Updated
Updated · Detroit Free Press · Sep 2
Fidelity Says 401(k) Millionaires Rose to 769,000 as Average Balances Jumped 10.5% in Q2
Updated
Updated · Detroit Free Press · Sep 2

Fidelity Says 401(k) Millionaires Rose to 769,000 as Average Balances Jumped 10.5% in Q2

3 articles · Updated · Detroit Free Press · Sep 2

Summary

  • 769,000 Fidelity 401(k) participants held at least $1 million by June 30, up more than 19% from 645,000 in the first quarter and marking a record high.
  • Average 401(k) balances climbed 10.5% in the second quarter to a record $155,800, the strongest quarterly gain since late 2020, helped by market gains, steady contributions and employer matches.
  • Millennials posted some of the biggest gains, with average balances up 14.2% from the prior quarter and 26.1% from a year earlier.
  • Saving behavior stayed resilient despite cost-of-living worries: total average savings rates held at a record 14.4%, 80% of plans offered employer contributions, and only 5.5% of savers changed allocations.
  • Fidelity’s data from 27,300 plans covering 25.8 million participants suggests workers largely stayed invested through early-2026 market swings rather than trying to time the market.

Insights

Record 401(k) averages are making headlines, but what hidden truth does the shockingly low median balance reveal about our retirement readiness?
Beyond the 401(k) hype, could an often-overlooked health savings account actually be your most powerful secret weapon for a tax-free retirement?