Consider it a mantra for evaluating the overall benefits of target-date funds: consider the outcomes, not the averages.

Speaking at this week's Center for Due Diligence conference, PIMCO's Sean Murray, senior vice president and national retirement sales manager, laid out some the newest strategies involved in analyzing the growth possibilities and costs of TDFs for retirement advisors – with a big emphasis on both shifting the emphasis to glide path construction and mitigating the fiduciary risk involved on the part of plan sponsors.

"With so much money going into TDFs, I think we can do a much better job of analysis," Murray said. "We need to focus the conversation on what matters most. Is it savings, QDIAs and fees, or should the focus be on fees, investments and savings? That savings rate is going to be much more important than fees."