Number of 401(k) ‘millionaires’ jumped 41% last year, says Fidelity | CNN Business (2024)

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Many more new 401(k) “millionaires” were created last year, but the overall number remains low, according to data released Tuesday.

Thanks to strong performances in stocks and bonds in 2023, coupled with steady savings rates and employer-provided matching contributions, 401(k) investors ended 2023 very much in the black.

That’s according to new fourth-quarter data from Fidelity Investments, one of the largest providers of workplace retirement plans that cover23 million 401(k) participants.

The average 401(k) balance rose to $118,600 at the end of the fourth quarter, up 14% for the year.

Among Gen Xers, the demographic cohort that will start retiring over the next decade, Fidelity found that the average 401(k) balance topped $500,000 among those who have been saving for at least 15 years consecutively.

Fidelity also reported that the number of 401(k) accounts with balances of at least $1 million rose in the fourth quarter by 20%, to 422,000 accounts; and by 41% for the whole year. The average account balance for this group was $1,551,300 in the fourth quarter.

But market performance isn’t the only factor to credit for higher balances. Actual savings habits played a big role. Fidelity said that 27% of plan participants proactively increased their contribution rate throughout last year. And 78% of 401(k) savers were contributing at a rate high enough to get their employer’s full matching contribution.

Between employee and employer contributions, the average savings rate last year was 13.9%, up slightly from 13.7% a year earlier.

“This past year ended on a high note for retirement savers,” said Sharon Brovelli, president of Workplace Investing at Fidelity Investments. “When it comes to matters like market stability and economic events, 2023 gave us the highs of the highs, and the lows of the lows but, encouragingly, many retirement savers took the long view and stayed the course through it all, which is the type of commitment that can lead to a secure financial future.”

But a large swath of the working population in the United States isn’t benefiting from the good news in 401(k) plans. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported last year that while 73% of civilian workers had access to an employer-sponsored retirement plan, only 56% participated in them.

Number of 401(k) ‘millionaires’ jumped 41% last year, says Fidelity | CNN Business (2024)

FAQs

Number of 401(k) ‘millionaires’ jumped 41% last year, says Fidelity | CNN Business? ›

Fidelity also reported that the number of 401(k) accounts with balances of at least $1 million rose in the fourth quarter by 20%, to 422,000 accounts; and by 41% for the whole year. The average account balance for this group was $1,551,300 in the fourth quarter.

How many 401k millionaires does Fidelity have? ›

Specifically, 485,000 of them. That's up 15% from the 422,000 accounts reported at the end of 2023 and 43% higher than a year ago. Fidelity is one of the largest providers of workplace retirement plans, and its 401(k) data is based on more than 23 million plan participants.

How many Americans have $1000000 in their 401k? ›

The company, as first reported by Bloomberg, found that the number of 401(k) millionaires reached an unprecedented 485,000 between January and March. This was up 15 percent compared to the previous quarter, when it was 422,000, and 43 percent since March 2023.

How are 401ks doing today with Fidelity? ›

Among the millions of retirement savers who hold accounts at Fidelity, the median 401(k) balance was $28,900 as of the first quarter of 2024, according to data the brokerage provided. That number may skew a little low, since many investors have multiple, small accounts from past employers.

What is the average 401k employer match Fidelity? ›

The most common 401(k) match formula for Fidelity accounts was a dollar-for-dollar match on the first 3% and then 50 cents on the dollar on the next 2%. If a worker contributed 5% of their salary, according to that formula, their employer would be contributing another 4% (or 3% plus half of 2%).

What does Fidelity consider high net worth? ›

Relatively few embrace working with multiple advisors (13%) or any individual advisor managing other advisors (quarterback approach, 5%). those with $1 million to $5 million in investable, non-retirement assets, and ultra-high-net-worth are investors with over $5 million in investable assets.

How many people have 500k in 401k? ›

How much do people save for retirement? In 2022, about 46% of households reported any savings in retirement accounts. Twenty-six percent had saved more than $100,000, and 9% had more than $500,000. These percentages were only somewhat higher for older people.

What is the average 401k balance at age 65? ›

$70,620

What is a high net worth in retirement? ›

What is Considered a High Net Worth in Retirement? A high-net-worth individual or HNWI is generally anyone with at least $1 million in cash or assets that can be easily converted into cash, including stocks, bonds, mutual fund shares and other investments.

What is the net worth of the top 1 percent? ›

In the U.S., it may take you $5.81 million to be in the top 1%, but it takes a minimum net worth of $30 million to be considered among the ultra-high net worth crowd. As of the end of 2023, this ultra-high net worth population is on the rise, reaching 626,000 globally, up from just over 600,000 a year earlier.

Why is my Fidelity 401k losing money? ›

There can be several reasons your 401(k) lost money, including a recession or stock market correction, your portfolio not being diversified enough, or investing too aggressively for your risk tolerance.

What is the average account balance at Fidelity? ›

The financial services firm handles more than 45 million retirement accounts total. The average 401(k) balance ended 2023 up 14% from a year earlier to $118,600, Fidelity found. The average individual retirement account balance also gained 12% year over year to $116,600 in the fourth quarter of 2023.

Is Fidelity laying off? ›

This week, Fidelity International which was separated from Fidelity Investments in 1980 announced that it will be laying off around 1,000 employees globally this year.

Is a 7% 401k match good? ›

A study by Vanguard reported that the average employer match was 4.5% in 2020, with the median at 3% of salary. In 2023, if you're getting at least 4% to 6% in 401k employer matching, it's considered a “good” 401k match. Anything above 6% would be considered “great”.

How much should I have in my 401k Fidelity? ›

Fidelity says by age 40, aim to have a multiple of three times your salary saved up. That means if you're earning $75,000, your retirement account balance should be around $225,000 when you turn 40. If your employer offers both a traditional and Roth 401(k), you might want to divide your savings between the two.

How much PTO do you get at Fidelity? ›

26 paid time off days for most people. This includes your sick time.

How many millionaires are soaring in 401k? ›

There are now 485,000 retirement accounts with at least $1 million—up 43% from 340,000 401(k)-created millionaires a year ago, according to new data published by Fidelity Investments on Thursday.

How many 401k participants does Fidelity have? ›

[3] Fidelity business analysis of 14.6 million IRA accounts as of September 30, 2023. [4] Fidelity Investments Q3 2023 401(k) data based on 25,300 corporate defined contribution plans and 22.9 million participants as of September 30, 2023. These figures include the advisor-sold market but exclude the tax-exempt market.

How much money do you need for Fidelity Wealth Management? ›

To be eligible for Fidelity Private Wealth Management through Fidelity® Wealth Services ("FWS") or Fidelity® Strategic Disciplines ("FSD"), clients are subject to a qualification and acceptance process, and must typically invest at least $2 million, in the aggregate, in FWS and/or FSD and have investable assets of at ...

Who is the largest shareholder of Fidelity? ›

Largest shareholders include BlackRock Inc., Vanguard Group Inc, Windacre Partnership Llc, State Street Corp, Brave Warrior Advisors, LLC, VTSMX - Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund Investor Shares, Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc, Victory Capital Management Inc, DVY - iShares Select Dividend ETF, and ...

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