Institute Releases Ad Hoc Survey on SIMPLE IRAs as of December 31, 2003

Washington, DC, March 18, 2004 - The Institute recently surveyed certain of its members in a continuing effort to track developments in the SIMPLE IRA market. (An earlier survey covered the first six months of 2003.) The Institute's survey requested SIMPLE IRA data on the number of plans, number of plan participants, and value of the assets as of June 30, 2003 and December 31, 2003.

Survey respondents indicate that, between June 30, 2003 and December 31, 2003, the number of SIMPLE IRA plans rose 2 percent, the number of participants increased 2 percent, and SIMPLE IRA assets invested in mutual funds were up 27 percent. By comparison, over the second half of 2002, the number of SIMPLE IRA plans rose 5 percent, the number of participants increased 4 percent, and SIMPLE IRA assets invested in mutual funds were up 6 percent.

Over 2003 as a whole, the number of SIMPLE IRA plans increased 7 percent, the number of participants rose 7 percent, and SIMPLE IRA assets invested in mutual funds increased about 61 percent.

Based on the survey results, the SIMPLE IRA continues to be most popular among very small employers. Most SIMPLE IRA plans have 10 or fewer participants. Survey results are based on the responses of 24 firms, representing an estimated 74 percent of the $20 billion of SIMPLE IRA assets invested in mutual funds at year-end 2003.

Survey respondents are not randomly selected and therefore do not necessarily reflect the characteristics of the typical SIMPLE IRA account invested in mutual funds.