Wall Street fails those planning to retire next year…

Have you noticed that every day it seems we get a new reminder of just how badly Wall Street has failed us?  One of the latest reminders is simply astonishing.

Do you know what a “Target Fund” is?  This increasingly popular choice for 401(k) plans is a mutual fund billed as a one-stop solution for investors saving for retirement.  You put your money in a single fund linked to the year in which you plan to retire, and the fund company does the rest.

The idea is that the company invests your nest-egg more conservatively every year, so that when you’re ready to retire, your money will be there for you.

So how well do you think that strategy worked last year, for investors who pinned their hopes on retiring next year? [Read more…] “Wall Street fails those planning to retire next year…”