Latest EBRI/ICI 401(k) Database Update

The average 401(k) retirement account balance rose 31.9 percent in 2009, according to a report released today by the Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI) and the Investment Company Institute (ICI) analyzing a group of consistent participants. The rise in 2009 was in line with the 2003–2007 pattern of steady increase in account balances and in contrast to the 27.8 percent decline in 2008. 

The EBRI/ICI report, 401(k) Plan Asset Allocation, Account Balances, and Loan Activity in 2009, is based on the largest database of its kind, with records on 20.7 million participants at year-end 2009, including 4.3 million consistent participants—those who have had 401(k) accounts with the same 401(k) plan each year from year-end 2003 through year-end 2009. 

The full report is being published simultaneously by EBRI and ICI and is on their websites (EBRI's is here, ICI's is here). The joint press release is here. 

Some initial media coverage of the report:
* Bloomberg/ Business Week
* Reuters
* Minneapolis Star-Tribune
* Financial Planning
* PlanAdvisor 
* MSNBC