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TO EDIT THIS DOCUMENT, PLEASE MAKE A COPY TO YOUR PERSONAL GOOGLE DRIVE ACCOUNT -- IF I GRANT YOU ACCESS TO EDIT THE MASTER, EVERYONE WILL SEE YOUR EDITS AND SHARE CHANGES
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Where are the glide paths and how do I find them?
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If you just want to know what assets are included for the standard 5 year TDF dates, simply click on the desired tab below and look for the date you're interested in.
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What are the Merriman Target Date Portfolios?
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The target date portfolios described by this document are significantly more aggressive than the target date funds (TDFs) you would typically find in the industry. Academic research, historical performance, and extensive simulations suggest this approach has higher expected returns for investors who can stick to the strategy over the long term (10+ years). The added return and risk comes from having no bonds until 35 years of age and a strong bias towards small, value and emerging markets in the early years.
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Where can I learn more about them?
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For more information, go to www.paulmerriman.com/target-date-funds/
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Can I invest in them directly?
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Yes, we've created M1 Finance Pies that will get your started. They are based on years-to-retirement in 5-year increments. For more information, go to https://paulmerriman.com/m1-finance/
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What's this Google document for?
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This document is for people who want to invest in the Merriman TDFs at M1 Finance, or would like to follow this strategy on their own. It includes the asset allocation over time (glide path) as well as the recommended ETFs and specific ETF allocations over time.
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Can I create a custom target date glidepath for something other than the 5 year TDF dates?
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Yes! First, from the "File" menu in Google Sheets at the top left of your screen, select "Make a copy..." Once you've created a copy, you can edit it. Look for the highlighted cells on the 'ETF Custom Date Allocation' and 'US|Intl, Eq|FI Customizer' tabs where you can enter custom retirement dates, different US|International and age 65 equity|bond allocations.
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Why are there such distant future dates (e.g. 2085)?
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The very distant future dates are there for parents or grandparents interested in setting aside money for a child's or grandchild's retirement. Even a small amount set aside at birth can make a big difference at age 65 if it's invested and allowed to grow.
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