The U.S. retirement market was valued at $27.2 trillion at the end of the third quarter this year, according to the Investment Company Institute.
That marked a full $1 trillion gain from the end of the second quarter in 2017, and nearly $10 trillion more than at the end of 2010.
Government and private sector-sponsored defined benefit plans, defined contribution plans, IRAs, and annuity reserves are counted by the ICI. Social Security benefits are not.
IRAs held $8.6 trillion at the end of the third quarter, representing the largest swath of the retirement market, an increase of 2.7% from the end of the second quarter, and up from $5 trillion in 2010.
About half of IRA assets are held in mutual funds, with $2.3 trillion being managed in equity funds.
Defined contribution plans held 7.7 trillion, up 2.5% from the second quarter, for an increase of nearly $3 trillion since 2010. 401(k) plans held $5.3 trillion.
Mutual funds accounted for $3.5 trillion, or 65% of the assets in 401(k) plans, with $2.1 trillion held in equity funds.
Strong equity markets have continued to stretch total retirement savings assets into new record territory. The Dow Jones Stock Exchange is up more than 25% in 2017.
Target-date funds reached $1.1 trillion in assets by the end of the third quarter, up 5% from the previous quarter.
