Updated
Updated · Yahoo Finance · Sep 6
Fidelity Says 401(k) Balances Hit Record $155,800 in Q2 as Savings Rates Hold at 14.4%
Updated
Updated · Yahoo Finance · Sep 6

Fidelity Says 401(k) Balances Hit Record $155,800 in Q2 as Savings Rates Hold at 14.4%

3 articles · Updated · Yahoo Finance · Sep 6

Summary

  • Average 401(k) balances rose 11% from Q1 to a record $155,800 in Q2, while 403(b) balances climbed 12% to $145,000 and IRAs gained 10%, Fidelity said.
  • A strong stock market drove the rebound after a slight first-quarter dip, lifting workplace retirement accounts despite worries about an AI bubble and an uncertain economy.
  • Savings behavior still shaped outcomes: 401(k) savers' total average savings rate held at 14.4%, and 81% contributed enough to capture their full employer match.
  • IRA holders, who lack employer matching, increased contributions 36% from a year earlier, underscoring how contribution levels can widen gaps even as balances reach records.
  • The gains came as 55% of workers said they were very or extremely concerned about the economy, citing living costs, geopolitics and job security.

Insights

Why do most workers feel terrified about the economy while their retirement accounts quietly hit record-breaking highs?
Are automated savings features secretly turning ordinary workers into millionaires without them even realizing it?
Could leaving your current job prematurely cost you thousands in hidden unvested retirement matches?