Retirement Data: Fidelity Plan Balances Q1 2021

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Source: Fidelity 

From Fidelity's press release published on May 13, 2021:

• Retirement accounts reach record levels for the second consecutive quarter. The average IRA balance was $130,000, a 1% increase from last quarter but a 31% increase from Q1 2020. The average 401(k) balance increased to $123,900 in Q1, a 2% increase from Q4 and up 36% from a year ago. The average 403(b) account balance increased to a record $107,300, an increase of 1% from last quarter and 42% higher than in Q1 2020. 

Retirement Data: Fidelity Plan Balances Q4 2020

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Source: Fidelity 

From Fidelity's press release published on February 18, 2021: 

• Retirement accounts reach record levels in Q4. The average IRA balance was $128,100, a 9% increase from last quarter and 11% higher than average balance of $115,400 a year ago. The average 401(k) balance increased to $121,500 in Q4, an 11% increase from Q3 and up from 8% from a year ago. The average 403(b) account balance increased to a record $106,100, an increase of 10% from last quarter and the first time the average TEM balance has reached six figures. 

Retirement Data: Fidelity Plan Balances Q3 2020

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Source: Fidelity

From Fidelity's press release published on November 12, 2020:

• Retirement accounts increase slightly in Q3. The average IRA balance was $117,700, a 6% increase from last quarter and 7% higher than the average balance of $110,200 a year ago. The average 401(k) balance increased to $109,600 in Q3, a 5% increase from Q2 and up from 4% from a year ago. The average 403(b) account balance increased to $96,100, an increase of 5% from last quarter and up 9% from a year ago. 

October Market Update - Fiscal Support

S&P 500 lost 3.92% in September, finishing at 3,363.00. YTD through September 30, 2020 the S&P 500 is up 4.09%. Although the month was down, the S&P 500 gained 9.3% during Q3 2020. A snapshot of ETF asset class returns for the first three quarters of 2020 (please click on image to enlarge):

Now, let's review price, sentiment and valuation as we countdown to U.S. Election Day. Note: This will be my last monthly market update. Thank you for reading. 

September Market Update - Volatility Rising in a Stimulus Driven Market with a Presidential Election on the Horizon

 S&P 500 gained 7.01% in August, finishing at 3,500.31. YTD through August 31, 2020 the S&P 500 is up 8.34%. Volatility in markets increased for the last couple of weeks leading up to Labor Day weekend. When volatility rises in stocks, it often spreads to multiple asset classes. Investors frequently need to liquidate positions to calm their portfolio fluctuation. This situation can lead to temporary corrections in markets. How many market participants will need to press the sell button before the VIX is back below 26? Let's examine price, sentiment and valuation at the start of September.

Retirement Data: Fidelity Plan Balances Q2 2020

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Source: Fidelity

From Fidelity's press release posted August 11, 2020:

• The average IRA balance was $111,500, a 13% increase from last quarter and slightly higher than the average balance of $110,400 a year ago. The average 401(k) balance increased to $104,400 in Q2, a 14% increase from Q1 but down 2% from a year ago. The average 403(b) account balance increased to $91,100, an increase of 17% from last quarter and up 3% from a year ago.

August Market Update - Is This the Point of Maximum Complacency?

The S&P 500 gained 5.51% in July ending at 3,271.12. YTD through July 31, the S&P 500 is up 1.25%. At the end of July, U.S. market returns remain concentrated in large U.S. growth companies while many smaller U.S. companies struggle. Primary factors impacting returns in July include: 1) falling U.S. dollar and 2) a rally in the FAAMG (Facebook, Apple, Amazon, Microsoft and Google) stocks. I'll share more about market and economic perspectives after we examine price, sentiment, and valuation at the beginning of August 2020.