Target Date Funds

Not sure what to invest your retirement money in? Target date funds are the "set it and forget it" answer.

Pick a fund matching your expected retirement year — like a 2060 fund if you plan to retire around then. The fund automatically shifts from aggressive (mostly stocks) to conservative (more bonds) as you approach that date.

Are they perfect? No — they're generic. But they're far better than leaving money in cash, picking random stocks, or being paralyzed by too many choices. Vanguard, Fidelity, and Schwab all offer low-cost target date funds with expense ratios under 0.15%.