With the recent market drop in Q4
2018, average 401(k) plan participant balances have decreased 8.4% in the last
12 months, from $104,300 in Q4 2017 to $95,600 in Q4 2018, according to
Fidelity Investments.
The number of people with $1 million
or more in their 401(k) dropped to 133,800 at the end of Q4.
However, the overall trend remains
positive while the majority of employees continued to contribute to their plan.
The average balance for employees continuously invested in a defined
contribution (DC) plan for 15 years was $86,500 in Q4 2008, but was $355,500 in
Q4 2018.
More than 98% of 401(k) savers
continued to regularly contribute to their 401(k) in 2018. For just the fourth
quarter, the percentage increased to more than 99%, which is the highest
quarterly percentage Fidelity has recorded since Q1 2011. In terms of actual
dollars contributed to retirement accounts, the average 401(k) employee
deferral in 2018 was $6,850, which ties a record high. Only 3.4% of
participants decreased their contributions, and 0.9% stopped contributions in
Q4.
Despite the market volatility during
Q4, most 401(k) investors did not react—only 5.6% made transfers. During the
2008/09 recession, on average, 1.5% of investors pulled out of equities all
together compared to only 0.3% in 2018. As of Q4 2018, more than half (50.6%)
of 401(k) savers are 100% invested in a target-date fund (TDF).
The percentage of workers with an
outstanding loan from their 401(k) dropped to 20.3% in Q4 2018, the lowest
level since Q2 2009. In addition, the percentage of workers initiating a new
401(k) loan dropped to 9.4% in 2018, the lowest 12-month percentage since Q2
2009.
Long-term trends
Fidelity’s “Building Futures”
overview report says automatic enrollment (AE) proves to be a
changing force as DC plan participation continues to increase. Average
participation rates in AE plans was 78.9% in 2007 versus 57.8% for non-AE plans.
In 2017, the average participation rate for AE plans was 87% versus 50.7% for
non-AE plans.
Fidelity data
shows 91% of employees who are auto-enrolled don’t opt out. And, plan
participation among Millennials has increased by 82% over the last 10 years in
part due to employers adopting auto-enrollment.
Average
contribution amounts are also on the rise. At the end of 2008, the average
total DC plan savings rate was 12%, according to Fidelity data. At the end of
2018, it was 13.1%. Auto-enrolled employees who have been invested in their DC
plan for 10 years now have an average balance of $100,600.
With 98% of
employers offering TDFs and 90% using them as the default investment option,
employee asset allocation has improved greatly over the last 10 years,
according to Fidelity. The percentage of employees holding either 100% or 0% in
equity has dropped from 26.1% in 2008 to 10.2% in 2018. The percentage of
employees with a stock allocation higher than suggested has dropped from 32.6%
to 24.8%.
More than two-thirds
(68%) of Millennials are 100% invested in a TDF, due in part to being
auto-enrolled in their 401(k) and defaulted into the option.
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