401(k) Balances and Changes Due to Market Volatility – Data to July 01, 2010

The Employee Benefit Research Institute and the Investment Company Institute have been collaborating since 1996 to develop the most comprehensive database on 401(k) plan participants yet assembled. Participant data include demographic, contribution, asset allocation, and loan and withdrawal activity information. The October 2009 Issue Brief presents analysis of data collected for 2008 on more than 54,765 plans with 24.0 million participants and $1.092 trillion in assets.

For a comprehensive listing of EBRI research utilizing this database, please see the Defined Contribution and Participant Behavior Research Program Web site.

The Employee Benefit Research Institute is giving regular updates of 401(k) account balance estimates as the markets change. You may access this information below, listed by release date. Please note that these analyses are bifurcated in two different aspects:

Full Universe vs. Consistent Sample:

The “consistent sample” of 401(k) participants was constructed years ago to allow EBRI/ICI average account balances to be computed over time, so as to avoid skewing results from 401(k) participants changing jobs (and 401(k) plans) or leaving the database. Analysis using the consistent sample allows the database to show change in average 401(k) balances with a starting point of Jan. 1, 2000.
The “full sample” includes every 401(k) participant in the EBRI/ICI database that year (subject to potential exclusions that are disclosed in the source line) regardless of whether they appeared in the data base in previous years.

For assistance on interpreting these results, please see the February 2009 Issue Brief

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