For the minority of retirement savers, 401(k) plans will provide great income in retirement.
Recent analysis by the Government Accountability Office shows Americans in the highest income quartile, 81 percent of whom have some assets in a defined contribution plan, will generate an average of nearly $6,400 a month throughout retirement, were their 401(k) assets to be annuitized.
GAO's study, prepared at the request of Sen. Patty Murray, D-Washington, breaks down 401(k) savings accumulations by income quartiles and racial demographics.
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The income generating capability of 401(k) assets drops precipitously as income does. For all households with assets in 401(k)s, the average monthly annuity payout is nearly $3,000.
For the lowest earners—only 25 percent of whom have any DC savings—annuitizing savings will yield an average of $560 a month in retirement income.
The new numbers tell an aging story: access to workplace savings plans is as impacting on the nation's retirement prospects as any other factor.
All told, GAO says 60 percent of U.S. households had no savings in a current or former workplace retirement plans in 2013, a 3 percent increase from 2007.
When accounting for working households, the numbers improve, but still portray drastic shortfalls in savings.
More than half—56 percent—of working households have some savings in a defined contribution plan, but access and utilization are largely dependent on income.
But only 25 percent of workers in the lowest quartile of earnings (below $39,200) have savings in a DC plan; 50 percent of earners in the second lowest quartile (between $40,000 and $67,000) have savings in a plan; and 69 percent of earners in the third-highest quartile ($68,000 to $102,000) have savings in a plan.
Plan access correlates directly to earnings, GAO's study found. For the lowest earners, 65 percent don't have access to an employer-provided plan; compared to 42 percent without access in the second lowest quartile; 29 percent without access in the third quartile, and 20 percent without access in the wealthiest quartile.
Substantial disparities in access and savings patterns are seen in different racial demographics. In 2013, about two-thirds of white Americans had some DC savings, compared to 47 percent of African Americans and 31 percent of Hispanics.
The median 401(k) balance in white households was $58,000; in African American households it was $16,400; and in Hispanic households it was $18,900, according to GAO.
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Nick Thornton
Nick Thornton is a financial writer covering retirement and health care issues for BenefitsPRO and ALM Media. He greatly enjoys learning from the vast minds in the legal, academic, advisory and money management communities when covering the retirement space. He's also written on international marketing trends, financial institution risk management, defense and energy issues, the restaurant industry in New York City, surfing, cigars, rum, travel, and fishing. When not writing, he's pushing into some land or water.
