Investing term

What is Glide path?

A planned shift in allocation over time — typically moving from stocks toward bonds as retirement approaches.

A glide path is a planned, gradual shift in your asset mix over time — typically moving from mostly stocks toward more bonds as a goal like retirement approaches. It automatically dials down risk as your time horizon shortens, so a market crash near your goal does less damage. Target-date funds follow a built-in glide path on your behalf.

For example

A glide path might hold 90% stocks at age 30, drift to 60% by 55, and reach 40% at retirement — de-risking as the finish line nears.

Glide path is taught hands-on in Stage 3Know Yourself: Risk Tolerance & Time Horizons.

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