Investor facts & stats

Question 1

According to the Federal Reserve's 2019 Survey of Consumer Finances, what share of U.S. families owned stock directly or indirectly?

Accepted Answer

53%. That includes stock held through retirement accounts and mutual funds, not just individual shares.

Question 2

About how much total money was held in U.S. 401(k) plans as of early 2026?

Accepted Answer

$9.9 trillion. 401(k)s have grown into one of the largest pools of retirement savings in the country since their 1978 creation.

Question 3

Since 1926, what has the S&P 500's average annual return been, with dividends reinvested?

Accepted Answer

10.47% per year. That long-run average includes many sharp crashes and booms averaged together over a century.

Question 4

In 2011, what was the average total administrative and management fee on a typical 401(k) account?

Accepted Answer

0.78%, about $250 per participant. Fees that sound small can meaningfully eat into long-term retirement returns over decades.

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