Retirement Savings Accounts: Fees, Expenses, and Account Balances
Order Code RL34213
Retirement Savings Accounts:
Fees, Expenses, and Account Balances
October 17, 2007
Patrick Purcell
Specialist in Income Security
Domestic Social Policy Division
Retirement Savings Accounts:
Fees, Expenses, and Account Balances
Summary
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, 43% of private-sector employees
participated in defined contribution retirement plans, such as those authorized under
§401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code, in March 2007. The amount that these
workers will have accumulated in their retirement accounts by the time they retire
will depend on a number of factors, including the extent to which the expenses
incurred to administer the plans are borne by plan participants. For this reason, it is
important for participants in 401(k) plans to understand the fees and expenses that
they pay and the services that they receive in exchange for paying these expenses.
Whether participants in 401(k) plans are able to identify the fees and expenses
that they pay has become a topic of interest both to Congress and the Department of
Labor. On March 6, 2007, the House Committee on Education and Labor held a
hearing on the subject of fees paid by participants in 401(k) plans. On April 30,
2007, the Department of Labor published a notice of its intent to propose regulations
that will require plan sponsors to provide clearer and more detailed information about
fees and expenses to plan participants.
According to the Investment Company Institute (ICI), the average
asset-weighted expense ratio for stock mutual funds in 401(k) plans in 2006 was
0.76%. For this report, CRS estimated the effect of expenses ranging from 0.4% to
2.0% of assets on the amounts accumulated in retirement accounts over a thirty-year
period by married couples and single persons with high, median, and low earnings
who contribute 6%, 8%, or 10% of earnings each year to a retirement account
invested in a mix of stocks and bonds. We compared annual expenses of 0.8%,
1.2%, 1.6%, and 2.0% of plan assets to a low-cost “base case” in which annual
expenses were equal to 0.4% of assets in the account.
The results of the analysis indicate that expenses paid by plan participants can
substantially reduce their retirement account balances. Based on the distribution of
rates of return in U.S. stock and bond markets over the 80-year period from 1926
through 2005, a median-earning couple who contribute 6% of family earnings each
year for 30 years to a retirement account that is invested two-thirds in stocks and
one-third in bonds could expect to accumulate $356,434 in constant 2004 dollars if
investment rates of return are at the historical median over the investment period and
annual expenses are equal to 0.4% of plan assets. With annual expenses equal to
2.0% of plan assets, this couple could expect to accumulate $263,663, or 26.0% less
than under the low-cost plan. A median-earning single person who contributes 6%
of earnings each year for 30 years to a retirement account that is invested two-thirds
in stocks and one-third in bonds could expect to accumulate $187,738 in constant
2004 dollars if investment rates of return are at the historical median over the
investment period and annual expenses are equal to 0.4% of plan assets. With annual
expenses equal to 2.0% of plan assets, the individual could expect to accumulate
$138,344, or 26.3% less than under the low-cost plan.
This report will not be updated.
Contents
Background on Fees and Expenses in 401(k) Plans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Results . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Methods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
List of Tables
Table 1. Account Balances Based on 6% Annual Contribution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Table 2. Effect of Expenses on Account Balance in Constant Dollars . . . . . . . . . 8
Table 3. Effect of Expenses on Account Balance as a Percentage of Base Case . 9
Table 4. Account Balances Based on 8% Annual Contribution . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Table 5. Effect of Fees on Account Balance in Constant Dollars . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Table 6. Effect of Expenses on Account Balance as a Percentage of Base Case 12
Table 7. Account Balances Based on 10% Annual Contribution . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Table 8. Effect of Expenses on Account Balance in Constant Dollars . . . . . . . . 14
Table 9. Effect of Expenses on Account Balance as a Percentage of Base Case 15
Retirement Savings Accounts:
Fees, Expenses, and Account Balances
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, 51% of all private-sector employees
in the United States participated in employer-sponsored retirement plans in March
2007. An estimated 43% of private-sector employees participated in defined
contribution plans, while just 20% participated in defined benefit plans.1 Defined
contribution plans, such as those authorized under §401(k) of the Internal Revenue
Code (I.R.C.), are much like savings accounts maintained by an employer on behalf
of each participating employee.2 The employer and/or employee contribute to an
account, which is usually invested in stocks and bonds. When the worker retires, he
or she receives the balance in the account — the sum of all past contributions plus
interest, dividends, and capital gains (or losses) — as a lump sum or in a series of
payments. In a defined benefit plan, the participant earns a benefit that is typically
based on length of service and final pay or average pay. The employer is responsible
for funding a defined benefit plan and must ensure that the plan has sufficient assets
to pay the benefits that have been earned by the plan’s participants.
Because most employer-sponsored retirement plans are defined contribution
plans, workers bear much of the responsibility for accumulating the assets that will
provide their income in retirement. The amount that a worker will have accumulated
in his or her retirement account by the time he or she retires will depend on a number
of factors, including
! the age at which contributions to the plan begin;
! the number of years over which contributions are made;
! the amount contributed to the plan each year by the employer and
employee;
! whether any withdrawals are taken from the account before
retirement;
! the annual rate of return on investment of the assets in the account;
and
! the extent to which the rate of return on investment is reduced by
fees and expenses that are borne by the plan participants.
1 About 12% of workers participated in both types of plans. (43 + 20 = 63. 63 - 51 = 12.)
National Compensation Survey: Employee Benefits in Private Industry in the United States,
March 2007. U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Summary 07-05,
August 2007. [http://www.bls.gov/ncs/ebs/sp/ebsm0006.pdf]
2 §401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code authorizes deferral of income taxes until retirement
on qualifying individual accounts sponsored by employers for their employees.
CRS-2
An earlier Congressional Research Service (CRS) report described the effects of the
number of years of saving, the amount contributed to the plan, and the rate of return
on investment on workers’ potential account balances at retirement.3 This CRS
report presents estimates of the effect of fees and other expenses paid by participants
in retirement plans on their account balances at retirement.
