TTFIX vs. MLLIX
TTFIX (TIAA-CREF Lifecycle 2045 Fund) and MLLIX (MFS Lifetime Income Fund) are both Target Retirement Date funds. Over the past 10 years, TTFIX returned 10.58%/yr vs 4.87%/yr for MLLIX. Their correlation of 0.83 means they have usually moved in the same direction. TTFIX charges 0.23%/yr vs 0.00%/yr for MLLIX.
Performance
TTFIX vs. MLLIX - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, TTFIX achieves a 7.66% return, which is significantly higher than MLLIX's 3.48% return. Over the past 10 years, TTFIX has outperformed MLLIX with an annualized return of 10.58%, while MLLIX has yielded a comparatively lower 4.87% annualized return.
TTFIX
- 1D
- 2.03%
- 1M
- -0.36%
- 6M
- 5.13%
- YTD
- 7.66%
- 1Y
- 17.94%
- 3Y*
- 14.33%
- 5Y*
- 8.01%
- 10Y*
- 10.58%
- ALL TIME*
- 7.46%
MLLIX
- 1D
- 0.32%
- 1M
- -0.32%
- 6M
- 2.18%
- YTD
- 3.48%
- 1Y
- 7.47%
- 3Y*
- 7.16%
- 5Y*
- 3.05%
- 10Y*
- 4.87%
- ALL TIME*
- 5.07%
Liquidity Comparison
| Position | Avg. Volume Value (2W) | Avg. Volume Value (1M) | Avg. Volume Value (3M) |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | |
| $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 |
TTFIX vs. MLLIX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
TTFIX TIAA-CREF Lifecycle 2045 Fund | 7.66% | 18.19% | 13.81% | 19.47% | -17.38% | 15.83% | 17.29% | 25.88% | -9.67% | 20.10% |
MLLIX MFS Lifetime Income Fund | 3.48% | 9.32% | 5.62% | 9.12% | -11.99% | 6.63% | 10.06% | 13.91% | -2.37% | 8.24% |
Correlation
The correlation between TTFIX and MLLIX is 0.82, meaning they have usually moved in the same direction, including during past declines.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Focuses on recent behavior, but can change the most. | 0.82 |
Correlation (3Y) Balances recent behavior with more history. | 0.78 |
Correlation (5Y) Shows whether the relationship held over a longer period. | 0.80 |
Correlation (10Y) Provides a long-term view across more market conditions. | 0.80 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Dec 3, 2007 | 0.83 |
The correlation between TTFIX and MLLIX has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.78 to 0.83 - a consistent structural relationship.
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Return for Risk
TTFIX vs. MLLIX — Risk / Return Rank
TTFIX
MLLIX
TTFIX vs. MLLIX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for TIAA-CREF Lifecycle 2045 Fund (TTFIX) and MFS Lifetime Income Fund (MLLIX). Risk-adjusted metrics are performance indicators that assess an investment's returns in relation to its risk, enabling a more accurate comparison of different investment options.
Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.
| TTFIX | MLLIX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.33 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -0.56 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.25 | 1.31 | -0.07 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.86 | 1.97 | -0.11 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 7.83 | 8.67 | -0.84 |
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Drawdowns
TTFIX vs. MLLIX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum TTFIX drawdown since its inception was -53.24%, which is greater than MLLIX's maximum drawdown of -17.32%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for TTFIX and MLLIX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| TTFIX | MLLIX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -53.24% | -17.32% | -35.92% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -8.84% | -3.86% | -4.98% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -14.79% | -4.93% | -9.86% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -25.25% | -16.08% | -9.17% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -32.21% | -16.08% | -16.13% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -1.37% | -0.64% | -0.73% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -8.18% | -2.14% | -6.04% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 2.10% | 0.88% | +1.22% |
Volatility
TTFIX vs. MLLIX - Volatility Comparison
TIAA-CREF Lifecycle 2045 Fund (TTFIX) has a higher volatility of 3.65% compared to MFS Lifetime Income Fund (MLLIX) at 1.06%. This indicates that TTFIX's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than MLLIX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| TTFIX | MLLIX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 3.65% | 1.06% | +2.59% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 10.02% | 3.66% | +6.36% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 12.14% | 4.51% | +7.63% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 14.22% | 5.95% | +8.27% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 15.51% | 5.71% | +9.80% |
TTFIX vs. MLLIX - Expense Ratio Comparison
TTFIX has a 0.23% expense ratio, which is higher than MLLIX's 0.00% expense ratio. However, both funds are considered low-cost compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios usually range from 0.3% to 0.9%.
Dividends
TTFIX vs. MLLIX - Dividend Comparison
TTFIX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 7.26%, less than MLLIX's 7.43% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
MLLIX MFS Lifetime Income Fund | 7.43% | 6.01% | 6.26% | 3.70% | 3.92% | 6.12% | 3.18% | 3.80% | 4.20% | 3.56% | 4.21% | 2.51% |
TTFIX TIAA-CREF Lifecycle 2045 Fund | 7.26% | 7.82% | 3.97% | 2.13% | 9.04% | 12.44% | 7.49% | 5.70% | 5.45% | 0.84% | 4.01% | 3.66% |
Frequently Asked Questions
TTFIX and MLLIX have a correlation of 0.82, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
TTFIX has higher volatility (3.65%) compared to MLLIX (1.06%). In terms of maximum drawdown, TTFIX dropped -53.24% vs MLLIX's -17.32%.
MLLIX currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.69 vs 1.36), meaning it's delivered slightly more return per unit of risk over the trailing 12 months. However, this ranking shifts over time - use the Risk/Return Score above for a more comprehensive view that combines Sharpe, Sortino, and other measures used by quantitative funds.
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