Life-Cycle Funds in general are meant to give investors a "one decision" investment choice that is appropriate for their current age and evolves with them as they get older. The investor doesn't need to be concerned about changing their investment mix as they age, the Mutual Fund company does it for them. In recent years Lifecycle Funds have taken off in popularity and Fidelity is the largest sponsor of Life-Cycle Funds in the country. Specifically, Fidelity is both extending the "time frame" for each fund and changing the underlying investment mix to respond to people living longer. To address the impact of inflation, Fidelity will put more emphasis on equity investments and they are adding a new underlying fund called the Strategic Real Return Fund. The Strategic Real Return Fund will be somewhat unique in that in addition to investing in traditional stocks and bonds, they will also invest in inflation-protected bonds, floating-rate loans, commodity-linked notes, and real estate investments. In the past it has been somewhat difficult for the average investor to get access to the commodity and real estate markets. As usual, investors should consult with their Advisors and read the prospectus to determine if a particular investment and strategy is appropriate for their particular circumstances.