EBRI survey: Only 18% foresee comfortable retirement

  Pensions and Investments, April 14, 2008, PENSION FUNDS; Pg. 42, 428 words, Doug Halonen

Retirement Worries Increase Kelly Greene. Wall Street Journal (Eastern edition). New York, N.Y.: Apr 9, 2008. p. D.3

Workers worry over retirement readiness

Workers worry over retirement readiness

By Eileen Alt Powell, AP Business Writer

401(k) Plan Asset Allocation, Account Balances, and Loan Activity in 2006

Abstract: Over the past two decades, 401(k) plans have grown to be the most widespread private-sector employer-sponsored retirement plan in the United States, and now serve as the most popular defined contribution (DC) plan, representing the largest number of participants and assets. In 2006, 50 million American workers were active 401(k) plan participants. By year-end 2006, 401(k) plan assets had grown to represent 16 percent of all retirement assets, with $2.7 trillion in assets. In an ongoing collaborative effort, the Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI) and the Investment Company Institute (ICI) collect annual data on millions of 401(k) plan participants as a means to accurately portray how these participants manage their accounts. This paper serves as an update of EBRI and ICI's ongoing research into 401(k) plan participants' activity through year-end 2006. The report is divided into five sections: The first describes the EBRI/ICI 401(k) database; the second focuses on changes in participant account balances over time, analyzing a group of consistent 401(k) participants; the third presents a snapshot of participant account balances at year-end 2006; the fourth looks at participants' asset allocations; and the fifth looks at participants' 401(k) loan activity.

Keywords: 401(k) plans, Asset allocation, Employment-based benefits, Pension plan assets, Pension plan loans, Retirement plans, Self-directed investments

JEL Classifications: D31, G11, J26

Accepted Paper Series

Suggested Citation
VanDerhei, Jack, Holden, Sarah, Copeland, Craig and Alonso, Luis, "401(k) Plan Asset Allocation, Account Balances, and Loan Activity in 2006" . EBRI Issue Brief, No. 308, August 2007 Available at SSRN: http://ssrn.com/abstract=1005379

Who is Ready for Retirement, How Ready, and How Can We Know?

Research Report

Sophie Korczyk, Ph.D

January 2008

Research, caution help in managing lump sum; Tips may help money last throughout life

 USA TODAY, January 28, 2008 Monday, MONEY; Pg. 10A, 1155 words, Kathy Chu

Young workers miss out on matches; Financial advisers urge twentysomethings to take advantage of employer defined contribution plans

  Investment News, February 25, 2008, NEWS; Pg. 19, 670 words, Andrew Coen

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  USA TODAY, January 17, 2008 Thursday, MONEY; Pg. 1B, 1841 words, Kathy Chu

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  St. Petersburg Times (Florida), April 9, 2008 Wednesday, BUSINESS; Pg. 1D, 642 words, HELEN HUNTLEY, Personal Finance Editor

Don't build your perch on company stock; Experts warn many 401(k)s are at risk

 USA TODAY, December 14, 2007 Friday, MONEY; Pg. 3B, 1073 words, Christine Dugas

REDRAWING THE ROUTE TO RETIREMENT

 Business Week, December 10, 2007, Personal Business -- Retirement Plans; Pg. 78, 1650 words, By Anne Tergesen

Redrawing the Route to Retirement

BusinessWeek

An Alternative to Annuities For Retirees Seeking Income

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401(k) loans come with caveats; Money is easy to get, but you could pay for it later

 USA TODAY, October 12, 2007 Friday, MONEY; Pg. 3B, 1063 words, Christine Dugas

Cost, communication hinder use of automatic 401(k) features

 Employee Benefit News, October 1, 2007, 902 words, Lydell C. Bridgeford

New 401(k) Law Should Help More Workers Save

Smart Money

Six steps you can take to financial prosperity

USA TODAY, September 24, 2007 Monday, MONEY; Pg. 7B, 1674 words

Automatic contribution increases to benefit poorest

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Fiscally Fit: Making Sense of Retirement Plans; Terri Gives Her Uncle Some Guidance On How to Make the Most of His 401(k); Online edition Terri Cullen. Wall Street Journal (Eastern edition). New York, N.Y.: Sep 12, 2007.

When the markets are volatile, your 401(k) plan can be a loyal friend

The Boston Globe, September 7, 2007 Friday, BUSINESS; Pg. C6, 639 words, Humberto Cruz - Humberto Cruz is a columnist for the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. He can be reached at AskHumberto@aol.com