FIDELITY® Q1 2019 RETIREMENT ANALYSIS: ACCOUNT BALANCES REBOUND FROM DIP IN Q4, WHILE SAVINGS RATES HIT RECORD LEVELS

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Staying the Course Results in Significant Increases in Retirement Balances on 10-Year Anniversary of Stock Market Low1

BOSTON, May 9, 2019 -- Fidelity Investments®, a broadly diversified financial services company with more than $7.4 trillion in client assets, today released its quarterly analysis of retirement savings trends, including account balances, contributions and savings behaviors, across more than 30 million retirement accounts. Average account balances rebounded in the first quarter after a slight dip at the end of 2018, buoyed by positive stock market performance as well as record contribution levels to retirement accounts.

10-Year Analysis Shows Significant Growth in 401(k) Accounts, More Balanced Allocation

In light of the 10-year anniversary of the stock market reaching all-time lows during the financial downturn, Fidelity examined the accounts of 1.64 million individuals who have had the same 401(k) account since Q1 2009, and compared their current 401(k) account balance with their average balance 10 years ago. The following chart outlines the overall increase in balances for this group, along with specific analysis for millennials, Gen Xers and boomers5 within the overall population of 10-year continuous savers:

Fidelity’s 10-year analysis also highlighted how the average asset allocation within 401(k) accounts has gradually shifted to become more diversified, which can be partially attributed to the increasing use of target date funds among 401(k) savers. As of Q1 2019, 52% of individuals had all of their 401(k) savings in a target date fund, compared with just 16% in Q1 2009. In addition, a much lower percentage of individuals had all of their 401(k) savings in stocks -- only 7% of individuals had an all-stock 401(k), compared with 15% who had an all-stock 401(k) allocation in Q1 2009. For more information on Fidelity’s Q1 2019 analysis, please click here to access Fidelity’s “Building Futures” overview, which provides additional details and insight on retirement trends and data.