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Dimensional provides a wide array of investment solutions for defined contribution plans, including asset class and target risk strategies. We manage over $17 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.

DC Annual Conference    Zvi Bodie Educational Series
Annual Conference Videos
Watch, download, or share video presentations from our recent annual conference.
DC Dimensions
Explore a range of topics and issues of interest to the defined contribution industry.
In the News
Research & White Papers
Resources
Annual Conference Videos
Panel Discussion hosted by Tim Kohn - Next Generation Retirement Solutions
Tim Kohn, head of Defined Contribution at Dimensional, talks to three industry experts—David Booth, Bill Bradley, and Nobel laureate Robert C. Merton—about Dimensional's unique research-driven approach to next generation retirement solutions.
David Booth - Key Decisions in Dimensional's History
David Booth highlights a number of key enhancements implemented over Dimensional's thirty-year history that laid the groundwork for the firm's push into the defined contribution market.
Robert C. Merton - Next Generation Retirement Planning
Dimensional Resident Scientist Robert C. Merton, the DC conference's keynote speaker, outlines how and why Dimensional's Managed DC solution represents a revolutionary advance in the DC market.
Bill Bradley - Key Issues Facing America's Retirees and How We Can Improve Outcomes
Former US senator and best-selling author Bill Bradley talks about the challenges facing Americans planning for retirement and underscores how Dimensional's Managed DC can play a helpful role.
Zvi Bodie - Default Investing: How Glidepaths Can Lead to a Crash Landing
Boston University professor and DC expert Zvi Bodie explains what's wrong with the current generation of target-date funds.
David Wray - The Evolving Employer-Employee Retirement Partnership
David Wray, president of the Profit Sharing/401k Council of America, discusses the increasing health of the DC system, especially after the stress test of 2008, and the importance of new ideas being introduced to the industry.
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DC Dimensions
Global Retirement Plan Innovation
By Cuatro Tolson
Malcolm Delahaye, a director of SuperTrust UK, describes how defined contribution plans around the globe are shifting their focus from savings to generating better outcomes for participants.
Managing Fiduciary Responsibility
By Ian Kopelman
Retaining an investment advisor can help retirement plan fiduciaries fulfill their responsibilities under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA).
From My Corner: Stephen Horan
By Todd Erskine
CFA Institute's Stephen Horan speaks out on the need for DC plans to address the life balance sheet concept, human capital, longevity risk, and more.
Mutual Opportunities in Developing Advisor/TPA Partnerships
By Apollo Lupescu
Building strong partnerships with third-party administrators can benefit both advisors engaged in 401(k) business and TPA firms.
Insightful Lessons from Around the World
By Tim Kohn
Global pension expert David Knox, PhD, author of the Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index, rates the world's best and worst retirement plans.
The Current State of Next Generation Plan Design
By Tim Kohn
Zvi Bodie, PhD, professor of finance and economics at Boston University School of Management, discusses the challenges facing today's retirement plan sponsors.
Spotlight on Dimensional's Global Funds
By Steve Clark and Craig Horvath
For retirement plan sponsors who have decided to use a balanced fund as a plan's qualified default investment alternative, certain Dimensional global portfolios may be the right choice....
Next Generation Retirement Planning
By Robert C. Merton
We interviewed Nobel laureate Robert C. Merton to get his perspective on the retirement industry and to learn more about the financial science that has gone into Dimensional's managed DC solution.
From My Corner
By Aaron Borders
PSCA president David Wray speaks out on legislation, oversight, and the employer's changing role.
The Best Defense is a Good Offense
By Ian Kopelman
Plan sponsors can minimize fiduciary liability with adequate fiduciary education and certification.
Unsafe At Any Speed?
By Zvi Bodie, Richard K. Fullmer, and Jonathan Treussard
Given the poor performance of target date funds in 2008 and early 2009, it is not surprising that their suitability as a "safe harbor" QDIA is under review.
Ways to Improve the Defined Contribution Participant Experience
By Warren Cormier
