Tip of the Day: Get target practice

It's ironic; thanks to the recession, target-date funds may have a bullseye on them. In EBN this month, one consultant said the funds' '08 performance was "like a bad Greek tragedy," and a high-profile senator recently teed up the funds for a closer look from lawmakers.

However, EBN contributors Bill Noyes and Steve Smith say the next generation of target-date funds hold promise through plan-specific solutions and, in a "Five Minutes With ..." podcast, Van Kampen Investments' Andrew Scherer outlines several ways for plan sponsors to assess and communicate target-date funds to get the best results for participants.

So, get to target practice, and let me know if you hit the bullseye.