Prepared for Utah Higher Education Assistance Authority
Prepared for: Utah Higher Education Assistance Authority
Important information
The VLCM is designed to identify the product design that represents the best investment solution for a theoretical, representative investor who uses the target-
date funds to accumulate wealth for retirement. The VLCM generates an optimal custom glide path for a participant population by assessing the trade-offs
between the expected (median) wealth accumulation and the uncertainty about that wealth outcome, for thousands of potential glide paths. The VLCM does this
by combining two set of inputs: the asset class return projections from the VCMM and the average characteristics of the participant population. Along with the
optimal custom glide path, the VLCM generates a wide range of portfolio metrics such as a distribution of potential wealth accumulation outcomes, risk and
return distributions for the asset allocation, and probability of ruin, such as the odds of participants depleting their wealth by age 95.
The VLCM inherits the distributional forecasting framework of the VCMM and applies to it the calculation of wealth outcomes from any given portfolio. The most
impactful drivers of glide path changes within the VLCM tend to be risk aversion, the presence of a defined benefit plan, retirement age, savings rate, and
starting compensation. The VLCM chooses among glide paths by scoring them according to the utility function described and choosing the one with the highest
score. The VLCM does not optimize the levels of spending and contribution rates. Rather, the VLCM optimizes the glide path for a given customizable level of
spending, growth rate of contributions, and other plan sponsor characteristics.
A full dynamic stochastic life-cycle model, including optimization of a savings strategy and dynamic spending in retirement, is beyond the scope of this
framework.
For institutional use only. Not for distribution to retail investors.View entire presentation