America250 Content

This quarter demonstrated the power of sustained, investor-focused advocacy—and the progress that is possible when policymakers hear directly from the people our work affects. At ICI’s headquarters...

America at 250: a Nation of Investors As the country marked its 250 th anniversary in July, ICI made the case that the United States has become something the founders never envisioned: a nation of...

Worth a Click ICI's General Counsel, Paul Cellupica, in conversation with the SEC’s Director of the Division of Investment Management, Brian Daly. ICI to House Committee: Regulated Funds Ready to...

Advocating for Investment Funds ICI Backs DOL's Asset-Neutral Framework for 401(k) Investment Options

In June, ICI filed a comment letter supporting the Department of Labor's proposed rule establishing an asset-neutral, process-based safe harbor for selecting 401(k) plan investment options in...

Supporting Members Helping Make Trump Accounts Work for Families and the Fund Industry Trump Accounts officially launched on July 4, creating a new opportunity to introduce children to saving and...

In the News ICI said it has had two meetings with Treasury officials, who at one stage discussed “shutting this down in some form or another,” according to Mike Horn, the group’s deputy general...

Defined contribution retirement plans have played a critical role in democratizing access to investing in the US. In 2025, approximately 80 million (about 60% ) US household held DC plan accounts. For many Americans, these plans represent not only a vehicle for retirement saving but also their primary introduction to investing in the capital markets.

ICI Chief Government Affairs and Public Policy Officer Tom Quaadman testified today at a hearing before the House Financial Services Subcommittee on Capital Markets titled “From Wall Street to Main Street: The Future of How America Invests.”

The rise of capital ownership is a defining feature of middle-class life in the US. Built through generations of thrift, innovation, and prudent decision-making, supported by the right institutions, products, and policies. That legacy continues, with more than half of U.S. households investing in mutual funds, ETFs, and other investments. Altogether, these roughly 130 million individual investors hold a direct stake in the growth and success of American businesses.

ICI’s latest national survey on Americans’ views of 401(k) and other defined contribution plans shows just how central workplace retirement plan are to household financial security.

Workplace Retirement Plans Matter 47% of workplace retirement account owners say they probably would not save for retirement without a plan at work. 92% say payroll deduction makes it easier to save...

Making it easier to save Nearly half of DC plan account owners said they probably would not save for retirement without a workplace plan. That number is even higher for people in lower-income...

Americans want to preserve workplace retirement plans 87% of Americans oppose eliminating the tax advantages of DC accounts. 77% are confident that 401(k) and other employer-sponsored retirement plan...

This strong support is not limited to people who already have retirement accounts. Even among individuals whose households do not currently own a DC plan account or an individual retirement account...

As America celebrates its 250th year, ICI considers the significance of ongoing investment in the nation's infrastructure. For millions of Americans, participation comes through mutual funds, ETFs, and closed-end funds that invest in municipal bonds, which finances about 90% of US public infrastructure.

1Municipal bond fund assets by state do not equal total municipal bond fund assets because of a small amount of assets missing state information. 2Data are estimated by dividing municipal bond fund...

ICI announced a partnership with America250 to launch digital content and a national advertising campaign showcasing the investment fund industry’s role in supporting the U.S. economy, communities, and families.

As Americans gather throughout the year to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the nation’s founding, we are presented with a rare moment to reflect on the ideas and institutions that have shaped our...