To Expect: Our Process
Plan Assessment
You share plan data and participant demographics. We analyze workforce characteristics to establish glide path criteria.
Glide Path Analysis
We evaluate available target date fund options, comparing equity allocation, underlying funds, and asset mix.
Suitability Recommendations
You receive detailed analysis with recommendations on which glide path design and TDF series fits your plan.
About PointOak Retirement Advisors
PointOak Retirement Advisors is an independent retirement plan consulting firm headquartered in McLean, Virginia, serving plan sponsors nationwide. The firm generates over 90% of its revenue from corporate retirement plans and acts as a 3(21) or 3(38) named fiduciary under ERISA with every client. PointOak evaluates over $120 billion in retirement plan assets quarterly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Consulting fees depend on plan complexity, number of TDF series being evaluated, and scope of ongoing monitoring. We provide transparent pricing after understanding your needs. Engagements typically include initial analysis, recommendations, and fiduciary file documentation. Contact us for a proposal tailored to your retirement plan.
Three things: specialization, independence, and documentation. We generate over 90% of revenue from retirement plans. We're independently owned with no proprietary products creating conflicts. And we document everything using our Virtual 401(k) Fiduciary File system to protect your investment decision if questioned.
A comprehensive glide path evaluation typically takes four to six weeks from receiving plan data to delivering recommendations. Complex evaluations involving multiple provider comparisons may require additional time. We work with your timeline for urgent situations requiring faster turnaround.
A "to retirement" glide path reaches its most conservative portfolio at the target retirement date and maintains that asset mix afterward. A "through retirement" approach continues shifting toward more conservative investments for years past the target date. The right approach depends on your participant population characteristics and retirement planning patterns.
Appropriate glide paths align with your participant population's characteristics. Key factors include average retirement date, salary levels, contribution rates, and whether participants have other retirement savings sources. We evaluate your workforce data against your current TDF's assumptions to identify mismatches that could affect retirement outcomes.
Yes. Target date funds are not guaranteed, and past performance is not necessarily indicative of future results. Plan participants can lose money at any time, including at and after the target date. Funds with higher risk through more equity exposure at retirement carry more investment risk but also more growth potential.
Investment advisory services offered through PointOak Retirement Advisors, LLC. This site is published for residents of the United States only. PointOak Retirement Advisors, LLC does not provide tax or legal advice.
Ready to Simplify Your Financial Life?
Schedule a complimentary consultation to discuss your financial goals and how we can help. There's no cost for the initial meeting. No obligation. Just a conversation to see if we're the right fit for your needs.
What To Expect
Our initial consultation typically lasts 30–45 minutes. We'll discuss your goals, current situation, and how we might work together. Come prepared with questions.