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It’s time to dispel seven significant myths about “passive” target date funds and reacquaint the market with the impact of index investing.
Myth #1: All Target Date Funds are Either “Active” or “Passive”
When it comes to target date fund (TDF) selection, there is a growing concern that the retirement industry is falling back on outdated thinking by creating false distinctions between “active” and “passive” TDF suites. Indexing giants that offer target date solutions utilize index funds as their underlying building blocks to access appropriate asset classes in an effective, cost-efficient manner. However, this doesn’t mean that these target date suites are passive strategies.
Leading retirement plan specialist advisors are cutting through the TDF myths, analyzing the full TDF universe utilizing rigorous screens to serve their sponsor clients:
Myth #2: There is No Difference Between Target Date Fund Managers
Nearly half of target date providers use a custom benchmark for each vintage in their series (see Figure 1). This wide range of custom benchmarks highlights the active management decision making—such as which asset classes to use and asset allocation across target date vintages —that occurs across the universe of TDF managers.
Figure 1: Spanning the Spectrum
The Range of Benchmarks Reflects Fund Variation
While custom benchmarks are useful goalposts for TDF portfolio managers and client communication, they are little help to advisors who are looking to compare the performance of two target date series. To do so, advisors need to do a deeper analysis, regardless if a target date solution is managed by a traditionally active or index shop.
Myth #3: Target Date Funds Are All the Same, From Construction to Performance
Performance comes under greater scrutiny in down market cycles. However, it’s the fund methodology and risk profiles — not active vs. index-based approaches — that separates the stars from the sinkers. As shown in Figure 2, State Street was able to outperform leading index managers during 2008’s Financial Crisis and reduce fund volatility thanks in part to our lower investment fees and our approach to glidepath construction and asset allocation.
Figure 2: Delivering Results in a Down Market Point-in-Time Performance: State Street Outperformed the Competition During the
2008 Financial Crisis
Myth #4: Active Managers Protect Better in Equity Market Sell-Offs
At State Street, we believe that being prepared can be as effective as active management. Investing our younger participants in longer-dated government bonds is one example of this forward-looking perspective. This dimension of our diversification strategy anticipates sharp equity market sell-off events, as seen in the first quarter of 2020, during which participants with significant equity exposure require inversely correlated asset classes to offset loss. The opposite approach is required for more mature savers, who need to reduce interest rate risk. That’s why we dial back long bond duration as participants roll down the glidepath. Managing fixed income risk proactively allows State Street to deliver diversification and de-risking to the right participants at the right time. Not only does this approach allow us to be as nimble as active managers, but it stands apart when compared to other index managers that apply a static strategy to fixed income, as illustrated in Figure 3.
Figure 3: Proactive Approach to Fixed Income Risk Management
Myth 5: “To” Managers’ Emphasis on Asset Protection Leads to Better Performance
In the wake of a volatile market cycle, an investment approach that emphasizes asset protection may seem particularly attractive, but in the long run, it is an incomplete strategy for retirement success. Accumulation is still essential.
In fact, by comparing the performance of State Street’s 2020 Fund (where a 65-year-old participant would currently be invested) to the 2020 funds of three large “to retirement” managers (representing both index and active approaches), we found that a State Street investor starting at the same dollar amount in 2010 would have accumulated meaningfully higher levels of wealth than investors with the other managers, even after accounting for slightly larger drawdowns at age 65.
Figure 4: Ten Years of Wealth Accumulation in 2020 Target Date Fund Vintage
Building on our accumulation emphasis, the State Street Target Retirement Series’ glidepath construction and lower investment fees have translated into superior performance, despite the fact that index-based target date funds don’t gain potential alpha from underlying funds. Figure 5 illustrates this returns trend since the inception of our funds in January 2005.
Figure 5: Above Average Performance Returns Since Inception Highlight State Street’s Superior Performance as of March 31, 2020
Myth #7: Fees Don’t Matter in the “Active” vs. “Passive” Debate
Considering fees and investment expenses are both a plan fiduciary’s responsibility and a critical dimension for evaluating actively managed and index-based TDFs — and there is no reason to pay more. In fact, while outperforming the competition, the State Street Target Retirement Series costs less (at 12 bps) than 97% of target date suites in the market. Advisors who are able to provide their plan participants with an institutional quality glidepath, exposure to a broad set of asset classes and lower fees may be able to convert and deepen their relationships.
The State Street Difference
We deliver target date funds through various investment vehicles, including collective investment trusts (CITs), custom separate accounts and mutual funds. Since our CIT series inception in 2005, the average State Street target date fund has outperformed 94% of our peers, while also experiencing lower volatility than 76% of the same peer group, due in large part to our broadly diversified set of underlying asset classes. Our indexing approach keeps fees low, while securities lending options offer opportunities to boost returns.