New research from Dimensional and the Boston Research Group examining the behaviors, attitudes, and investment trends of plan participants.
New Fiduciary Considerations in a Changing Environment
By Apollo D. Lupescu
The three steps advisors should be taking ahead of several important, regulatory changes on the horizon.
DC Turnkey Solutions Benefit Advisors and Plan Sponsors
By Apollo D. Lupescu
How TAMPs can help advisors build a successful retirement plan business.
Dimensional Managed DC
By Robert Brazier
An introduction to Dimensional Retirement's Managed DC solution.
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In the News
Target an Inflation-Proof Stream of Income for Retirement
Morningstar
Date: August 2011
2011-08-10
A video in which Nobel laureate Robert Merton discusses why investors should worry about income, not total wealth, when assessing their retirement needs.
Why Annuities Often Make Sense
Morningstar
Date: August 2011
2011-08-10
A video in which Nobel laureate Robert Merton explains why annuities will be a key component of most people's retirement strategy by allowing retirees to pull extra income out of a nest egg.
Investors Need to Focus on Meaningful Decisions
Morningstar
Date: August 2011
2011-08-10
A video in which Nobel laureate Robert Merton talks about why investors should worry about big-picture items, such as how long they want to work, and leave the details to professionals.
DC Plan Innovation
Pensions & Investments
Date: July 2011
2011-07-15
A video in which David Booth discusses defined contribution plan innovations with P&I editorial page editor Barry Burr.
DC Plan Shortcomings
Pensions & Investments
Date: July 2011
2011-07-15
A video in which Senator Bill Bradley discusses the shortcomings of defined contribution plans.
The 401(k) Today
Morningstar
Date: July 2011
2011-07-15
A video in which David Wray discusses the latest trends in the 401(k) marketplace.
What's New Under the Hood of 401(k) Plans?
Morningstar
Date: July 2011
2011-07-15
A video in which David Wray addresses "open architecture" in 401(k) plans.
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Research & White Papers
Rational Pensions for Irrational People: Behavioral Science Lessons for the Netherlands
By Zvi Bodie and Henriette Prast
This paper examines some of the main behavioral patterns that determine personal saving, investment, and retirement decisions, and considers ways to move them in a socially desirable direction. Empirical evidence from other countries is considered in light of proposed changes to the system in the Netherlands.
How to Improve the Experience of Defined Contribution Participants
By Tim Kohn and Warren Cormier
DC participants may be able to create a better retirement by taking advantage of a new set of products focused on an appropriate income replacement rate and strategies based on "income outcomes" as opposed to "lump sum outcomes."
Rebalancing and Returns
By 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.
Model Risk in Retirement Simulations: A sensitivity analysis
By 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.
Efficient frontier constructed with historical data can be misleading
By James L. 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.
Improving Expected Returns in US Small Caps
By 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.
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Resources
The Risk Dimensions Delivered
Long-term outperformance of small and value stocks.
Low Fees Add Value
Portfolio expense ratios vs. respective Morningstar categories.
Fund Use Guidelines
Fund Use Guidelines for defined contribution plans.
Annual Defined Contribution Conference
Leading Thinkers. Leading Edge Solutions. Wednesday, July 13, 2011 at the Chicago Booth Gleacher Center Keynote speaker: Robert C. Merton Distinguished Professor of Finance, MIT Sloan School of Management Gleacher Center, Room 100, 450 North Cityfront Plaza Drive, Chicago, Illinois...
DC Dimensions
A semiannual magazine written for DC professionals by DC professionals helping you stay in front of the changes affecting our industry.

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Contact Us
Tim Kohn
Head of DC
(512) 306-4936
tim.kohn@dimensional.com

Aaron Borders
(512) 306-7433
aaron.borders@dimensional.com

Todd Erskine, CFA
(512) 306-7643
todd.erskine@dimensional.com

John B. Lessley
(310) 917-1443
john.lessley@dimensional.com


If you are an investment advisor, please contact:

Ashish Shrestha
(310) 656-4211
ashish.shrestha@dimensional.com


Visit the Dimensional Managed DC website for information about a personalized, risk-managed pension solution.
 
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