Set It and Forget It

A target-date fund automatically adjusts your investment mix as you age. Pick a fund labeled with your expected retirement year — say 2055 — and it starts aggressive (heavy on stocks), then gradually shifts to conservative (more bonds) as the date approaches. It is like autopilot for your portfolio: one investment, zero maintenance, built-in diversification. The expense ratios run slightly higher than bare index funds but stay reasonable — typically around 0.10% to 0.15% at major brokerages.