Analysis Offers Perspective for Long-Term 401(k) Investing

Each month, the Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI) provides a report of the monthly change in average account balances among consistent participants.

Last year, good market returns led to monthly account balance improvements, and this year has started off just as well. In January, EBRI data shows account balance improvements ranging from 2.9% for those ages 55 to 64 with 20 to 29 years of job tenure to 5.3% for participants ages 25 to 34 with one to four years of job tenure.

Of course, high stock market drops in February changed the dynamic for 401(k) plan balances. EBRI shows that average account balances fell, ranging from a 1.8% drop for participants ages 25 to 34 with one to four years of tenure up to a 2.8% drop for participants ages 45 to 54 with 20 to 29 years of tenure.

However, the March data reflect rebounds the markets have made. Account balance declines ranged from 0.4% for participants ages 25 4o 34 with one to four years of tenure to a 1.4% drop for participants ages 45 to 54 with 20 to 29 years of tenure.

The most telling statistics, however, are the cumulative average account balance changes for consistent 401(k) participants among the full universe of the EBRI/Investment Company Institute (ICI) database. The recent drops are minor in comparison.

According to EBRI, from January 1, 2016, to March 31, 2018, the average account balance change among these consistent savers ranged from 32% for those ages 55 to 64 with 20 to 29 years of job tenure to 126% for participants ages 25 to 34 with one to four years of tenure. The difference can probably be attributed to the allocation of equities and bonds for participants in these age groups.

Further, EBRI reports that the average account balance change among consistent savers from January 1, 2015, January 1, 2017, ranged from 15% for those ages 55 to 64 with 20 to 29 years of job tenure to 91.8% for participants ages 25 to 34 with one to four years of tenure.

The data supports the importance of offering perspective to plan participants in times of market volatility.

The EBRI valuations can be found here.