Background on Fees and Expenses in 401(k) Plans
The Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA, P.L. 93-406)
requires that anyone acting as a fiduciary with respect to a retirement plan must act
“solely in the interest of the participants and beneficiaries” of the plan and “for the
exclusive purpose of . . . providing benefits to participants and their beneficiaries and
. . . defraying reasonable expenses of administering the plan.”4 The Department of
Labor has in regulations construed this statute as requiring the employers who offer
401(k) plans to their workers to monitor the fees and expenses charged to plan
participants to assure that they are reasonable. Plan sponsors are required to provide
participants with regular statements of their accrued benefits under the plan, and they
must file reports with the Departments of Labor and Treasury that include the fees
and expenses associated with operating the plan. Whether participants in 401(k)
plans are able to identify the fees and expenses that they are required to pay has
become a topic of interest both to Congress and the Department of Labor. On March
6, 2007, the House Committee on Education and Labor held a hearing on the subject
of fees paid by participants in 401(k) plans.5 On April 30, 2007, the Department of
Labor published a notice of its intent to propose regulations requiring plan sponsors
to provide participants with “the information they need, including information about
fees and expenses, to make informed investment decisions.”6
Employers often hire financial institutions to operate their retirement plans. The
cost of the services provided by these institutions is typically borne in part by the
employer that sponsors the plan and in part by the plan participants. The services
necessary to operate a 401(k) plan or other defined contribution plan include
maintaining the financial records of the plan, processing participant contributions and
withdrawals, tracking account balances, and preparing monthly or quarterly account
statements. Some plans allow participants to borrow from their accounts, and the
cost of processing plan loans is borne by the plan’s participants. In addition, the plan
administrator is responsible for filing annual reports with the Department of Labor
and the Internal Revenue Service. The specific arrangements by which the plan
administrator charges fees to the plan sponsor for these services vary from plan to
3 CRS Report RL33845, Retirement Savings: How Much Will Workers Have When They
Retire? by P. Purcell and D. Whitman.
4 ERISA §404(a)(1); 29 U.S.C. §1104(a)(1). A fiduciary is someone who holds a position
of trust or confidence with respect to the property of another.
5 “Are Hidden 401(k) Fees Undermining Retirement Security?” Committee on Education
and Labor, U.S. House of Representatives, March 6, 2007. [http://edlabor.house.gov/
hearings/fc030607.shtml]
6 Federal Register, vol. 72, no. 82, April 30, 2007, p. 22845.
CRS-3
plan, as do the ways that these costs are shared among the plan sponsor and the plan
participants.
The fees paid by plan participants for the services provided by the plan’s
administrator usually are expressed as the ratio of these costs to the value of plan
assets. The total value of plan assets, the number of participants, the average account
balance, and the kind of investments offered by the plan all affect the plan’s expense
ratio. Plans sponsored by large employers often have below-average expenses, while
plans offered by small employers often have above-average expenses. Large
employers are able to spread the fixed costs of establishing and maintaining a plan
over more accounts and also may be able to negotiate discounts with fund managers
because of the large volume of assets that will be under management. Small
employers have fewer accounts over which to spread their fixed costs and are less
likely to be able to negotiate lower fees with fund managers. Plans typically offer a
range of investment options, including money market funds, bond funds, and stock
funds. Money market funds and bond funds typically have lower expenses than stock
funds but also have lower average rates of return. Among stock funds, those that
track a stock market index usually have lower expenses than actively managed funds
that attempt to achieve rates of return in excess of the market indices.
According to the Investment Company Institute (ICI), the average
asset-weighted expense ratio for stock mutual funds in 401(k) plans in 2006 was
0.76%.7 Expense ratios vary widely around this average, however. The ICI estimates
that 77% of 401(k) plan stock mutual fund assets were invested in funds with
expense ratios less than 1.0% in 2006. Only 3% of 401(k) plan stock mutual fund
assets were invested in funds with expense ratios more than 1.5% in 2006, according
to the ICI. However, because these expense ratios are asset-weighted, more than 3%
of individual participants’ 401(k) accounts had expense ratios of more than 1.5%.
Mutual funds, which comprise more than half of all assets held in 401(k) plans, also
incur the cost of buying and selling securities. According to the ICI, “while these
costs are not included in the fund’s total expense ratio, they are reflected in the
calculation of net return to the investor.”8
Results
For this report, CRS estimated the effect of expense ratios ranging from 0.4%
to 2.0% on the amounts accumulated in retirement accounts over a thirty-year period
by married couples and single persons with high, median, and low earnings who
contribute 6%, 8%, or 10% of earnings each year to a retirement account invested in
a mix of stocks and bonds. We compared annual expenses of 0.8%, 1.2%, 1.6%, and
2.0% of plan assets to a low-cost “base case” in which annual expenses were equal
to 0.4% of assets in the account.
7 “The Economics of Providing 401(k) Plans: Services, Fees, and Expenses, 2006.”
Research Fundamentals, vol. 16, no. 4. The Investment Company Institute, Washington,
DC. September 2007, page 10. [http://www.ici.org/home/fm-v16n4.pdf]
8 Ibid, page 13. The trading activity of a mutual fund is measured through its “turnover
ratio,” which is not easily converted into an expense measured as a percentage of assets.
CRS-4
The results of the analysis are displayed in Table 1 through Table 9. Tables 1
through 3 illustrate the effects of expenses on account balances accumulated by
couples and singles who contribute 6% of earnings to a retirement account each year.
Tables 4 through 6 illustrate the effects of expenses on account balances accumulated
by couples and singles who contribute 8% of earnings to a retirement account each
year. Tables 7 through 9 illustrate the effects of expenses on account balances
accumulated by couples and singles who contribute 10% of earnings to a retirement
account each year.
In Table 1, the top panel of the table (Panel 1) shows the estimated amount that
would be accumulated in a retirement account after thirty years by high-earner,
median-earner, and low-earner couples that each contribute 6% of earnings every
year to a retirement account of which two-thirds is invested in the Standard and
Poor’s 500 index of common stocks and one-third is invested in AAA-rated
corporate bonds. The account balances are expressed in constant 2004 dollars. High
earners were defined in this analysis as couples and singles that each year earn an
amount equal to the 75th percentile of earnings for their age and marital status.
Median earners were defined as couples and singles that each year earn an amount
equal to the 50th percentile of earnings for their age and marital status. Low earners
were defined as couples and singles that each year earn an amount equal to the 25th
percentile of earnings for their age and marital status.
