You’re staring at your 401(k) portal. It’s 11:00 PM on a Tuesday. There’s a massive list of options, but one name keeps popping up: Fidelity Freedom. It sounds patriotic. Secure. Like something a responsible adult should own.
But then you see the "Index" version. And the "Blend" version. Suddenly, that simple choice feels like a trap. Honestly, most people just pick the year closest to when they turn 65 and call it a day. They don’t realize that the "Fidelity target date funds list" actually covers three distinct families of funds that behave very differently under the hood.
Choosing the wrong one could mean paying five times more in fees or missing out on the exact market exposure you thought you were getting.
The Three Flavors of Fidelity Target Date Funds
Fidelity doesn't just have one list. They have three. Think of them like coffee: you've got the expensive artisan brew (Active), the budget-friendly black coffee (Index), and the middle-of-the-road latte (Blend).
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1. The Active Series (Fidelity Freedom Funds)
This is the "classic" version. Managers like Andrew Dierdorf and Brett Sumsion aren't just following a script; they’re trying to beat the market. They use actively managed Fidelity series funds as the building blocks.
- The Ticker Catch: These usually have five-letter tickers ending in X (like FFFFX for 2040).
- The Cost: You’re looking at expense ratios around 0.75%.
2. The Index Series (Fidelity Freedom Index Funds)
If you're a fan of the Boglehead philosophy, this is your home. These funds don't try to be heroes. They just track indices. Because there’s no high-priced manager trying to outsmart the S&P 500, the cost is dirt cheap.
- The Ticker Catch: Tickers like FFIJX (2065) or FBIFX (2040).
- The Cost: Usually around 0.12%.
3. The Blend Series (Fidelity Freedom Blend Funds)
This is the hybrid. It’s basically a "best of both worlds" attempt. They mix active management with index funds to try and keep costs lower than the fully active version while still chasing a bit of "alpha."
- The Cost: Usually sits in the middle, around 0.47% to 0.59%.
The Master Fidelity Target Date Funds List (2026 Tickers)
Let’s get practical. You need to know which ticker belongs to which year. Here is the current landscape for the most common retirement horizons.
The 2070 Frontier
If you’re just starting your career in 2026, you’re looking at the 2070 funds.
- Active: FRBDX (Fidelity Freedom 2070)
- Index: FRBVX (Fidelity Freedom Index 2070)
- Blend: FRCLX (Fidelity Advisor Freedom Blend 2070 - often in 401ks)
The 2065 Horizon
- Active: FFSFX
- Index: FFIJX
- Blend: FFBSX
The 2050 Target (The "Peak Career" Group)
- Active: FFFPX
- Index: FIPFX
- Blend: FHAOX
The 2030 Group (Approaching the Finish Line)
- Active: FFFGX
- Index: FXIFX
- Blend: FHASX
The "Already Retired" Option
If you've already hit your date, Fidelity moves you into the "Income" or "Retirement" version of these funds. For example, FIKFX is the Index Retirement fund. It’s designed for stability, not aggressive growth.
Why the "Index" Version is Usually the Winner
I’ll be blunt. For the average person, the Index series is the smarter play.
Why? Because fees are the only thing you can actually control. Over a 30-year career, the difference between a 0.75% fee and a 0.12% fee is tens of thousands of dollars. That’s a lot of vacations or a much nicer nursing home.
Also, active managers often fail to beat the index after you account for their higher fees. It’s a mathematical uphill battle. In 2025, we saw many active target date funds struggle to keep pace with the raw U.S. total market index because they were "over-diversified" into laggard sectors.
The Secret "Glide Path" Factor
Every target date fund has a "glide path." This is just fancy talk for how the fund shifts from stocks to bonds as you get older.
Fidelity is known for having a "through" retirement glide path. This means they don't stop getting more conservative the day you retire. They keep shifting the mix for another 10 to 19 years after your target date.
Current 2026 Strategy Note: As of late 2025 and heading into early 2027, Fidelity has been refining these allocations. They’ve actually increased equity exposure slightly for early-career investors to combat the long-term effects of inflation. If you’re in a 2065 or 2070 fund, expect to be nearly 90% in equities.
Common Misconceptions That Kill Returns
"I should buy multiple years to diversify."
No. Don't do this. It’s redundant. A target date fund is already a "fund of funds." If you buy the 2045 and the 2050, you’re basically just buying the same 20 underlying Fidelity funds in slightly different ratios. Pick one and stick to it.
"The date is a hard deadline."
You don't have to sell everything the day the calendar hits 2045. The fund just becomes more conservative. You can stay in it forever if the risk profile matches your needs.
"Fidelity funds only hold Fidelity stocks."
Sorta true. They are "Proprietary" funds. This means the 2050 Index fund holds the Fidelity Series Total Market Index Fund, not the Vanguard equivalent. This isn't necessarily bad, but it means you're tied to Fidelity’s internal management quality across the board.
Actionable Steps for Your Portfolio
- Check your Expense Ratio: Log into your account right now. If you see a number higher than 0.50% and you're in a target date fund, you're likely in the "Active" version.
- Look for the word "Index": If your 401(k) offers it, see if you can swap your current Freedom fund for the "Freedom Index" version. It’s often a one-click move that saves you a fortune over time.
- Match your Risk, not just your Age: If you plan to work until you’re 70, but you’re healthy and have a pension, you might actually want the 2055 fund instead of the 2050 to keep a higher stock allocation for longer.
- Audit the "Income" Fund: If you are already retired, ensure you aren't too conservative. Inflation in 2026 is still a sneaky thief. Sometimes the "Retirement Income" funds get too heavy into cash, which doesn't grow fast enough to keep up with rising grocery bills.
The Fidelity target date funds list is a tool, not a set-it-and-forget-it miracle. A quick 10-minute audit of your tickers today can drastically change the math of your retirement tomorrow.