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Fidelity® Q2 2021 Retirement Analysis: Despite Ongoing Uncertainty, Retirement Account Balances and Contributions Increase as Workers Begin to Feel More Positive

Fidelity Investments^®, a market-leading workplace benefits company and America's No. 1 IRA provider¹, today released its quarterly analysis of more than 30 million IRA, 401(k), and 403(b) retirement accounts. Although many Americans are still addressing challenges posed by the pandemic, Fidelity's Q2 analysis highlights positive results across retirement account balances, contributions, and savings behaviors.

Average retirement account balances increased to record levels for the third consecutive quarter, with long-term retirement savers seeing significant gains. In addition, Baby Boomers² increased their contributions to 401(k) and IRA accounts, while the average 401(k) savings rate reached a new high. Positive investing behavior, including a decreasing number of outstanding 401(k) loans, was complemented by positive investor sentiment, with workers reporting reduced levels of stress and anxiety.³

Highlights from Fidelity's Q2 2021 analysis include:

• Retirement accounts see modest growth, reach record levels for the third consecutive quarter. The average IRA balance⁴ was $134,900, a 4% increase from last quarter and a 21% increase from Q2 2020. The average 401(k) balance⁵ increased to $129,300 in Q2, a 4% increase from Q1 and up 24% from a year ago. The average 403(b) account balance⁶ increased to a record $113,300, an increase of 6% from last quarter and 24% higher than in Q2 2020.

Average Retirement Account Balances

• Baby Boomers boost contributions as retirement approaches. As the youngest Baby Boomers enter their late 50s, Fidelity found that many investors in this generation are increasing their contributions to their retirement accounts. A record 18.2% of Baby Boomers made a "catch-up" contribution⁷ to their 401(k) in Q2, with 58% of Boomers making the maximum catch-up contribution of $6,500 by the end of last year. Among Baby Boomers with an IRA, Fidelity found that the average contribution amount increased 17% over Q2 2020 to $3,570, while the total number of IRA contributions among Baby Boomers increase 57% when compared to the same quarter last year. The average 403(b) contribution rate for Baby Boomers increased to 10.9% in Q2.
• Individuals taking a long-term approach to retirement savings continue to see gains. The overall average balance for individuals who have been in their 401(k) plan continuously for 10 years crossed the $400,000 threshold for the first time, reaching $402,700 in Q2. Among women investors, the average 10-year continuous 401(k) balance reached $324,700 in Q2. The average balance for 403(b) investors who have been in their plan for 10 years reached $233,300, nearly 3x the average 10-year continuous balance in Q2 2011.
• 401(k) savings rate reaches record level as younger workers increase their contributions. The average 401(k) employee savings rate reached a record 9.3% in Q2. Over the last year, more than one in three (38%) of 401(k) savers have increased their savings rate, while only 7% of workers have decreased their 401(k) savings rate since Q2 2020. More than half of Gen Z² workers (54%) increased their 401(k) savings rate over the last year, while 43% of millennials² have increased their savings rate since Q2 2020.

"The pandemic is clearly fueling a shift in how Americans prioritize their work, health, personal lives and financial well-being, so it's encouraging to see a continued improvement of retirement savings rates and individuals expressing more feelings of hope and fewer feelings of stress," said Kevin Barry, president of Workplace Investing at Fidelity Investments. "As the world continues to navigate the pandemic, we'll continue to support employers, and their employees, with the tools and information they need to keep their retirement savings on track."

Decreasing 401(k) loans, steady investment behaviors as workers feeling a return to normal

While many workers, and their employers, continue to face financial uncertainty due to the ongoing impact of the pandemic, recent Fidelity research and positive investment behavior in may indicate that workers are starting to feel more stability and a sense of normalcy. A recent survey³ of Fidelity 401(k) plan participants found that the percentage of workers who reported feeling stressed dropped from 41% last November to 27% this May, while the percentage of workers who reported feeling anxious dropped 37% to 20% during the same period. At the same time, the percentage of workers who reported feeling hopeful increased from 32% to 42% between November and May, while the percentage of individuals that reported feeling calm increased 20% to 32% during the same time period.

The positive sentiment among 401(k) savers is also reflected in investor behavior, specifically in the areas of 401(k) loans and asset allocation. Here are several examples of positive investing behaviors in Q2:

• The percentage of outstanding 401(k) loans remained at a record low. Less than one in five (17.5%) individuals had an outstanding loan from their 401(k) in Q2, a record low percentage and consistent with the percentage of outstanding 401(k) loans in Q1. While some workers may still have to tap their 401(k) to help address a financial challenge, the long-term trend of decreasing loan usage continued in Q2.
• Fewer individuals are making changes to the asset allocation within their 401(k). Only 5.3% of 401(k) savers made a change to their asset allocation in Q2, the lowest percentage since Q4 2019. Of the 401(k) savers that made a change to their allocation, 80% only made just one change in the quarter.

For more information on Fidelity's Q2 2021 analysis, click here to access Fidelity's "Building Financial Futures" overview, which provides additional details and insight on retirement trends and data.

About Fidelity Investments

Fidelity's mission is to inspire better futures and deliver better outcomes for the customers and businesses we serve. With assets under administration of $11.0 trillion, including discretionary assets of $4.1 trillion as of June 30, 2021, we focus on meeting the unique needs of a diverse set of customers: helping more than 35 million people invest their own life savings, 22,000 businesses manage employee benefit programs, as well as providing more than 13,500 wealth management firms and institutions with investment and technology solutions to drive growth. Privately held for 75 years, Fidelity employs more than 47,000 associates who are focused on the long-term success of our customers. For more information about Fidelity Investments, visit www.fidelity.com/about-fidelity/our-company.

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News published on 19 august 2021 at 08:40 and distributed by: