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Alight named by Fortune as one of the ‘100 Best Companies to Work For’ in 2024

2018 Universe Benchmarks Highlights

Highlights from the 2018 Universe Benchmarks Report.

Average plan balances hit record highs, assisted by strong market returns and increased contributions.

The average plan balance grew 14% in 2017.

$116,860

year-end 2017 average plan balance.

50%

Among workers participating for at least two years, average balances up nearly 50%.


Auto enrollment continues to drive up participation rates.

80%

average participation rate in 2017

87%

participation rate for plans with auto enrollment

63%

participation rate for plans without auto enrollment


Average savings rates increased.

7.7

Average savings rate in 2016

7.9

Average savings rate in 2017

1/4

Nearly one-quarter of all participants are enrolled in automatic contribution escalation.


Participants reaped the benefits of a strong year on Wall Street.

16%

was the average return on investments in 2017

1 in 3

participants had a rate of return of 20% or more


Target date funds are widely (mis)used.

75%

participants invested in target date funds when available

40%

of target date fund users were also invested in other funds

Related Insights


Alight Solutions 401(k) Index™: First Quarter 2024 Observations

401(k) investors were active in Q1, logging 14 above-normal1 days, according to the Alight Solutions 401(k) Index™. The distribution of those days reveals a slowing trend, however, with eight taking place in January, followed by four in February and just two in March.

Alight Solutions 401(k) Index™: March 2024 Observations

Trading activity was subdued in March with just two above-normal1 days, according to the Alight Solutions 401(k) Index™. Investors favored equity funds on 11 of 20 days.

Alight Solutions 401(k) Index™: February 2024 Observations

Trading activity cooled slightly in February with just four above-normal1 days, compared to eight above-normal days in January, according to the Alight Solutions 401(k) Index™.