Dimensional provides a wide array of investment solutions for defined contribution plans, including asset class funds and target risk funds. We manage over $10 billion in defined contribution assets.
We believe investment options in defined contribution plans should be broadly diversified, carry low fees, and follow a long-term investment orientation consistent with retirement plan investing. Dimensional is particularly well positioned to serve a defined contribution market focused on helping participants invest in appropriately managed asset allocation portfolios.
This page and its attachments are for the exclusive use of institutional investors.
For access to additional resources register for access to our secure site.
Articles and white papers are distributed by Dimensional Fund Advisors, a SEC registered Investment Advisor.
Denver, CO
Atlanta, GA
Chicago, IL
Boston, MA
Kansas City, MO
Charlotte, NC
We believe investment options in defined contribution plans should be broadly diversified, carry low fees, and follow a long-term investment orientation consistent with retirement plan investing. Dimensional is particularly well positioned to serve a defined contribution market focused on helping participants invest in appropriately managed asset allocation portfolios.
This page and its attachments are for the exclusive use of institutional investors.
For access to additional resources register for access to our secure site.
Articles and white papers are distributed by Dimensional Fund Advisors, a SEC registered Investment Advisor.
DC Services Presentations
DC Services Brochure
Bringing the Science of Investing to Defined Contribution Plans.
Bringing the Science of Investing to Defined Contribution Plans.
Dimensional Defined Contribution Services
Overview of Dimensional's DC Services.
Overview of Dimensional's DC Services.
Fund Use Guidelines
Fund Use Guidelines for defined contribution plans.
Fund Use Guidelines for defined contribution plans.
Low Fees Add Value
Portfolio expense ratios vs. respective Morningstar categories.
Portfolio expense ratios vs. respective Morningstar categories.
The Risk Dimensions Deliver
Long-term outperformance of small and value stocks.
Long-term outperformance of small and value stocks.
Research & White Papers
Improving Expected Returns in US Small Caps - Greg Headley
A subset of US small cap growth stocks consistently underperforms the small cap universe. Dimensional has begun to exclude these extreme poor performers from buy eligibility and sell them opportunistically. Markets outside the US are being studied to find out if similar steps are warranted.
A subset of US small cap growth stocks consistently underperforms the small cap universe. Dimensional has begun to exclude these extreme poor performers from buy eligibility and sell them opportunistically. Markets outside the US are being studied to find out if similar steps are warranted.
Flight to Quality - Marlena Lee
This presentation offers a narrative of Marlena Lee's study of historical US market downturns from 1926 to 2008 (through October). The study attempts to simulate what happens to an investor who gets anxious about market performance at various downturn levels and takes a "flight to quality." The presentation offers evidence that investors who take a flight to quality run the risk of selling low and buying higher.
This presentation offers a narrative of Marlena Lee's study of historical US market downturns from 1926 to 2008 (through October). The study attempts to simulate what happens to an investor who gets anxious about market performance at various downturn levels and takes a "flight to quality." The presentation offers evidence that investors who take a flight to quality run the risk of selling low and buying higher.
Market Anxiety
The decline in equity prices since the summer of 2007 has been accompanied by a sharp increase in volatility and cross-sectional dispersion. The high volatility and cross-sectional dispersion are a reflection of the prevailing market anxiety, which has also produced a pronounced flight to quality. Are volatility and cross-sectional dispersion likely to remain high in the near future? Do these variables have any predictive power for future returns? What is the relationship between volatility and cross-sectional dispersion, on the one hand, and contemporaneous and future returns, on the other? And what are the implications for investors of being in a period with high volatility and high cross-sectional dispersion?
The decline in equity prices since the summer of 2007 has been accompanied by a sharp increase in volatility and cross-sectional dispersion. The high volatility and cross-sectional dispersion are a reflection of the prevailing market anxiety, which has also produced a pronounced flight to quality. Are volatility and cross-sectional dispersion likely to remain high in the near future? Do these variables have any predictive power for future returns? What is the relationship between volatility and cross-sectional dispersion, on the one hand, and contemporaneous and future returns, on the other? And what are the implications for investors of being in a period with high volatility and high cross-sectional dispersion?
Efficient frontier constructed with historical data can be misleading - Jim Davis
Jim Davis illustrates the dangers of treating historical efficient frontiers as a reliable characterization of the risk/return tradeoff that is currently available to investors.
Jim Davis illustrates the dangers of treating historical efficient frontiers as a reliable characterization of the risk/return tradeoff that is currently available to investors.
Model Risk in Retirement Simulations: A sensitivity analysis - Marlena Lee
Despite the evidence of excess kurtosis, volatility clustering, and mean reversion in returns, most Monte Carlo simulations assume returns are independent and normally distributed.
Despite the evidence of excess kurtosis, volatility clustering, and mean reversion in returns, most Monte Carlo simulations assume returns are independent and normally distributed.
Rebalancing and Returns - Marlena Lee
Maintaining an asset allocation suitable to every investor's specific risk profile requires periodic rebalancing. Marlena Lee analyzes the benefits and limitations of several rebalancing strategies.
Maintaining an asset allocation suitable to every investor's specific risk profile requires periodic rebalancing. Marlena Lee analyzes the benefits and limitations of several rebalancing strategies.
DC Articles
Defined Contribution Plan Fees Deconstructed
Plan fiduciaries must understand and monitor DC plan costs to ensure they are reasonable. A comprehensive breakdown of explicit and implicit costs can lead to the selection of more prudent investment choices.
Plan fiduciaries must understand and monitor DC plan costs to ensure they are reasonable. A comprehensive breakdown of explicit and implicit costs can lead to the selection of more prudent investment choices.
Socially Responsible Investing
The growing embrace of socially responsible investments by institutions and plan sponsors is giving rise to a universe of investment choices broad enough to form a diversified asset allocation
The growing embrace of socially responsible investments by institutions and plan sponsors is giving rise to a universe of investment choices broad enough to form a diversified asset allocation
Defined Contribution Retirement Plan Investments & Target Maturity Fund Design
Eduardo Repetto, Dimensional's chief investment officer, discusses the choices facing future retirees and the firm's strategies that may be best suited to this audience.
Eduardo Repetto, Dimensional's chief investment officer, discusses the choices facing future retirees and the firm's strategies that may be best suited to this audience.
Events
Attendance is for institutional investors only. Please contact us if you would like to attendPast Events:
San Francisco, CADenver, CO
Atlanta, GA
Chicago, IL
Boston, MA
Kansas City, MO
Charlotte, NC
Future Events:
TBDDisclosures
Principal Risks
Investing in mutual funds carries many advantages over owning individual stocks. However, as with any type of investment it also carries various risks. No investment strategy can guarantee a profit or prevent against a loss. The following link provides an outline of the principal risk factors associated with investing in various Dimensional portfolios. Please consult the prospectus for more detailed explanations.
Investing in mutual funds carries many advantages over owning individual stocks. However, as with any type of investment it also carries various risks. No investment strategy can guarantee a profit or prevent against a loss. The following link provides an outline of the principal risk factors associated with investing in various Dimensional portfolios. Please consult the prospectus for more detailed explanations.
Indices Glossary
The following link provides information on index benchmarks used by Dimensional to measure the performance of its mutual funds.
The following link provides information on index benchmarks used by Dimensional to measure the performance of its mutual funds.
Contact Us
| Derrick Amey, CFA Santa Monica Aaron T. Borders Austin |
Todd Erskine, CFA Austin John B. Lessley Santa Monica |