Managed DC® Solution
May 22, 2012
Dimensional Managed DC®
The Dimensional Managed DC’® is a solution for defined-contribution plans. Dimensional seeks to create participant outcomes similar to traditional defined-benefit pensions.
Dimensional Managed DC’s® goal is to help each participant afford an inflation-adjusted immediate annuity at retirement that can, provide their desired amount of spending power when supplemented by their projected social security benefits and other defined benefits.
The income that the Dimensional Managed DC® targets depends on current wealth and projected future savings within the managed account, and on the prices of hypothetical inflation-adjusted deferred annuity units. Projections for annuity prices depend on interest rates, the inflation outlook and mortality statistics. Their prices can be quite volatile, and nothing is
guaranteed with respect to what will actually be on the market when the desired retirement date arrives. But fixed-income holdings are adjusted so that the duration of the assets matches the duration of the annuity's liability payments. Assets and liabilities are correlated as interest rates change, minimizing the fluctuations in the projected guaranteed lifetime income stream.
Dimensional Retirement managers use a dynamic asset allocation strategy, with three underlying funds of funds: a broad-based stock fund with total-world exposure, a medium- term inflation linked fixed-income fund, and a long-term inflation-linked fixed-income fund. Asset allocation adjusts monthly depending on where a participant falls with respect to his or her spending goals.
The first slice of the portfolio aims to meet the minimal spending goal, with at least 96% estimated probability. The rest of the portfolio seeks to increase the estimated probability of meeting the desired income goal. This allocation takes into account factors such as the time to retirement and the nature of income growth and volatility in the participant’s employment sector – the human capital element identified earlier. Dimensional Retirement customizes its human capital projections for each participant, based on detailed cross-sectional data for American workers.
Participants can modify their outcomes by deciding to save more, retire later, or revise spending goals downward. Indeed, asset allocation decisions are first guided by the participant’s input, including his or her intended retirement date, the projected amount of new contributions to be made each year, a minimal acceptable income goal during retirement, and a reasonable desired spending level that serves as the primary goal. Built- in feedback, in the form of an estimated probability meter that the participant will reach its desired spending goal, given the assets in the account, projected social security benefits and other defined benefits, is meant to guide the planning process toward a set of consistent, realistic decisions about saving and spending.
Display article as PDF for printing.
Would you like to send this article to a friend?
Remember, if you have a question or comment, send it to .
