Home 401(k) Resource Center
The 401(k) plan retirement system now holds $2.8 trillion in assets on behalf of more than 50 million active participants and millions of former employees and retirees. Savings rolled over from 401(k) and other employer plans also account for most of the $4.2 trillion held in individual retirement account assets. Despite the increased popularity of 401(k) plans, more must 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. 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. It includes 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
- Frequently Asked Questions About 401(k) Plans Feb 11, 2013
- Frequently Asked Questions About 401(k) Participant Disclosure Nov 30, 2012
- Frequently Asked Questions About Service Provider Disclosure Nov 30, 2012
- Frequently Asked Questions About Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) Feb 19, 2010
- 25th Anniversary of 401(k) Plans: Frequently Asked Questions Nov 5, 2006
ICI 401(k) News
- ICI Defined Contribution Plan Recordkeeper Data Show Continued Commitment to Retirement Saving Apr 25, 2013
- Letter to the Wall Street Journal on "Worrisome Savings Killer" in Budget Proposal Apr 21, 2013
- ICI Issues Statement on President’s Budget Proposal Apr 10, 2013
- Extra, Extra, Read All About It: Americans Are Prepared for Retirement
- Keep Current Tax Incentives for Retirement Plan Savings, Americans Say Feb 7, 2013
- First Half of 2012: Savers Show Continued Commitment to Retirement Saving, ICI Study Finds Nov 14, 2012
- Americans Likely to Be Focused on Retirement Savings Have Access to Employer-Provided Plans Sep 26, 2012
- Study: U.S. Households Believe Current Retirement Saving Incentives Should Be Maintained Jan 24, 2012
- Retirement Plan Fees Driven By Many Factors: Deloitte/ICI Study Nov 15, 2011
- ICI 401(k) Study Shows Continued Commitment to Saving Oct 26, 2011
- Institute Amicus Brief in Ninth Circuit Appeal of 401(k) Fee Case (pdf) Aug 1, 2011
- ICI Study: Some U.S. Households Making More Conservative Financial Decisions Since 2008 Economic Downturn Jan 27, 2011
- ICI Webinar on Survey Results About Americans' Retirement Savings Through Three Years of Economic Stress Jan 27, 2011
- Webinar on Addressing New ERISA Participant Disclosure Regulations Dec 1, 2010
- The Economics of Providing 401(k) Plans, 2009 Sep 16, 2010
- Americans Committed to Saving for Retirement: ICI Year-End Data Apr 26, 2010
- Americans Confident 401(k) Can Help Them Reach Their Retirement Goals Jan 8, 2010
- 401(k) Study Shows Consistent Participation Oct 21, 2009
- 401(k) Balances Fell in 2008 Bear Market Oct 6, 2009
- 401(k) Participants Invested In Low-Cost, Low-Turnover Mutual Funds Aug 6, 2009
ICI 401(k) Publications
- The Economics of Providing 401(k) Plans: Services, Fees, and Expenses, 2012 (pdf) Jun 12, 2013
- Defined Contribution Plan Participants' Activities, 2012 (pdf) Apr 25, 2013
- America's Commitment to Retirement Security: Investor Attitudes and Actions, 2013 (pdf) Feb 7, 2013
- Defined Contribution Plan Participants' Activities, 2011 (pdf) Apr 2, 2012
- America's Commitment to Retirement Security: Investor Attitudes and Actions (pdf) Jan 24, 2012
- Inside the Structure of Defined Contribution/401(k) Plan Fees Nov 15, 2011
- The Economics of Providing 401(k) Plans: Services, Fees, and Expenses, 2010 (pdf) Jun 29, 2011
- Commitment to Retirement Security: Investor Attitudes and Actions (pdf) Jan 27, 2011
- The Economics of Providing 401(k) Plans, 2009 (pdf) Sep 16, 2010
- The U.S. Retirement Market, 2009 (pdf) May 6, 2010
Background on 401(k) Topics