Panel 1 of Table 1 shows the estimated account balances in a retirement plan
in which annual management and investment expenses total 0.4% (40 basis points)
of the account balance. Based on the distribution of rates of return in U.S. stock and
bond markets over the 80-year period from 1926 through 2005, a median-earning
couple who contribute 6% of family earnings each year for 30 years to a retirement
account that is invested two-thirds in stocks and one-third in bonds could expect to
accumulate $356,434 in constant 2004 dollars if investment rates of return are at the
median over the 30-year period. Based on the estimated distribution of rates of
return, there is a 90% probability that their account balance, measured in 2004
dollars, would be between $155,943 and $819,955. These amounts represent the
account balances that would occur if investment rates of return were at the 5th
percentile and the 95th percentile, respectively, of the distribution of likely rates of
return. Likewise, a median-earning single person who contributes 6% of earnings
each year for 30 years to a retirement account that is invested two-thirds in stocks and
one-third in bonds could expect to accumulate $187,738 in constant 2004 dollars if
investment rates of return are at the median over the 30-year period. Based on the
estimated distribution of rates of return, there is a 90% probability that the account
balance, measured in 2004 dollars, would be between $82,099 and $431,797.
Panel 2 through Panel 5 of Table 1 show the account balances in 2004 dollars
that would be accumulated under the same scenario as Panel 1, but with expenses
equal to 0.8%, 1.2%, 1.6%, and 2.0%, respectively, of plan assets. With annual
expenses equal to 2.0% of plan assets, a median-earning couple who contribute 6%
of family earnings each year for 30 years to a retirement account that is invested two-
thirds in stocks and one-third in bonds could expect to accumulate $263,663 in
constant 2004 dollars if investment rates of return are at the median over the 30-year
period. (See Panel 5 of Table 1.) With annual expenses equal to 2.0% of plan assets,
a median-earning single person who contributes 6% of earnings each year for 30
CRS-5
years to a retirement account that is invested two-thirds in stocks and one-third in
bonds could expect to accumulate $138,344 in constant 2004 dollars if investment
rates of return are at the median over the 30-year period.
Table 2 shows the effect of higher expenses on retirement account balances,
expressed as the difference in constant 2004 dollars between the estimated amount
accumulated in a low-cost account compared to the estimated amounts accumulated
in higher-cost accounts. Panel 1 of Table 2 is identical to Panel 1 of Table 1. It
shows estimated account balances under the base case scenario in which expenses
equal 0.4% of plan assets. Panel 2 through Panel 5 of Table 2 show the difference
in account balances due to higher expenses, expressed in constant 2004 dollars. For
example, the difference in the estimated median account balance for a median-
earning couple investing in an account in which expenses equal 0.4% of plan assets
($356,434) and their median account balance in a plan in which expenses equal 2.0%
of plan assets ($263,663) is $92,771. (See Panel 5 of Table 2). Similarly, the
difference in the estimated median account balance for a median-earning single
person investing in an account in which expenses equal 0.4% of plan assets
($187,738) and the median account balance in a plan in which expenses equal 2.0%
of plan assets ($138,344) is $49,394.
Table 3 shows the effect of higher expenses on retirement account balances,
expressed as the percentage difference between the estimated amount accumulated
in a low-cost account and the estimated amounts accumulated in higher-cost
accounts. Panel 1 of Table 3 is identical to Panel 1 of Table 1. It shows estimated
account balances under the base case scenario in which expenses equal 0.4% of plan
assets. Panel 2 through Panel 5 of Table 3 show the difference in account balances
due to higher expenses, expressed as a percentage of the amount accumulated in a
low-cost plan. For example, compared to the estimated median account balance for
a median-earning couple investing in an account in which expenses equal 0.4% of
plan assets ($356,434) the estimated median account balance in a plan in which
expenses equal 2.0% of plan assets ($263,663) is 26.0% lower. (See Panel 5 of Table
3). Similarly, compared to the estimated median account balance for a median-
earning single person investing in an account in which expenses equal 0.4% of plan
assets ($187,738) the estimated median account balance in a plan in which expenses
equal 2.0% of plan assets ($138,344) is 26.3% lower.
Tables 4 through 9 follow the same layout as previous tables. They differ only
in that Tables 4 through 6 show estimated account balances for couples and singles
who invest 8% of pay over 30 years, and Tables 7 through 9 show estimated
account balances for couples and singles who invest 10% of pay over 30 years.
Methods
The estimates presented in Tables 1 through 9 are based on earnings data by
age and marital status derived from the March 2005 Current Population Survey. We
used as our estimate of future real earnings growth the 1.1% annual rate of growth
in real earnings that was developed by the actuaries of the Social Security
Administration for their most recent estimate of the long-run solvency of the Social
CRS-6
Security program. The estimated account balances are based on assumed annual
contributions to a retirement plan of 6% (Tables 1 through 3), 8% (Tables 4
through 6), and 10% (Tables 7 through 9) of family earnings. This is the most
common range of contribution amounts observed in the Federal Reserve Board’s
2004 Survey of Consumer Finances. The estimated account balances are based on
two-thirds of account assets being invested in common stocks and one-third of plan
assets being invested in corporate bonds. This is the average distribution of plan
assets in the data base of 401(k) plans jointly maintained by the Employee Benefit
Research Institute and the Investment Company Institute.9
We estimated the amounts accumulated in retirement accounts through a Monte
Carlo process, using proprietary software called @RISK, which was developed by the
Palisade Corporation. The key inputs to these estimates, in addition to the estimates
of earnings and the assumed rate of annual contributions to the retirement accounts,
is the estimated future real rates of return on investment in stocks and bonds and the
correlation between the rates of return on these two classes of assets. Our estimates
