Fund Ownership Most Common Through Tax-deferred Accounts

More than 45 million U.S. households own funds through tax-deferred accounts and 22 million households own funds outside these accounts, according to the new study, “Trends in Ownership of Mutual Funds in the United States, 2007,” compiled by the Institute’s Research Department.

“Funds are also crucial to families’ retirement plans: Almost nine out of 10 fund-owning households own them through tax-deferred accounts earmarked for retirement, including IRAs and 401(k) plans,” said Sarah A. Holden, ICI’s Senior Director of Retirement and Investor Research.

Fund ownership has grown through workplace retirement plans, largely fueled by the growing popularity of defined contribution plans. In 2007, 33 million households hold mutual funds through employer-sponsored retirement accounts, an increase from 27 million in 1998.

Overall Ownership

Almost 51 million American households – equal to 44% of all households in the United States and 88.2 million individual shareholders – own mutual funds in 2007, according to ICI data. This compares to 2006, when 49.9 million households and 87.9 million individuals held mutual funds.

Most U.S. mutual fund shareholders have moderate household incomes and are in their peak earning and saving years. About three in five U.S. households owning mutual funds have incomes between $25,000 and $99,999, and about two-thirds are headed by individuals between the ages of 35 and 64.

According to ICI, the new study reports for the first time the ownership of all U.S.-registered investment company products, including exchange-traded funds (ETFs), closed-end funds, and unit investment trusts (UITs). The data shows 51.4 million households, accounting for 89.6 million individuals, own funds offered by investment companies. Households owned about 84%, or $10.3 trillion, of the $12.2 trillion in assets in such funds in mid-2007.

The report is here. http://www.ici.org/pdf/fm-v16n5.pdf