401(k) Resource Center

401(k) Resource Center

401(k) plans hold $6.9 trillion in assets as of September 30, 2023, in more than 710,000 plans, on behalf of about 70 million active participants and millions of former employees and retirees. Savings rolled over from 401(k)s and other employer-sponsored retirement plans also account for about half of the $12.6 trillion held in individual retirement account (IRA) assets as of September 30, 2023.

Despite the increased popularity of 401(k) plans, more can 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. A 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, including 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

ICI 401(k) News

More
News Release

EBRI/ICI Study Shows 401(k) Participants’ Asset Allocations Favor Investment in Equities

According to a new joint study from the Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI) and Investment...
More
News Release

Gen Z Saving for Retirement Earlier Than Generations Before Them

February 6, 2024—According to new research published by the Investment Company Institute (ICI), Gen...
More
News Release

BrightScope/ICI Data Show 401(k) Plans Offering Wide Array of Diversified and Cost-Effective Investm...

September 28, 2023—Employers play a significant role in designing diverse investment lineups in 401...

ICI 401(k) Publications

More
Perspective

Changes in 401(k) Plan Asset Allocation Among Consistent Participants, 2016–2020 (pdf)

More
Perspective

401(k) Plan Asset Allocation, Account Balances, and Loan Activity in 2020 (pdf)

More
Perspective

Supplemental Tables: 401(k) Plan Asset Allocation, Account Balances, and Loan Activity in 2020 (xlsx...

Background on 401(k) Topics

More
Research

Ten Important Facts About 401(k) Plans (pdf)

More
Fact Sheet

Working for America’s Middle Class (pdf)

More
Fact Sheet

Working for America’s Middle Class

The US retirement system is the envy of the world, thanks largely to the success of defined...

ICI Policy Statements on 401(k) Topics

More
Comment Letter

ICI Submits Written Statement to ERISA Advisory Council on Enhancing the Effectiveness of Disclosure...

More
Comment Letter

Institute Responds to DOL RFI on Brokerage Windows

More
Letters to the Editor & Responses

Better Retirements? Build on the System’s Current Successes

Better Retirements? Build on the System’s Current Successes By Brian Reid (As published in The Hill...