are based on the annual real rates of return on the Standard and Poor’s 500 index of
common stocks and the annual real rates of return on AAA-rated corporate bonds
over the period from 1926 through 2005. The @RISK software program uses these
historical data to determine the shape of the distribution of rates of return for each
type of asset and the correlation between these rates of return. On the basis of these
distributions and correlations, thousands of simulations are run in which the annual
rate of return on each asset is chosen from the possible range of rates of return, as
determined by the shape of the distribution. In our simulations, each 30-year period
of investment returns was simulated 5,000 times. The results generated by the
simulations include the estimated mean and median account balances, as well as the
balances generated by the rates of return at the 5th and 95th percentiles of likely rates
of return.10
9 “401(k) Plan Asset Allocation, Account Balances, and Loan Activity in 2006,” EBRI Issue
Brief No. 308, August 2007. [http://www.ebri.org/publications/ib/index.cfm?fa=ibDisp&
content_id=3741]
10 For a more complete description of Monte Carlo estimation processes, see CRS Report
RL33845, Retirement Savings: How Much Will Workers Have When They Retire?, by
Patrick Purcell and Debra B. Whitman. [http://www.congress.gov/erp/rl/pdf/RL33845.pdf]
CRS-7
Table 1. Account Balances Based on 6% Annual Contribution
Panel 1:
30 years of contributions, 6.0% annual contribution rate, Expenses = 0.4% (Base case)
Married couples
Single persons
Account Balance High earner Med. earner
Low earner
High earner
Med. earner
Low earner Avg. ann. return
Mean
$611,751
$406,243
$250,703
$343,417
$213,913
$125,152
5.6%
Median
$538,201
$356,434
$219,522
$301,712
$187,738
$109,804
5.6%
5th percentile
$238,067
$155,943
$94,528
$132,614
$82,099
$47,855
1.3%
95th percentile
$1,225,915
$819,955
$508,973
$692,687
$431,797
$253,142
9.8%
Panel 2:
30 years of contributions, 6.0% annual contribution rate, Expenses = 0.8%
Married couples
Single persons
Account Balance High earner Med. earner
Low earner
High earner
Med. earner
Low earner Avg. ann. return
Mean
$579,849
$384,798
$237,253
$325,228
$202,547
$118,506
5.1%
Median
$507,441
$336,104
$206,185
$283,680
$176,639
$103,337
5.1%
5th percentile
$229,681
$150,354
$91,188
$127,552
$79,129
$46,168
0.9%
95th percentile
$1,183,986
$790,708
$491,660
$668,210
$416,637
$243,986
9.4%
Panel 3:
30 years of contributions, 6.0% annual contribution rate, Expenses = 1.2%
Married couples
Single persons
Account Balance High earner Med. earner
Low earner
High earner
Med. earner
Low earner Avg. ann. return
Mean
$536,592
$355,729
$219,065
$300,656
$187,190
$109,508
4.7%
Median
$472,625
$312,521
$192,074
$263,954
$164,354
$96,187
4.7%
5th percentile
$217,303
$141,696
$85,932
$120,714
$74,725
$43,576
0.5%
95th percentile
$1,068,467
$712,519
$441,031
$600,589
$374,681
$219,373
8.9%
Panel 4:
30 years of contributions, 6.0% annual contribution rate, Expenses = 1.6%
Married couples
Single persons
Account Balance High earner Med. earner
Low earner
High earner
Med. earner
Low earner Avg. ann. return
Mean
$497,062
$329,212
$202,503
$278,265
$173,197
$101,313
4.3%
Median
$439,763
$290,726
$178,159
$245,477
$152,682
$89,275
4.3%
5th percentile
$193,753
$126,604
$76,690
$107,884
$66,757
$38,911
0.0%
95th percentile
$1,008,731
$672,452
$417,250
$567,119
$354,377
$207,493
8.6%
Panel 5:
30 years of contributions, 6.0% annual contribution rate, Expenses = 2.0%
Married couples
Single persons
Account Balance High earner Med. earner
Low earner
High earner
Med. earner
Low earner Avg. ann. return
Mean
$455,942
$301,612
$185,261
$254,980
$158,634
$92,777
3.8%
Median
$399,464
$263,663
$161,361
$222,702
$138,344
$80,961
3.9%
5th percentile
$188,311
$122,532
$74,161
$104,278
$64,600
$37,592
-0.4%
95th percentile
$913,068
$607,457
$376,665
$513,344
$320,172
$187,586
8.1%
Note: Amounts are in 2004 dollars. The average annual real rate of return is net of account expenses.
Source: Congressional Research Service.
CRS-8
Table 2. Effect of Expenses on Account Balance in Constant Dollars
Panel 1:
30 years of contributions, 6.0% annual contribution rate, Expenses = 0.4% (Base case)
Married couples
Single persons
Account Balance High earner
Med. earner
Low earner
High earner
Med. earner Low earner
Avg. ann. return
Mean
$611,751
$406,243
$250,703
$343,417
$213,913
$125,152
5.6%
Median
$538,201
$356,434
$219,522
$301,712
$187,738
$109,804
5.6%
5th percentile
$238,067
$155,943
$94,528
$132,614
$82,099
$47,855
1.3%
95th percentile
$1,225,915
$819,955
$508,973
$692,687
$431,797
$253,142
9.8%
Panel 2:
30 years of contributions, 6.0% annual contribution rate, Expenses = 0.8%
Married couples
Single persons
Dollar difference High earner
Med. earner
Low earner
High earner
Med. earner Low earner
Avg. ann. return
Mean
-$31,902
-$21,445
-$13,450
-$18,189
-$11,366
-$6,646
5.1%
Median
-$30,760
-$20,330
-$13,337
-$18,032
-$11,099
-$6,467
5.1%
5th percentile
-$8,386
-$5,589
-$3,340
-$5,062
-$2,970
-$1,687
0.9%
95th percentile
-$41,930
-$29,246
-$17,313
-$24,477
-$15,159
-$9,156
9.4%
Panel 3:
30 years of contributions, 6.0% annual contribution rate, Expenses = 1.2%
Married couples
Single persons
Dollar difference High earner
Med. earner
Low earner
High earner
Med. earner Low earner
Avg. ann. return
Mean
-$75,159
-$50,514
-$31,638
-$42,760
-$26,723
-$15,644
4.7%
Median
-$65,576
-$43,913
-$27,448
-$37,758
-$23,384
-$13,617
4.7%
5th percentile
-$20,764
-$14,247
-$8,595
-$11,900
-$7,375
-$4,279
0.5%
95th percentile
-$157,449
-$107,436
-$67,943
-$92,098
-$57,116
-$33,768
8.9%
Panel 4:
30 years of contributions, 6.0% annual contribution rate, Expenses = 1.6%
Married couples
Single persons
Dollar difference High earner
Med. earner
Low earner
High earner
Med. earner Low earner
Avg. ann. return
Mean
-$114,689
-$77,031
-$48,200
-$65,152
-$40,716
-$23,839
4.3%
Median
-$98,438
-$65,708
-$41,364
-$56,236
-$35,056
-$20,529
4.3%
5th percentile
-$44,315
-$29,339
-$17,837
-$24,730
-$15,342
-$8,944
0.0%
95th percentile
-$217,184
-$147,503
-$91,724
-$125,568
-$77,420
-$45,649
8.6%
Panel 5:
30 years of contributions, 6.0% annual contribution rate, Expenses = 2.0%
Married couples
Single persons
Dollar difference High earner
Med. earner
Low earner
High earner
Med. earner Low earner
Avg. ann. return
Mean
-$155,810
-$104,630
-$65,442
-$88,437
-$55,278
-$32,375
3.8%
Median
-$138,737
-$92,771
-$58,162
-$79,010
-$49,394
-$28,843
3.9%
5th percentile
-$49,757
-$33,411
-$20,367
-$28,336
-$17,500
-$10,263
-0.4%
95th percentile
-$312,848
-$212,497
-$132,309
-$179,343
-$111,625
-$65,555
8.1%
Note: Amounts are in 2004 dollars. The average annual real rate of return is net of account expenses.
