Target date funds will soon be put under the spotlight by the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The SEC has announced it is accepting requests from those who wish to testify at a hearing on target date funds scheduled for June 18 at U.S. Department of Labor headquarters in Washington D.C.

The hearing, according to the SEC, will focus on how target date fund managers determine asset allocation, how they select underlying investments, how risks are disclosed to investors and the approaches used to compare and evaluate target date funds.

"Target date funds are an increasingly popular investment for Americans focused on retirement planning," SEC Chairman Mary Schapiro said in a written statement. "If there's any confusion or misunderstanding caused by these funds, then we need to clear that up."

Those who wish to testify are being asked to submit a written request, with an outline of topics they wish to discuss.

The requests can be sent via e-mail to [email protected] or online at the SEC's Web site, at www.sec.gov.