Home 401(k) Resource Center
The 401(k) plan retirement system now holds $2.8 trillion in assets on behalf of more than 50 million active participants and millions of former employees and retirees. Savings rolled over from 401(k) and other employer plans also account for most of the $4.2 trillion held in individual retirement account assets. Despite the increased popularity of 401(k) plans, more must be done to help working Americans take the fullest possible advantage of the opportunity to save for retirement through these plans. Research shows that Americans will save more through defined contribution plans with proper incentives, services, and guidance. Better understanding of 401(k)s, through education and disclosure, will also boost participation.
Policymakers should also take steps to ensure that the number of workers covered by 401(k) plans continues to expand. That means encouraging more employers, small and large, to open 401(k) plans by making them as simple and accessible as possible.
This resource center provides the fund industry's perspective on developments that affect 401(k) plans and their investors. It includes ICI's research and analysis of the 401(k) plan market and participant activity, as well as our advocacy for cost-effective 401(k) planning tools, services, and disclosure.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Frequently Asked Questions About 401(k) Plans Mon Feb 11 00:00:00 EST 2013
- Frequently Asked Questions About 401(k) Participant Disclosure Fri Nov 30 00:00:00 EST 2012
- Frequently Asked Questions About Service Provider Disclosure Fri Nov 30 00:00:00 EST 2012
- Frequently Asked Questions About Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) Fri Feb 19 00:00:00 EST 2010
- 25th Anniversary of 401(k) Plans: Frequently Asked Questions Sun Nov 05 00:00:00 EST 2006
ICI 401(k) News
- ICI Issues Statement on President’s Budget Proposal Wed Apr 10 00:00:00 EDT 2013
- Extra, Extra, Read All About It: Americans Are Prepared for Retirement
- Keep Current Tax Incentives for Retirement Plan Savings, Americans Say Thu Feb 07 00:00:00 EST 2013
- First Half of 2012: Savers Show Continued Commitment to Retirement Saving, ICI Study Finds Wed Nov 14 00:00:00 EST 2012
- Americans Likely to Be Focused on Retirement Savings Have Access to Employer-Provided Plans Wed Sep 26 00:00:00 EDT 2012
- Study: U.S. Households Believe Current Retirement Saving Incentives Should Be Maintained Tue Jan 24 00:00:00 EST 2012
- Retirement Plan Fees Driven By Many Factors: Deloitte/ICI Study Tue Nov 15 00:00:00 EST 2011
- ICI 401(k) Study Shows Continued Commitment to Saving Wed Oct 26 00:00:00 EDT 2011
- Institute Amicus Brief in Ninth Circuit Appeal of 401(k) Fee Case (pdf) Mon Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 2011
- ICI Study: Some U.S. Households Making More Conservative Financial Decisions Since 2008 Economic Downturn Thu Jan 27 00:00:00 EST 2011
- ICI Webinar on Survey Results About Americans' Retirement Savings Through Three Years of Economic Stress Thu Jan 27 00:00:00 EST 2011
- Webinar on Addressing New ERISA Participant Disclosure Regulations Wed Dec 01 00:00:00 EST 2010
- The Economics of Providing 401(k) Plans, 2009 Thu Sep 16 00:00:00 EDT 2010
- Americans Committed to Saving for Retirement: ICI Year-End Data Mon Apr 26 00:00:00 EDT 2010
- Americans Confident 401(k) Can Help Them Reach Their Retirement Goals Fri Jan 08 00:00:00 EST 2010
- 401(k) Study Shows Consistent Participation Wed Oct 21 00:00:00 EDT 2009
- 401(k) Balances Fell in 2008 Bear Market Tue Oct 06 00:00:00 EDT 2009
- 401(k) Participants Invested In Low-Cost, Low-Turnover Mutual Funds Thu Aug 06 00:00:00 EDT 2009
- ICI 401(k) Participant Activity Study Shows 2008 Activity in Line with Historical Data Mon Mar 09 00:00:00 EDT 2009
- Most 401(k) Savers are Staying the Course: ICI Study, December 2008 Fri Dec 19 00:00:00 EST 2008
ICI 401(k) Publications
- America's Commitment to Retirement Security: Investor Attitudes and Actions, 2013 (pdf) Thu Feb 07 00:00:00 EST 2013
- Defined Contribution Plan Participants' Activities, 2011 (pdf) Mon Apr 02 00:00:00 EDT 2012
