The firm expects that the funds-of-funds, which will overcome the traditional obstacles of ETF structures in 401(k)s, will catch on in the plans, said a spokeswoman. Barclays is also willing to promote the funds over a period of years until they catch on.
The retirement market does not move quickly. It took target-date funds 10 years to catch on, she said.
Barclays is not the first to market with target-date or target-risk ETFs.