Born out of necessity, target date funds were created to simplify investing for 401(k) plan participants overwhelmed by the number of choices in their employer-sponsored plans. As DC plans continued to grow, the concern arose as to whether or not employees were making sound savings and investment decisions conducive to maximizing the probability of retirement readiness. Target date funds offered a practical solution to the growing retirement market that plagued individual participants with asset allocation decisions and manager selection. As the popularity of target date fund products surge, the products have become more intricate and what were first seen as a simplistic offering have suddenly become quite complicated in terms of deciding which target date fund to use and how the process can affect long-term results.