How do I know if a target-date fund matches my actual risk tolerance?

A target-date fund picks its stock-bond mix based purely on your expected retirement year, not on how you personally feel about risk, so the default may be too aggressive or too conservative for you. To check, look up the fund's current asset allocation, its glide path showing how it shifts over time, and its stock percentage at your target year. If a 2050 fund holds 90 percent stocks and that would make you panic in a downturn, you're mismatched. One trick is to choose a fund with an earlier or later target date to dial risk down or up, for example picking a 2045 fund if the 2055 feels too aggressive. Take the Investor Profile assessment at wealthserene.com/assessments/investor-profile to gauge your true risk tolerance, then compare it to the fund's glide path.