--- title: The Independent Market Observer | Outlook. Opinion. Insight. | Michael Geraci, MSF, CRPC®, CRPS®, CPFA, AIF®, CIMA® description: Michael Geraci is senior product manager, retirement consulting investment services. With Commonwealth since 2014, he manages the firm's retirement plan investment recommended list and performs due diligence and manager selection for the PlanAssist Investment Management program. Michael has an MS in finance from Brandeis University, as well as a certificate in executive leadership from Vanderbilt University’s Owen Graduate School of Management. He holds FINRA Series 6, 7, and 63 securities registrations; the MSF, CRPC®, CRPS®, CPFA, AIF®, and CIMA® designations; and a Massachusetts life and variable insurance license. --- [![The Independent Market Observer](https://blog.commonwealth.com/hubfs/IMO-Title-1.png "The Independent Market Observer")](https://blog.commonwealth.com/independent-market-observer) [![Commonwealth Financial Network](https://blog.commonwealth.com/hubfs/lockup_citron-1.png "Commonwealth Financial Network")](https://www.commonwealth.com/) - [Home](https://blog.commonwealth.com/independent-market-observer) - [About](https://learn.commonwealth.com/about/) ## Michael Geraci, MSF, CRPC®, CRPS®, CPFA, AIF®, CIMA® ![](https://blog.commonwealth.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Michael_Geraci.jpg?width=100&name=Michael_Geraci.jpg) Michael Geraci is senior product manager, retirement consulting investment services. With Commonwealth since 2014, he manages the firm's retirement plan investment recommended list and performs due diligence and manager selection for the PlanAssist Investment Management program. Michael has an MS in finance from Brandeis University, as well as a certificate in executive leadership from Vanderbilt University’s Owen Graduate School of Management. He holds FINRA Series 6, 7, and 63 securities registrations; the MSF, CRPC®, CRPS®, CPFA, AIF®, and CIMA® designations; and a Massachusetts life and variable insurance license. ### Recent Posts [![](https://blog.commonwealth.com/hubfs/Rebrand-Blog-Images/IMO-images/Monthly-Risk/monthly-update-b.jpg)](https://blog.commonwealth.com/independent-market-observer/target-date-funds-whats-under-the-hood) ## [Target-Date Funds: What’s Under the Hood?](https://blog.commonwealth.com/independent-market-observer/target-date-funds-whats-under-the-hood) December 28, 2021 Target-date funds are a class of mutual fund or exchange-traded fund designed to accumulate assets to meet an investor’s needs at a future date—the “target date.” Typically, a target-date fund holds a diversified portfolio of stocks and bonds. As the fund approaches and passes the designated retirement date, it is periodically rebalanced to be less focused on accumulation and more focused on income preservation.  [Continue reading →](https://blog.commonwealth.com/independent-market-observer/target-date-funds-whats-under-the-hood) [Leave a comment](https://blog.commonwealth.com/independent-market-observer/target-date-funds-whats-under-the-hood#comments-listing) [![](https://blog.commonwealth.com/hubfs/Rebrand-Blog-Images/IMO-images/Stock-Markets/stock-market-d.jpg)](https://blog.commonwealth.com/independent-market-observer/whats-trending-in-target-date-funds) ## [What’s Trending in Target-Date Funds?](https://blog.commonwealth.com/independent-market-observer/whats-trending-in-target-date-funds) April 21, 2021 *Today's post is from Michael Geraci, supervisor, retirement consulting investment services.* Last year was a challenging one for the financial markets, resulting in volatility for most investment products. In fact, the coronavirus pandemic presented the biggest test for most asset allocation products since the 2008 financial crisis. 