- America's Commitment to Retirement Security: Investor Attitudes and Actions (pdf) Tue Jan 24 00:00:00 EST 2012
- Inside the Structure of Defined Contribution/401(k) Plan Fees Tue Nov 15 00:00:00 EST 2011
- The Economics of Providing 401(k) Plans: Services, Fees, and Expenses, 2010 (pdf) Wed Jun 29 00:00:00 EDT 2011
- Commitment to Retirement Security: Investor Attitudes and Actions (pdf) Thu Jan 27 00:00:00 EST 2011
- The Economics of Providing 401(k) Plans, 2009 (pdf) Thu Sep 16 00:00:00 EDT 2010
- The U.S. Retirement Market, 2009 (pdf) Thu May 06 00:00:00 EDT 2010
- Enduring Confidence in the 401(k) System (pdf) Sat Jan 09 00:00:00 EST 2010
- Charts: Enduring Confidence in the 401(k) System (pdf) Fri Jan 08 00:00:00 EST 2010
Background on 401(k) Topics
- Slides: How the 401(k) System Is Succeeding (pdf) Thu Jul 28 00:00:00 EDT 2011
- Helping Working Americans Achieve A Financially Secure Retirement—How the 401(k) System is Succeeding Thu Jul 28 00:00:00 EDT 2011
- Target Date Fund Joint Hearing before the Department of Labor and the Securities and Exchange Commission Thu Jun 18 00:00:00 EDT 2009
- 10 Myths About 401(k)s—and the Facts (pdf) Fri Apr 17 00:00:00 EDT 2009
- The Federal Thrift Savings Plan: A Model for the Private Sector? (pdf) Tue Apr 01 00:00:00 EDT 2008
- 401(k) Plan Sponsors Report High Satisfaction with Services (pdf) Fri Feb 01 00:00:00 EST 2008
- Background on Mutual Fund Services and Fees in 401(k) Plans (pdf) Fri Feb 01 00:00:00 EST 2008
- The Role of Mutual Funds in Helping Americans Meet Their Retirement Needs (pdf) Wed Jun 13 00:00:00 EDT 2007
- Ongoing Department of Labor Disclosure Initiatives (pdf) Wed Jun 13 00:00:00 EDT 2007
- Variety of Arrangements in 401(k) Plans (pdf) Wed Jun 13 00:00:00 EDT 2007
- Regulation and Disclosure of Mutual Fund Fees Under the Securities Laws (pdf) Wed Jun 13 00:00:00 EDT 2007
- Bundling of 401(k) Services (pdf) Wed Jun 13 00:00:00 EDT 2007
- Celebrating 25 Years of 401(k) Saving, November 2006 Tue Nov 07 00:00:00 EST 2006
ICI Policy Statements on 401(k) Topics
- 401(k) Plans: Key in Helping Americans Achieve Secure Retirement
- ICI Testimony for Department of Labor Hearing on Fiduciary Definition Proposal Tue Mar 01 00:00:00 EST 2011
- ICI Statement: Department of Labor and Department of the Treasury Joint Hearing on Lifetime Income Options Tue Sep 14 00:00:00 EDT 2010
- Retirees Have Choices and Need Flexibility, Not Mandates, in Retirement Planning Tue Jun 29 00:00:00 EDT 2010
- ICI Testimony: Making Savings Last a Lifetime Wed Jun 16 00:00:00 EDT 2010
- ICI Letter Regarding 401(k) Disclosure Provisions in H.R. 4213 (pdf) Fri May 21 00:00:00 EDT 2010
- ICI Letter Responding to Joint DOL and Treasury Request for Information on Lifetime Income Options (pdf) Mon May 03 00:00:00 EDT 2010
- Stevens Discusses Key Strengths of 401(k)s Mon Feb 15 00:00:00 EST 2010
- Enduring Confidence in the 401(k) System: Investor Attitudes and Actions Fri Jan 08 00:00:00 EST 2010
- Industry Leaders Discuss How to Strengthen the 401(k) and Broaden Retirement Savings (video) Fri Jan 08 00:00:00 EST 2010
Policy Ads
- 401(k)s: (K)nowledge Is Power (pdf) Tue Jun 09 00:00:00 EDT 2009
- 401(k)s: (K)eeping Costs Down (pdf) Wed Jun 10 00:00:00 EDT 2009
- 401(k)s: (K)eeping Choices in Investing (pdf) Thu Jun 11 00:00:00 EDT 2009
Other Resources
- Alliance for Investor Education
- American Association of Individual Investors
- American Benefits Council
- American Council of Life Insurers
- American Savings Education Council
- American Society of Pension Professionals & Actuaries
- Department of Labor: Employee Benefits Security Administration: http://www.dol.gov/ebsa
- Employee Benefit Research Institute
- Internal Revenue Service: Retirement Plans Community
- Investing For Success, English
- Investing For Success, Spanish
- National Association of Personal Financial Advisors
- National Endowment for Financial Education
- Pension Research Council at the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania
- Profit Sharing/401k Council of America
- Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association
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