Source: Congressional Research Service.
CRS-9
Table 3. Effect of Expenses on Account Balance as a Percentage of Base Case
Panel 1:
30 years of contributions, 6.0% annual contribution rate, Expenses = 0.4% (Base case)
Married couples
Single persons
Account Balance High earner
Med. earner
Low earner
High earner
Med. earner
Low earner Avg. ann. return
Mean
$611,751
$406,243
$250,703
$343,417
$213,913
$125,152
5.6%
Median
$538,201
$356,434
$219,522
$301,712
$187,738
$109,804
5.6%
5th percentile
$238,067
$155,943
$94,528
$132,614
$82,099
$47,855
1.3%
95th percentile
$1,225,915
$819,955
$508,973
$692,687
$431,797
$253,142
9.8%
Panel 2:
30 years of contributions, 6.0% annual contribution rate, Expenses = 0.8%
Married couples
Single persons
% difference
High earner
Med. earner
Low earner
High earner
Med. earner
Low earner Avg. ann. return
Mean
-5.2%
-5.3%
-5.4%
-5.3%
-5.3%
-5.3%
5.1%
Median
-5.7%
-5.7%
-6.1%
-6.0%
-5.9%
-5.9%
5.1%
5th percentile
-3.5%
-3.6%
-3.5%
-3.8%
-3.6%
-3.5%
0.9%
95th percentile
-3.4%
-3.6%
-3.4%
-3.5%
-3.5%
-3.6%
9.4%
Panel 3:
30 years of contributions, 6.0% annual contribution rate, Expenses = 1.2%
Married couples
Single persons
% difference
High earner
Med. earner
Low earner
High earner
Med. earner
Low earner Avg. ann. return
Mean
-12.3%
-12.4%
-12.6%
-12.5%
-12.5%
-12.5%
4.7%
Median
-12.2%
-12.3%
-12.5%
-12.5%
-12.5%
-12.4%
4.7%
5th percentile
-8.7%
-9.1%
-9.1%
-9.0%
-9.0%
-8.9%
0.5%
95th percentile
-12.8%
-13.1%
-13.3%
-13.3%
-13.2%
-13.3%
8.9%
Panel 4:
30 years of contributions, 6.0% annual contribution rate, Expenses = 1.6%
Married couples
Single persons
% difference
High earner
Med. earner
Low earner
High earner
Med. earner
Low earner Avg. ann. return
Mean
-18.7%
-19.0%
-19.2%
-19.0%
-19.0%
-19.0%
4.3%
Median
-18.3%
-18.4%
-18.8%
-18.6%
-18.7%
-18.7%
4.3%
5th percentile
-18.6%
-18.8%
-18.9%
-18.6%
-18.7%
-18.7%
0.0%
95th percentile
-17.7%
-18.0%
-18.0%
-18.1%
-17.9%
-18.0%
8.6%
Panel 5:
30 years of contributions, 6.0% annual contribution rate, Expenses = 2.0%
Married couples
Single persons
% difference
High earner
Med. earner
Low earner
High earner
Med. earner
Low earner Avg. ann. return
Mean
-25.5%
-25.8%
-26.1%
-25.8%
-25.8%
-25.9%
3.8%
Median
-25.8%
-26.0%
-26.5%
-26.2%
-26.3%
-26.3%
3.9%
5th percentile
-20.9%
-21.4%
-21.5%
-21.4%
-21.3%
-21.4%
-0.4%
95th percentile
-25.5%
-25.9%
-26.0%
-25.9%
-25.9%
-25.9%
8.1%
Note: Amounts are in 2004 dollars. The average annual real rate of return is net of account expenses.
Source: Congressional Research Service.
CRS-10
Table 4. Account Balances Based on 8% Annual Contribution
Panel 1:
30 years of contributions, 8.0% annual contribution rate, Expenses = 0.4% (Base case)
Married couples
Single persons
Account Balance High earner
Med. earner
Low earner
High earner
Med. earner
Low earner Avg. ann. return
Mean
$826,603
$548,965
$338,816
$464,053
$289,071
$169,138
5.6%
Median
$724,699
$479,853
$295,882
$405,565
$252,531
$147,784
5.6%
5th percentile
$323,993
$211,868
$129,323
$180,244
$111,664
$65,117
1.3%
95th percentile
$1,678,947
$1,124,060
$697,484
$946,833
$590,770
$346,257
9.8%
Panel 2:
30 years of contributions, 8.0% annual contribution rate, Expenses = 0.8%
Married couples
Single persons
Account Balance High earner
Med. earner
Low earner
High earner
Med. earner
Low earner Avg. ann. return
Mean
$758,853
$503,514
$310,402
$425,564
$265,023
$155,046
5.1%
Median
$658,542
$435,434
$267,721
$368,391
$229,413
$133,976
5.1%
5th percentile
$301,344
$196,811
$119,270
$167,281
$103,531
$60,400
0.9%
95th percentile
$1,542,708
$1,028,985
$639,350
$870,555
$542,836
$318,251
9.4%
Panel 3:
30 years of contributions, 8.0% annual contribution rate, Expenses = 1.2%
Married couples
Single persons
Account Balance High earner
Med. earner
Low earner
High earner
Med. earner
Low earner Avg. ann. return
Mean
$714,956
$474,018
$291,927
$400,615
$249,434
$145,927
4.7%
Median
$627,472
$414,795
$254,805
$350,689
$218,326
$127,649
4.7%
5th percentile
$283,012
$183,843
$111,296
$156,746
$97,113
$56,550
0.5%
95th percentile
$1,442,313
$961,671
$597,981
$812,218
$507,108
$297,101
8.9%
Panel 4:
30 years of contributions, 8.0% annual contribution rate, Expenses = 1.6%
Married couples
Single persons
Account Balance High earner
Med. earner
Low earner
High earner
Med. earner
Low earner Avg. ann. return
Mean
$657,320
$435,300
$267,707
$367,954
$229,000
$133,948
4.3%
Median
$577,817
$382,207
$233,875
$322,842
$200,668
$117,337
4.3%
5th percentile
$263,304
$171,275
$104,072
$146,030
$90,390
$52,678
0.0%
95th percentile
$1,318,254
$878,905
$543,979
$738,299
$461,188
$270,482
8.6%
Panel 5:
30 years of contributions, 8.0% annual contribution rate, Expenses = 2.0%
Married couples
Single persons
Account Balance High earner
Med. earner
Low earner
High earner
Med. earner
Low earner Avg. ann. return
Mean
$606,845
$401,440
$246,572
$339,348
$211,123
$123,478
3.8%
Median
$530,664
$349,913
$214,367
$296,124
$184,004
$107,504
3.9%
5th percentile
$244,598
$159,745
$96,606
$136,108
$84,186
$49,052
-0.4%
95th percentile
$1,206,041
$805,049
$498,822
$679,098
$423,401
$247,741
8.1%
Note: Amounts are in 2004 dollars. The average annual real rate of return is net of account expenses.
