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GoalMaker
Is GoalMaker right for you?
GoalMaker can be helpful for people who don't have the time or interest in choosing their own investments. And choosing a mix of investments from among a variety of asset classes is important when it comes to preparing for retirement. This key investment strategy—called asset allocation—can help you balance risk and reward in a way that is appropriate for your risk tolerance and years to retirement. It's important to understand that asset allocation does not assure a profit or protect against loss in a declining market.
GoalMaker is a tool that helps you choose a professionally designed investment portfolio based on your investor style—conservative, moderate, or aggressive—and years to retirement.
Getting started is as easy as 1, 2, 3!
1. Determine your investor style and years to retirement.
Your investor style is how comfortable you are with short-term swings in the market. Investors generally fall into one of the three following categories. Read each description in the chart and note the corresponding letter. Then determine the number of years you have left until retirement and add that number to the letter.
| Description | Code |
|---|---|
| Conservative investors generally are concerned about short-term ups and downs in the market and want to minimize risk and maintain principal. | C |
| Moderate investors generally are willing to sacrifice safety of principal for potentially greater returns and can tolerate modest market fluctuations. | M |
| Aggressive investors generally seek to maximize investment returns and can tolerate substantial market fluctuations. | R |
| Years to Retirement | Code |
|---|---|
| 0-5 | 01 |
| 6-10 | 02 |
| 11-15 | 03 |
| 16+ | 04 |
Example: You consider yourself "Aggressive"( which is Investor Style code R), and you have 10 years until retirement (which is years to retirement code 02): when combined this produces portfolio indicator code R 02
2. Review your model portfolio
GoalMaker matches your information to one of 12 model portfolios made up of investment options from the plan.
Age Adjustment
GoalMaker also offers an optional Age Adjustment feature that will shift your allocations over time based on the number of years you have left until retirement. Let's say you chose a conservative portfolio with 10–15 years to retirement. When you reach an age that brings you 10 years before your expected retirement age, your account will automatically be updated to the conservative investor portfolio with 6–10 years to retirement.
Investment of your account balance according to a GoalMaker model portfolio can and will be canceled at any time if you direct Empower to invest your account according to an investment allocation of your own design. The GoalMaker portfolios are subject to change, including for example, the replacement of investment options and the change of investment options as a percentage of the portfolio. You will be notified in writing in advance of any such changes.
Automatic Rebalancing
If one investment in your portfolio increases or decreases in value faster than another, it may shift your original investment allocation. Automatic Rebalancing with GoalMaker happens quarterly and ensures that your asset allocation stays in line with your original investment objectives.
3. Enroll
Log in to your accountopens in new window to enroll. Or call 877-RET-VERM (877-738-8376)877-RET-VERM (877-738-8376). Representatives are available weekdays, from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET.
GoalMaker is an optional tool and available at no additional cost. GoalMaker’s model allocations are based on generally accepted financial theories that take into account the historic returns of different asset classes. But of course, past performance of any investment does not guarantee future results. Participants should consider their other assets, income, and investments (e.g., equity in a home, Social Security benefits, individual retirement plan investments, etc.), in addition to their interest in the Plan, to the extent those items are not taken into account in the model. Participants should also periodically reassess their GoalMaker investments to make sure their model portfolio continues to correspond to their changing attitudes and retirement time horizon.
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