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401(k) plan asset allocation, account balances, and loan activity in 2011
Jack VanDerhei1, Sarah Holden, Luis Alonso
1Employee Benefit Research Institute, Washington, DC 20005-4051, USA.
EBRI Issue Brief
|February 9, 2013
Summary
In 2011, 401(k) participants predominantly invested in stocks (61%) and increasingly favored target-date funds, especially younger hires. Loan activity remained stable, though balances slightly rose.
Area of Science:
- Retirement Planning
- Personal Finance
- Investment Management
Background:
- Majority of 401(k) assets remain in equities, with 61% in stock investments in 2011.
- Fixed-income securities comprised 34% of 401(k) assets, including stable-value and bond funds.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze asset allocation trends in 401(k) plans at year-end 2011.
- To examine the adoption and asset allocation within target-date funds.
- To assess participant loan activity and its impact on account balances.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of the EBRI/ICI 401(k) database for year-end 2011 data.
- Comparison of asset allocation and participant behavior with previous years (1998, 2008-2010).
- Examination of investment trends among different participant demographics, including recent hires.
Main Results:
- Target-date funds were included in 72% of plans, holding 13% of assets and 39% of participants.
- Younger, recently hired participants showed a significant increase in balanced and target-date fund investments.
- Company stock holdings decreased, falling below 8% of assets, with newer participants less likely to hold employer stock.
- 21% of eligible participants had outstanding 401(k) loans, a stable rate, with loan balances increasing slightly.
Conclusions:
- 401(k) participants continued to diversify investments, with a notable shift towards target-date funds, particularly among younger investors.
- While overall average account balances saw a slight decrease, this may not reflect typical participant experience.
- Loan activity remained consistent, indicating stable participant reliance on these funds for short-term needs.
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