Source: Congressional Research Service.
CRS-11
Table 5. Effect of Fees on Account Balance in Constant Dollars
Panel 1:
30 years of contributions, 8.0% annual contribution rate, Fees = 0.4% (Base case)
Married couples
Single persons
Account Balance High earner
Med. earner
Low earner
High earner
Med. earner
Low earner Avg. ann. return
Mean
$826,603
$548,965
$338,816
$464,053
$289,071
$169,138
5.6%
Median
$724,699
$479,853
$295,882
$405,565
$252,531
$147,784
5.6%
5th percentile
$323,993
$211,868
$129,323
$180,244
$111,664
$65,117
1.3%
95th percentile
$1,678,947
$1,124,060
$697,484
$946,833
$590,770
$346,257
9.8%
Panel 2:
30 years of contributions, 8.0% annual contribution rate, Fees = 0.8%
Married couples
Single persons
Dollar difference High earner
Med. earner
Low earner
High earner
Med. earner
Low earner Avg. ann. return
Mean
-$67,750
-$45,451
-$28,414
-$38,488
-$24,048
-$14,092
5.1%
Median
-$66,157
-$44,418
-$28,161
-$37,174
-$23,118
-$13,808
5.1%
5th percentile
-$22,649
-$15,056
-$10,053
-$12,962
-$8,133
-$4,717
0.9%
95th percentile
-$136,239
-$95,075
-$58,135
-$76,278
-$47,934
-$28,006
9.4%
Panel 3:
30 years of contributions, 8.0% annual contribution rate, Fees = 1.2%
Married couples
Single persons
Dollar difference High earner
Med. earner
Low earner
High earner
Med. earner
Low earner Avg. ann. return
Mean
-$111,648
-$74,947
-$46,889
-$63,437
-$39,636
-$23,211
4.7%
Median
-$97,227
-$65,057
-$41,077
-$54,876
-$34,204
-$20,136
4.7%
5th percentile
-$40,982
-$28,025
-$18,026
-$23,497
-$14,551
-$8,566
0.5%
95th percentile
-$236,634
-$162,389
-$99,503
-$134,615
-$83,662
-$49,156
8.9%
Panel 4:
30 years of contributions, 8.0% annual contribution rate, Fees = 1.6%
Married couples
Single persons
Dollar difference High earner
Med. earner
Low earner
High earner
Med. earner
Low earner Avg. ann. return
Mean
-$169,283
-$113,666
-$71,109
-$96,099
-$60,071
-$35,189
4.3%
Median
-$146,882
-$97,646
-$62,007
-$82,723
-$51,862
-$30,447
4.3%
5th percentile
-$60,690
-$40,593
-$25,250
-$34,213
-$21,274
-$12,438
0.0%
95th percentile
-$360,693
-$245,155
-$153,506
-$208,534
-$129,582
-$75,775
8.6%
Panel 5:
30 years of contributions, 8.0% annual contribution rate, Fees = 2.0%
Married couples
Single persons
Dollar difference High earner
Med. earner
Low earner
High earner
Med. earner
Low earner Avg. ann. return
Mean
-$219,759
-$147,525
-$92,244
-$124,705
-$77,948
-$45,659
3.8%
Median
-$194,035
-$129,940
-$81,514
-$109,441
-$68,526
-$40,281
3.9%
5th percentile
-$79,395
-$52,122
-$32,717
-$44,135
-$27,478
-$16,065
-0.4%
95th percentile
-$472,906
-$319,011
-$198,663
-$267,736
-$167,369
-$98,516
8.1%
Note: Amounts are in 2004 dollars. The average annual real rate of return is net of account fees.
Source: Congressional Research Service.
