DESCRIPTION The Fund is intended to provide a disciplined and diversified investment solution. The Fund's asset allocation is designed to maximize the potential that the participant's account balance, in conjunction with the Prudential IncomeFlex Target® guarantees, will provide a reliable source of lifetime income.

Target-date funds and lifecycle funds are the same type of fund. Target-date and lifecycle funds are designed to optimize your returns and minimize your risk by a target date. As the target date approaches, target-date and lifecycle funds gradually make your portfolio more conservative.

A managed account differs from a target date fund due to the fact its management is hands-on by a financial professional who is selecting investments on a personalized basis. A target date fund is more of a one-size-fits-all approach to investing, which is not always in your best interest.

Generally, a "to retirement" target-date fund will reach its most conservative asset allocation on the date of the fund's name. After that date, the allocation of the fund typically does not change throughout retirement.

Target-date funds can be a helpful tool to reach retirement without having to make any investment decisions. If they help you invest and stay invested throughout your career, they can be a great tool. But investors, particularly retirees, should explore all their options to ensure a target-date fund is right for them.

5 Drawbacks of Target-Date Funds for Retirement

• One-size-fits-all. The only metric a fund company uses to determine how it manages its target-date funds is the target date.
• Stuck with one mutual fund company.
• No accounting for outside assets.
• The fees.
• Poor asset allocation in retirement.

If your target date fund is inside a tax-advantaged retirement savings account, such as a 401(k) or IRA, you can sell it with impunity and use the funds to purchase other investments. However, if you've kept your fund inside a standard brokerage account, selling out might expose you to heavy-duty capital gains taxes.

Target-date funds can be a helpful tool to reach retirement without having to make any investment decisions. If they help you invest and stay invested throughout your career, they can be a great tool. But investors, particularly retirees, should explore all their options to ensure a target-date fund is right for them.

Yes, you can withdraw your money at any time. However, if you retire early (before age 59 1/2), you may be subject to a tax penalty for early withdrawal. Who manages the target date funds? State Street Global Advisors (SSGA) manages the funds.

They offer exposure to a variety of markets, active and passive management, and a selection of asset allocation. Despite their simplicity, investors who use target-date funds need to stay on top of asset allocation, fees, and investment risk.

Advantages of target-date funds include low minimum investments, professionally managed portfolios, and low maintenance for investors. Disadvantages include a one-size-fits-all approach, higher expense ratios, and a lack of diversification.

While target-date funds aim to reduce risk overtime, they - like any investment - are not risk free, even when the target date has reached. Target-date funds do not provide guaranteed income in retirement and can lose money if the stocks and bonds owned by the fund drop in value.