American Funds is a mutual-fund family, not one investment. Whether a fund is a good fit depends on its objective, risk, share class, costs and availability in your particular account or workplace plan. Compare the specific fund and share class you can buy—not the brand name alone—and review its current prospectus and plan materials before deciding.
What are American Funds?
American Funds is a mutual-fund family associated with Capital Group. Its offerings include growth funds and target-date retirement funds, among other fund types. Each fund has its own investment objective, holdings, risks and expenses, so a conclusion about one fund cannot automatically be applied to the entire family.
Availability also varies: a fund or share class may not be offered through every workplace plan or account. Check your enrollment materials or account to see which specific investments are available.
Are American Funds a good choice?
There is no single answer for the whole fund family. A fund may merit consideration if its objective and asset mix suit your needs, its costs are competitive for the share class available to you, and its risks fit your circumstances. The evidence here does not establish one American Funds option as best for every investor.
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Compare each candidate with an appropriate benchmark and peer group, using the same share class or account context wherever possible. Consider the investment approach, risk and volatility alongside fees and dated performance; a return figure alone does not establish suitability.
What do American Funds cost?
Start with the annual expense ratio for the exact fund and share class. Expenses differ across both funds and share classes. Capital Group says R-6 shares do not include recordkeeping payments, while share classes that include those payments have higher expenses and lower results. Other charges may apply depending on the fund, share class and plan, so check the relevant prospectus and plan materials for current details.
One fund-specific illustration: Capital Group’s page for the American Funds 2045 Target Date Retirement Fund R-6 lists a 0.37% gross and 0.37% net expense ratio, based on the most recent prospectus data surfaced on the fund page reviewed in 2026. This is an example for that fund and share class, not a fee estimate for the family as a whole. The fund page also provides expense information for underlying funds where applicable.
How should you assess past performance?
Use performance figures only when the fund, share class, measurement period and as-of date match your comparison. Capital Group publishes historical prices and returns, but those figures change over time. Its performance page displayed daily prices as of October 6, 2026, and month-end returns as of September 30, 2026; check the page for updated figures before comparing investments.
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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsPast performance is not a forecast. Capital Group cautions, “Figures shown are past results and are not predictive of results in future periods.” The page also warns that investment results vary and investors may lose money. Do not treat a strong historical return as a promise or compare funds using mismatched periods.
How do American Funds target-date funds work?
Target-date funds are designed to change their investment mix over time. Capital Group describes their objectives as pursuing growth, income and conservation of capital in varying degrees depending on how near the target date is. The target year is not a guarantee of a particular outcome or a personalized recommendation.
Example: the 2040 fund
For the American Funds 2040 Target Date Retirement Fund R-6, Capital Group says the fund increasingly emphasizes fixed-income, equity-income and balanced funds as it approaches and passes its target date. Its page lists a prospectus date of January 1, 2026. Compare this stated approach with the target-date fund available to you, including its target year and glide path, rather than assuming funds with similar dates invest identically.
Example: the 2045 fund
The 2045 Target Date Retirement Fund R-6 provides a fund-specific expense example above. To compare it with another target-date option, check both funds’ objectives, asset mixes, glide paths, expense ratios and returns for identical periods and share classes where possible.
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Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →A practical checklist for comparing funds
- Confirm access. Find the funds and share classes actually offered in your account or workplace plan.
- Read the objective and holdings. Check what the fund invests in and whether its asset mix matches your intended role in your portfolio.
- Check the share class and costs. Compare the published expense ratio for the exact class, then review the current prospectus and plan materials for other applicable charges.
- Compare performance on equal terms. Use the same measurement periods and as-of dates, and account for differences in share class and fees.
- Assess risk and fit. Consider volatility, benchmark and peer group as well as historical returns. For a target-date fund, examine the target year and glide path.
Where to verify current information
Use Capital Group’s prices and returns page for R-6 shares to check published prices, returns and performance disclosures. The fund pages for the 2040 Target Date Retirement Fund R-6 and 2045 Target Date Retirement Fund R-6 provide fund-specific information. Confirm that the investment and share class are available to you, and consult the current prospectus and your plan materials for applicable fees and terms.
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