401(k) investments were no exception, specifically target-date funds. [Continue reading →](https://blog.commonwealth.com/independent-market-observer/whats-trending-in-target-date-funds) [Leave a comment](https://blog.commonwealth.com/independent-market-observer/whats-trending-in-target-date-funds#comments-listing) [![](https://blog.commonwealth.com/hubfs/Brad_Images_IMO_Blog/2019/stock-mobile.jpg)](https://blog.commonwealth.com/independent-market-observer/does-the-stable-value-fund-make-sense-for-401k-investors) ## [Does the Stable Value Fund Make Sense for 401(k) Investors?](https://blog.commonwealth.com/independent-market-observer/does-the-stable-value-fund-make-sense-for-401k-investors) August 5, 2020 *Brad here. Today's post on why the stable value fund is becoming a more common investment option in retirement plan menus comes from Michael Geraci of Commonwealth's Retirement Consulting Services team. Take it away, Michael.*  In today’s uncertain economic environment, interest rates have declined, and the Fed has expressed its commitment to keeping them low. This environment has put pressure on money market funds yielding close to 0.1 percent, which has affected those retirement plan participants seeking preservation of capital. Many of these same participants are close to retirement and cannot afford to lose a significant portion of their retirement portfolios, but they’re also seeking returns to keep pace with inflation. [Continue reading →](https://blog.commonwealth.com/independent-market-observer/does-the-stable-value-fund-make-sense-for-401k-investors) [Leave a comment](https://blog.commonwealth.com/independent-market-observer/does-the-stable-value-fund-make-sense-for-401k-investors#comments-listing) [![](https://blog.commonwealth.com/hubfs/Brad_Images_IMO_Blog/2019/news-tablet.jpg)](https://blog.commonwealth.com/independent-market-observer/the-target-date-fund-a-one-stop-shopping-401k-investment) ## [The Target-Date Fund: A One-Stop Shopping 401(k) Investment](https://blog.commonwealth.com/independent-market-observer/the-target-date-fund-a-one-stop-shopping-401k-investment) August 22, 2019 *Brad here. Today's post was written by Michael Geraci, a supervisor on our Retirement Consulting Investment Services team. Take it away, Michael.*  Evaluating your 401(k) plan can be a brutal and daunting process. It may leave you with many questions about the investments available to you and how to best manage your account. It may even deter some from participating in the plan altogether. Fortunately, there are ways to help simplify the process. The first step? Understanding one of the most commonly used investment options within 401(k) plans: the target-date fund, or TDF. [Continue reading →](https://blog.commonwealth.com/independent-market-observer/the-target-date-fund-a-one-stop-shopping-401k-investment) [Leave a comment](https://blog.commonwealth.com/independent-market-observer/the-target-date-fund-a-one-stop-shopping-401k-investment#comments-listing) ### Subscribe via Email ![TMO\_IMO\_615x408\_sidebar](https://blog.commonwealth.com/hs-fs/hubfs/TMO_IMO_615x408_sidebar.png?width=1033&height=686&name=TMO_IMO_615x408_sidebar.png "TMO_IMO_615x408_sidebar") [Episode 20](https://vimeo.com/1201911815/0f4f028be9?share=copy&fl=sv&fe=ci) June 17, 2026 [Episode 19](https://vimeo.com/1191658257/1b43ce84dd?share=copy&fl=sv&fe=ci) May 13, 2026 [Episode 18](https://vimeo.com/1183174918/e227cf7d80?share=copy&fl=sv&fe=ci) April 15, 2026 [Episode 17](https://vimeo.com/1174554734/636f0f7aba?share=copy&fl=sv&fe=ci) March 18, 2026 [Episode 16](https://vimeo.com/1163757312/bc2f802d74?share=copy&fl=sv&fe=ci) February 11, 2026 [More](https://learn.commonwealth.com/monthly-media-placements) [![Insights\_CTA\_IMO\_233x400-1](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/295024/interactive-187935228457.png)](https://blog.commonwealth.com/hs/cta/wi/redirect?encryptedPayload=AVxigLK7wbwax1vj6bDhwkDBE%2BYov1e1RxqNRyQVGIfhczkVwYs9jfJf1gwFYrW3rbvbzsw2Ry6m5RyO2TSlH4UqKGJmw8tA2fSsKPRBrb4fDQFVVeqPTekh%2Be9ki3SxV49TI%2FcwvM%2Fe9m8KhdMDAX1kHoMRA9xELoPoHN%2FzDgyvbUsdJG67ok1XC7EnlaPJpNCpPS4SfecRDHpp2eM%3D&webInteractiveContentId=187935228457&portalId=295024) ### Hot Topics Select Category Ask Brad Commentary Economic Risk Factor Updates Economics Lessons Market Thoughts Videos In the News Investing Market Updates On My Bookshelf Politics and the Economy [![New Call-to-action](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/295024/5f46d9ce-4d40-495c-a126-d4502b647bbf.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/295024/5f46d9ce-4d40-495c-a126-d4502b647bbf) ### Archives - 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