A piece posted on MarketWatch, entitled, "In a volatile market, retirement investors may find this type of bond fund appealing,: touts the benefits of stable value funds. Written by ICMA RC'​s Karen Chong-​Wulff, it says, "Capital preservation is a priority for many retirement investors, especially those who are in retirement or are nearing the end of their working years. Investors who experienced the sharp market downturn in 2008 may be particularly wary of market turbulence and may seek alternatives designed to protect their portfolios from losses. However, capital preservation cannot be guaranteed. Investors who are attracted to the stock market know that stock indexes have climbed to historic records, leaving plenty of possibilities for declines. Investors also have reason to question the relative '​stability' of bonds as they construct their portfolios, since there are known risks there, too.... Both stable value funds and comparable-​quality bond funds are generally backed by higher quality, investment-​grade bonds. But what about the impact of interest rates on comparable-​quality bond and stable value funds? `​Stable value funds can be an investment option for risk-​averse, income-​oriented investors. Although the bonds that underlie stable value funds may fluctuate in value, these funds offer capital preservation in rising-​rate markets, along with income, which is usually higher than money market yields. And, as rates rise gradually, so does the income that stable value funds generate." The piece adds, "​Because they provide capital preservation and generate relatively attractive yields, stable value funds can provide a sound, conservative core for a retirement portfolio. However, not all stable value funds are created equal. In addition to interest rate risk, liquidity and credit risks should also be considered."

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