CRS-12
Table 6. Effect of Expenses on Account Balance as a Percentage of Base Case
Panel 1:
30 years of contributions, 8.0% annual contribution rate, Expenses = 0.4% (Base case)
Married couples
Single persons
Account Balance High earner
Med. earner
Low earner
High earner
Med. earner
Low earner Avg. ann. return
Mean
$826,603
$548,965
$338,816
$464,053
$289,071
$169,138
5.6%
Median
$724,699
$479,853
$295,882
$405,565
$252,531
$147,784
5.6%
5th percentile
$323,993
$211,868
$129,323
$180,244
$111,664
$65,117
1.3%
95th percentile
$1,678,947
$1,124,060
$697,484
$946,833
$590,770
$346,257
9.8%
Panel 2:
30 years of contributions, 8.0% annual contribution rate, Expenses = 0.8%
Married couples
Single persons
% difference
High earner
Med. earner
Low earner
High earner
Med. earner
Low earner Avg. ann. return
Mean
-8.2%
-8.3%
-8.4%
-8.3%
-8.3%
-8.3%
5.1%
Median
-9.1%
-9.3%
-9.5%
-9.2%
-9.2%
-9.3%
5.1%
5th percentile
-7.0%
-7.1%
-7.8%
-7.2%
-7.3%
-7.2%
0.9%
95th percentile
-8.1%
-8.5%
-8.3%
-8.1%
-8.1%
-8.1%
9.4%
Panel 3:
30 years of contributions, 8.0% annual contribution rate, Expenses = 1.2%
Married couples
Single persons
% difference
High earner
Med. earner
Low earner
High earner
Med. earner
Low earner Avg. ann. return
Mean
-13.5%
-13.7%
-13.8%
-13.7%
-13.7%
-13.7%
4.7%
Median
-13.4%
-13.6%
-13.9%
-13.5%
-13.5%
-13.6%
4.7%
5th percentile
-12.6%
-13.2%
-13.9%
-13.0%
-13.0%
-13.2%
0.5%
95th percentile
-14.1%
-14.4%
-14.3%
-14.2%
-14.2%
-14.2%
8.9%
Panel 4:
30 years of contributions, 8.0% annual contribution rate, Expenses = 1.6%
Married couples
Single persons
% difference
High earner
Med. earner
Low earner
High earner
Med. earner
Low earner Avg. ann. return
Mean
-20.5%
-20.7%
-21.0%
-20.7%
-20.8%
-20.8%
4.3%
Median
-20.3%
-20.3%
-21.0%
-20.4%
-20.5%
-20.6%
4.3%
5th percentile
-18.7%
-19.2%
-19.5%
-19.0%
-19.1%
-19.1%
0.0%
95th percentile
-21.5%
-21.8%
-22.0%
-22.0%
-21.9%
-21.9%
8.6%
Panel 5:
30 years of contributions, 8.0% annual contribution rate, Expenses = 2.0%
Married couples
Single persons
% difference
High earner
Med. earner
Low earner
High earner
Med. earner
Low earner Avg. ann. return
Mean
-26.6%
-26.9%
-27.2%
-26.9%
-27.0%
-27.0%
3.8%
Median
-26.8%
-27.1%
-27.5%
-27.0%
-27.1%
-27.3%
3.9%
5th percentile
-24.5%
-24.6%
-25.3%
-24.5%
-24.6%
-24.7%
-0.4%
95th percentile
-28.2%
-28.4%
-28.5%
-28.3%
-28.3%
-28.5%
8.1%
Note: Amounts are in 2004 dollars. The average annual real rate of return is net of account expenses.
Source: Congressional Research Service.
CRS-13
Table 7. Account Balances Based on 10% Annual Contribution
Panel 1:
30 years of contributions, 10.0% annual contribution rate, Expenses = 0.4% (Base case)
Married couples
Single persons
Account Balance High earner
Med. earner
Low earner
High earner
Med. earner
Low earner Avg. ann. return
Mean
$1,041,520
$691,812
$427,075
$584,752
$364,291
$213,154
5.6%
Median
$901,358
$597,677
$367,689
$504,880
$314,447
$184,000
5.6%
5th percentile
$397,243
$260,362
$158,505
$220,813
$136,909
$79,971
1.3%
95th percentile
$2,165,566
$1,444,425
$898,656
$1,218,359
$761,117
$445,130
9.8%
Panel 2:
30 years of contributions, 10.0% annual contribution rate, Expenses = 0.8%
Married couples
Single persons
Account Balance High earner
Med. earner
Low earner
High earner
Med. earner
Low earner Avg. ann. return
Mean
$965,993
$641,073
$395,293
$541,842
$337,459
$197,432
5.1%
Median
$836,253
$553,585
$340,871
$468,574
$291,540
$170,488
5.1%
5th percentile
$377,237
$246,960
$149,893
$209,746
$130,036
$75,891
0.9%
95th percentile
$1,974,958
$1,318,392
$818,606
$1,113,957
$695,362
$406,531
9.4%
Panel 3:
30 years of contributions, 10.0% annual contribution rate, Expenses = 1.2%
Married couples
Single persons
Account Balance High earner
Med. earner
Low earner
High earner
Med. earner
Low earner Avg. ann. return
Mean
$891,062
$590,711
$363,773
$499,315
$310,853
$181,860
4.7%
Median
$776,797
$514,172
$315,608
$434,649
$270,209
$157,935
4.7%
5th percentile
$353,406
$230,942
$139,843
$196,338
$121,511
$70,892
0.5%
95th percentile
$1,797,457
$1,199,326
$743,969
$1,012,035
$631,685
$369,375
8.9%
Panel 4:
30 years of contributions, 10.0% annual contribution rate, Expenses = 1.6%
Married couples
Single persons
Account Balance High earner
Med. earner
Low earner
High earner
Med. earner
Low earner Avg. ann. return
Mean
$831,254
$550,537
$338,602
$465,334
$289,614
$169,412
4.3%
Median
$726,627
$480,203
$294,218
$406,235
$252,596
$147,780
4.3%
5th percentile
$326,297
$213,105
$128,836
$181,246
$112,242
$65,289
0.0%
95th percentile
$1,674,531
$1,115,892
$692,072
$942,311
$587,967
$344,172
8.6%
Panel 5:
30 years of contributions, 10.0% annual contribution rate, Expenses = 2.0%
Married couples
Single persons
Account Balance High earner
Med. earner
Low earner
High earner
Med. earner
Low earner Avg. ann. return
Mean
$758,837
$502,024
$308,403
$424,385
$264,042
$154,429
3.8%
Median
$670,703
$442,917
$270,433
$374,046
$232,459
$135,959
3.9%
5th percentile
$306,606
$199,784
$120,866
$170,034
$105,136
$61,289
-0.4%
95th percentile
$1,523,980
$1,014,814
$629,189
$857,667
$534,950
$312,962
8.1%
Note: Amounts are in 2004 dollars. The average annual real rate of return is net of account expenses.
Source: Congressional Research Service.
