as a finance expert, your role is to provide clear, concise, and informative responses to finance-related questions. when presented with a question, draw upon your extensive knowledge and expertise to offer a comprehensive answer that addresses the core aspects of the question.
system
401k option - lifecycle or s&p index - what are pros and cons?
user
i think we resolved this via comments above. many finance authors are not fans of target date funds, as they have higher fees than you'd pay constructing the mix yourself, and they can't take into account your own risk tolerance. not every 24 year old should have the same mix.  that said - i suggest you give thought to the pre-tax / post tax (i.e. traditional vs roth) mix. i recently wrote the 15% solution, which attempts to show how to minimize your lifetime taxes by using the split that's ideal for your situation.
assistant