With a demonstrated track record, we focus on four areas of differentiation:
1. Investment Style Consistency
We utilize style-neutral index funds to gain cost-efficient exposure to a broad set of beta without the bias or premiums associated with stock picking strategies. Some “active” managers may exhibit style drift, meaning some portfolio assets may vary in size and growth characteristics and can bounce between asset class categorizations. This volatility can be difficult for plan fiduciaries to effectively monitor and can also have a material impact on the glidepath, creating unwelcome surprises in TDF performance.
2. Asset Allocation and Investment Option Diversity
We offer one of the most diversified suites in the market, utilizing 10 underlying sub-asset classes that shift throughout a participant’s working career. This approach is particularly evident in fixed income, an area where we differentiate ourselves from the majority of TDF managers by not relying on the Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index. Having a thoughtful point of view and more building blocks allows us to deliver tailored risk exposure to participants at every age.
3. “Through” Glidepath
Evolving to address the risks at each stage of a participant’s journey, our glidepath management is driven by academic research and a deep understanding of participant behavior — at and through retirement.
4. Ongoing Monitoring
We follow a disciplined, annual review schedule that is meant to capture our best thinking on glidepath design. This process is particularly prudent for the defined contribution marketplace because it is transparent and easily explained to plan sponsors and investment committees.
For more information on pricing, strategies and performance, contact DCIntermediaryTeam@ssga.com.
1Competitor glidepath info sourced from fact sheets and/or prospectus. Fixed Income asset class statistics sourced from Barclays POINT as of June 30, 2020. Because Vanguard’s International Fixed Income index is not available on POINT, yield and duration characteristics were taken from the June 30, 2020 fact sheet. Yield to worst calculation is a weighted average of the yield of each underlying index per Barclays POINT as of 12/31/18. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. Allocations are as of roll down schedule date indicated, are subject to change, and should not be relied upon as current thereafter.
2State Street Global Advisors Defined Contribution, Morningstar Direct, 2020. (K Class).
3FactSet Research Systems-Morningstar, SSGA Investment Solutions Group (ISG). As of March 31, 2020. Gross Returns have been reduced by 9.4 basis points (.7833 basis points monthly) to reflect a hypothetical investment management fee and compared to Morningstar peer universe for each respective vintage. Returns are net administrative costs (2.6 bps). Inception Dates: 2040, 2030, 2010 Strategies (2/05); 2020, Income Strategies (4/05); 2015, 2025, 2035, 2045 Strategies (8/06); 2050 Strategy (10/07); 2055 Strategy (3/10); 2060 Strategy (3/15)). Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. The performance returns were calculated in US dollars. Diversification does not ensure a profit or guarantee against loss.
4Characteristics pulled from provider’s fact sheets and websites. As of March 31, 2020. Characteristics are as of the date indicated, are subject to change, and should not be relied upon as current thereafter.
5Ibid.
State Street Global Advisors
One Iron Street, Boston MA 02210. T: +1 617 786 3000.
State Street Global Advisors and its affiliates have not taken into consideration the circumstances of any particular investor in producing this material and are not making an investment recommendation or acting in fiduciary capacity in connection with the provision of the information contained herein.
SSGA’s role as a fiduciary with respect to the products and services described herein commences only once SSGA has been retained to act in a fiduciary capacity pursuant to a written agreement and receipt of a fee. Prior to such time, SSGA is not undertaking to provide impartial investment advice or to give advice in a fiduciary capacity in connection with the sale or distribution of the products or services described herein. SSGA has a financial interest in the sale of our investment products and services. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results.
The whole or any part of this work may not be reproduced, copied or transmitted or any of its contents disclosed to third parties without SSGA’s express written consent. All material has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable. There is no representation or warranty as to the current accuracy, reliability or completeness of, nor liability for, decisions based on such information and it should not be relied on as such.
All the performance results referred to are provided exclusively for comparison purposes only. It should not be assumed that they represent the performance of any particular investment.
Asset Allocation is a method of diversification which positions assets among major investment categories. Asset Allocation may be used in an effort to manage risk and enhance returns. It does not, however, guarantee a profit or protect against loss.
Passively managed funds invest by sampling the index, holding a range of securities that, in the aggregate, approximates the full Index in terms of key risk factors and other characteristics. This may cause the fund to experience tracking errors relative to performance of the index.
SSGA Target Date Funds are designed for investors expecting to retire around the year indicated in each fund’s name. When choosing a fund, investors should consider whether they anticipate retiring significantly earlier or later than age 65 even if such investors retire on or near a fund’s approximate target date. There may be other considerations relevant to fund selection and investors should select the fund that best meets their individual circumstances and investment goals. The funds’ asset allocation strategy becomes increasingly conservative as it approaches the target date and beyond.
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Exp: July 31, 2021