CRS-14
Table 8. Effect of Expenses on Account Balance in Constant Dollars
Panel 1:
30 years of contributions, 10.0% annual contribution rate, Expenses = 0.4% (Base case)
Married couples
Single persons
Account Balance High earner
Med. earner
Low earner
High earner
Med. earner
Low earner Avg. ann. return
Mean
$1,041,520
$691,812
$427,075
$584,752
$364,291
$213,154
5.6%
Median
$901,358
$597,677
$367,689
$504,880
$314,447
$184,000
5.6%
5th percentile
$397,243
$260,362
$158,505
$220,813
$136,909
$79,971
1.3%
95th percentile
$2,165,566
$1,444,425
$898,656
$1,218,359
$761,117
$445,130
9.8%
Panel 2:
30 years of contributions, 10.0% annual contribution rate, Expenses = 0.8%
Married couples
Single persons
Dollar difference High earner
Med. earner
Low earner
High earner
Med. earner
Low earner Avg. ann. return
Mean
-$75,527
-$50,739
-$31,782
-$42,911
-$26,832
-$15,722
5.1%
Median
-$65,105
-$44,091
-$26,818
-$36,306
-$22,907
-$13,512
5.1%
5th percentile
-$20,007
-$13,402
-$8,611
-$11,068
-$6,873
-$4,081
0.9%
95th percentile
-$190,609
-$126,033
-$80,050
-$104,402
-$65,755
-$38,599
9.4%
Panel 3:
30 years of contributions, 10.0% annual contribution rate, Expenses = 1.2%
Married couples
Single persons
Dollar difference High earner
Med. earner
Low earner
High earner
Med. earner
Low earner Avg. ann. return
Mean
-$150,458
-$101,101
-$63,303
-$85,437
-$53,438
-$31,294
4.7%
Median
-$124,562
-$83,505
-$52,081
-$70,232
-$44,237
-$26,065
4.7%
5th percentile
-$43,837
-$29,420
-$18,662
-$24,475
-$15,399
-$9,079
0.5%
95th percentile
-$368,110
-$245,099
-$154,687
-$206,323
-$129,432
-$75,755
8.9%
Panel 4:
30 years of contributions, 10.0% annual contribution rate, Expenses = 1.6%
Married couples
Single persons
Dollar difference High earner
Med. earner
Low earner
High earner
Med. earner
Low earner Avg. ann. return
Mean
-$210,265
-$141,275
-$88,473
-$119,419
-$74,677
-$43,743
4.3%
Median
-$174,732
-$117,474
-$73,471
-$98,646
-$61,851
-$36,219
4.3%
5th percentile
-$70,946
-$47,258
-$29,669
-$39,568
-$24,668
-$14,682
0.0%
95th percentile
-$491,036
-$328,533
-$206,584
-$276,047
-$173,150
-$100,957
8.6%
Panel 5:
30 years of contributions, 10.0% annual contribution rate, Expenses = 2.0%
Married couples
Single persons
Dollar difference High earner
Med. earner
Low earner
High earner
Med. earner
Low earner Avg. ann. return
Mean
-$282,683
-$189,787
-$118,673
-$160,367
-$100,249
-$58,725
3.8%
Median
-$230,655
-$154,760
-$97,256
-$130,834
-$81,987
-$48,041
3.9%
5th percentile
-$90,638
-$60,578
-$37,639
-$50,780
-$31,773
-$18,682
-0.4%
95th percentile
-$641,587
-$429,611
-$269,466
-$360,692
-$226,166
-$132,167
8.1%
Note: Amounts are in 2004 dollars. The average annual real rate of return is net of account expenses.
Source: Congressional Research Service.
CRS-15
Table 9. Effect of Expenses on Account Balance as a Percentage of Base Case
Panel 1:
30 years of contributions, 10.0% annual contribution rate, Expenses = 0.4% (Base case)
Married couples
Single persons
Account Balance High earner
Med. earner
Low earner
High earner
Med. earner
Low earner Avg. ann. return
Mean
$1,041,520
$691,812
$427,075
$584,752
$364,291
$213,154
5.6%
Median
$901,358
$597,677
$367,689
$504,880
$314,447
$184,000
5.6%
5th percentile
$397,243
$260,362
$158,505
$220,813
$136,909
$79,971
1.3%
95th percentile
$2,165,566
$1,444,425
$898,656
$1,218,359
$761,117
$445,130
9.8%
Panel 2:
30 years of contributions, 10.0% annual contribution rate, Expenses = 0.8%
Married couples
Single persons
% difference
High earner
Med. earner
Low earner
High earner
Med. earner
Low earner Avg. ann. return
Mean
-7.3%
-7.3%
-7.4%
-7.3%
-7.4%
-7.4%
5.1%
Median
-7.2%
-7.4%
-7.3%
-7.2%
-7.3%
-7.3%
5.1%
5th percentile
-5.0%
-5.1%
-5.4%
-5.0%
-5.0%
-5.1%
0.9%
95th percentile
-8.8%
-8.7%
-8.9%
-8.6%
-8.6%
-8.7%
9.4%
Panel 3:
30 years of contributions, 10.0% annual contribution rate, Expenses = 1.2%
Married couples
Single persons
% difference
High earner
Med. earner
Low earner
High earner
Med. earner
Low earner Avg. ann. return
Mean
-14.4%
-14.6%
-14.8%
-14.6%
-14.7%
-14.7%
4.7%
Median
-13.8%
-14.0%
-14.2%
-13.9%
-14.1%
-14.2%
4.7%
5th percentile
-11.0%
-11.3%
-11.8%
-11.1%
-11.2%
-11.4%
0.5%
95th percentile
-17.0%
-17.0%
-17.2%
-16.9%
-17.0%
-17.0%
8.9%
Panel 4:
30 years of contributions, 10.0% annual contribution rate, Expenses = 1.6%
Married couples
Single persons
% difference
High earner
Med. earner
Low earner
High earner
Med. earner
Low earner Avg. ann. return
Mean
-20.2%
-20.4%
-20.7%
-20.4%
-20.5%
-20.5%
4.3%
Median
-19.4%
-19.7%
-20.0%
-19.5%
-19.7%
-19.7%
4.3%
5th percentile
-17.9%
-18.2%
-18.7%
-17.9%
-18.0%
-18.4%
0.0%
95th percentile
-22.7%
-22.7%
-23.0%
-22.7%
-22.7%
-22.7%
8.6%
Panel 5:
30 years of contributions, 10.0% annual contribution rate, Expenses = 2.0%
Married couples
Single persons
% difference
High earner
Med. earner
Low earner
High earner
Med. earner
Low earner Avg. ann. return
Mean
-27.1%
-27.4%
-27.8%
-27.4%
-27.5%
-27.6%
3.8%
Median
-25.6%
-25.9%
-26.5%
-25.9%
-26.1%
-26.1%
3.9%
5th percentile
-22.8%
-23.3%
-23.7%
-23.0%
-23.2%
-23.4%
-0.4%
95th percentile
-29.6%
-29.7%
-30.0%
-29.6%
-29.7%
-29.7%
8.1%
Note: Amounts are in 2004 dollars. The average annual real rate of return is net of account expenses.
Source: Congressional Research Service.