More Details Given on EBSA/SEC Hearing on Target-dates

A news release said the “purpose of the hearing is to examine the need for additional guidance given the importance of these investments to the retirement savings of investors.”  

The agencies said witnesses will address topics relating to:

• how target-date fund managers determine asset allocations and changes to asset allocations;
• how managers select and monitor underlying investments;
• the extent to which the foregoing, and related risks, are disclosed to investors and the adequacy of that disclosure; and
• the approaches or factors to compare and evaluate the funds.

After a similar hearing in February, the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging noted that the DoL has issued regulations allowing target-date funds to be used as a qualified default investment alternative in employer-sponsored retirement plans, but there are no requirements regarding the composition of target-date funds and the appropriate ratio of stocks and bonds as the fund nears its target (see Senate Committee Takes Aim at Target-Dates ).

The EBSA/SEC hearing, first announced last week (see EBSA/SEC to Hold Target-Date Fund Hearing ), will begin at 9:00 a.m. in the department’s auditorium, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW in Washington, D.C.. Written requests to testify at the hearing and topical outlines should be submitted by June 5, 2009.  

Persons wishing to testify at the hearing should submit a request to speak and an outline of topics to be discussed to e-ORI@dol.gov , or to Office of Regulations and Interpretations, Employee Benefits Security Administration, 200 Constitution Ave., N.W., Washington, D. C. 20210.   

Comments also may be submitted directly to the SEC using instructions available on the agency’s Website, www.sec.gov .   

The agencies said the hearing agenda will be available by June 10, 2009.