- Facts About Defined Contribution Plans and Retirement Security (pdf) Jun 5, 2013
- Focus on Funds: 401(k) Advancements Apr 26, 2013
- Expenses and Fees Paid on Mutual Funds in 401(k) Plans (pdf) Apr 23, 2013
- Variety of Services in 401(k) Plans (pdf) Apr 23, 2013
- Key Facts and Positions: Access to Retirement Accounts Prior to Retirement (pdf) Apr 22, 2013
- Key Facts and Positions: Trading Costs and 401(k)s (pdf) Apr 22, 2013
- Key Facts and Positions: Adequacy of 401(k) Plans to Meet Retirement Needs (pdf) Apr 22, 2013
- Key Facts and Positions: Asset Allocation and Managing Risk in 401(k)s (pdf) Apr 22, 2013
- Key Facts and Positions: 401(k)s and Fees (pdf) Apr 22, 2013
- Slides: How the 401(k) System Is Succeeding (pdf) Jul 28, 2011
- Helping Working Americans Achieve A Financially Secure Retirement—How the 401(k) System is Succeeding Jul 28, 2011
- Target Date Fund Joint Hearing before the Department of Labor and the Securities and Exchange Commission Jun 18, 2009
- 10 Myths About 401(k)s—and the Facts (pdf) Apr 17, 2009
- The Federal Thrift Savings Plan: A Model for the Private Sector? (pdf) Apr 1, 2008
- 401(k) Plan Sponsors Report High Satisfaction with Services (pdf) Feb 1, 2008
- Background on Mutual Fund Services and Fees in 401(k) Plans (pdf) Feb 1, 2008
- The Role of Mutual Funds in Helping Americans Meet Their Retirement Needs (pdf) Jun 13, 2007
- Ongoing Department of Labor Disclosure Initiatives (pdf) Jun 13, 2007
- Regulation and Disclosure of Mutual Fund Fees Under the Securities Laws (pdf) Jun 13, 2007
- Celebrating 25 Years of 401(k) Saving, November 2006 Nov 7, 2006
ICI Policy Statements on 401(k) Topics
- 401(k) Plans: Key in Helping Americans Achieve Secure Retirement
- ICI Testimony for Department of Labor Hearing on Fiduciary Definition Proposal Mar 1, 2011
- ICI Statement: Department of Labor and Department of the Treasury Joint Hearing on Lifetime Income Options Sep 14, 2010
- Retirees Have Choices and Need Flexibility, Not Mandates, in Retirement Planning Jun 29, 2010
- ICI Testimony: Making Savings Last a Lifetime Jun 16, 2010
- ICI Letter Regarding 401(k) Disclosure Provisions in H.R. 4213 (pdf) May 21, 2010
- ICI Letter Responding to Joint DOL and Treasury Request for Information on Lifetime Income Options (pdf) May 3, 2010
- Stevens Discusses Key Strengths of 401(k)s Feb 15, 2010
- Enduring Confidence in the 401(k) System: Investor Attitudes and Actions Jan 8, 2010
- Industry Leaders Discuss How to Strengthen the 401(k) and Broaden Retirement Savings (video) Jan 8, 2010
Policy Ads
- 401(k)s: (K)nowledge Is Power (pdf) Jun 9, 2009
- 401(k)s: (K)eeping Costs Down (pdf) Jun 10, 2009
- 401(k)s: (K)eeping Choices in Investing (pdf) Jun 11, 2009
Other Resources
- Alliance for Investor Education
- American Association of Individual Investors
- American Benefits Council
- American Council of Life Insurers
- American Savings Education Council
- American Society of Pension Professionals & Actuaries
- Department of Labor: Employee Benefits Security Administration: http://www.dol.gov/ebsa
- Employee Benefit Research Institute
- Internal Revenue Service: Retirement Plans Community
- Investing For Success, English
- Investing For Success, Spanish
- National Association of Personal Financial Advisors
- National Endowment for Financial Education
- Pension Research Council at the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania
- Profit Sharing/401k Council of America
- Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association
Copyright © 2013 by the Investment Company Institute
