SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--According to Charles Schwab’s SDBA Indicators Report, an industry-leading benchmark on retirement plan participant investment activity within self-directed brokerage accounts (SDBAs), the average account balance across all participant accounts finished Q3 2020 at $302,256, a 9% increase year-over-year and a 6% increase from Q2 2020.
SDBAs are brokerage accounts within retirement plans, including 401(k)s and other types of retirement plans, that participants can use to invest retirement savings in individual stocks and bonds, as well as exchange-traded funds, mutual funds and other securities that are not part of their retirement plan's core investment offerings.
The third quarter SDBA Indicators Report also showed that advised accounts hold higher average account balances compared to non-advised accounts - $473,875 vs $261,240. Participants with advised accounts also have a more diversified asset allocation mix, including a lower concentration of assets in individual securities. For example, the top individual equity holding across all participants is Apple, comprising 13% of equity assets on average. However, advised participants only had approximately 8% of their equity assets in Apple, while non-advised participants had 14%.
Overall, asset allocation remained similar to Q2 with the exception of an increase in equities from 30.15% in Q2 to 32.54% in Q3. The majority of participant assets were held in equities, followed by mutual funds (32%), ETFs (18%), cash (16%), and fixed income (2%).
Allocation Trends
The data also reveals specific asset class and sector holdings within each investment category:
- Mutual funds: Large-cap funds had the largest allocation at approximately 32% of all mutual fund allocations, followed by taxable bond (21%) and international (14%) funds.
- Equities: Information technology remained the largest equity sector holding at 31%, up from 30% in Q2 2020. Apple continues to be the top overall equity holding, comprising 13% of the equity allocation of portfolios. The other equity holdings in the top five include Amazon (6.8%), Tesla (6.1%), Microsoft (3.1%), and Nvidia (1.8%).
- ETFs: Among ETFs, investors allocated the most dollars to U.S. equity (48%), followed by U.S. fixed income (17%), international equity (12%) and sector ETFs (12%).
Other Report Highlights
- On average, participants held 10.8 positions in their SDBAs at the end of Q3 2020, which has remained consistent both year-over-year and quarter-over-quarter. Baby Boomers held more positions in their SDBA than other generations (12.2 vs. Gen X: 10.8, Millennials: 8.3).
- Trading volumes were down slightly quarter-over-quarter at 13.6 average trades per account in Q3 versus 14 in Q2. Participants made the most trades in their equities holdings, followed by ETFs and mutual funds.
- Gen X made up approximately 44% of SDBA participants, followed by Baby Boomers (35%) and Millennials (15%).
- Gen X had the most advised accounts at 46%, followed by Baby Boomers (40%) and Millennials (11%).
- Baby Boomers had the highest SDBA balances at an average of $446,660, followed by Gen X at $250,076 and Millennials at $83,073.
About the SDBA Indicators Report
The SDBA Indicators Report includes data collected from approximately 156,000 retirement plan participants who currently have balances between $5,000 and $10 million in their Schwab Personal Choice Retirement Account®. Data is extracted quarterly on all accounts that are open as of quarter-end and meet the balance criteria.
The SDBA Indicators Report tracks a wide variety of investment activity and profile information on participants with a Schwab Personal Choice Retirement Account (PCRA), ranging from asset allocation trends and asset flow in various equity, exchange-traded fund and mutual fund categories, to age trends and trading activity. The SDBA Indicators Report provides insight into PCRA users’ perceptions of the markets and the investment decisions they make.
Data contained in this quarterly report is from the third quarter of 2020, and can be found here, along with prior reports.
About Charles Schwab
At Charles Schwab we believe in the power of investing to help individuals create a better tomorrow. We have a history of challenging the status quo in our industry, innovating in ways that benefit investors and the advisors and employers who serve them, and championing our clients’ goals with passion and integrity.
Investors in mutual funds and ETFs should consider carefully information contained in the prospectus, including investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses. You can request a prospectus by visiting Schwab.com or calling 800-435-4000. Please read the prospectus carefully before investing.
Disclosures:
Brokerage Products: Not FDIC‐Insured • No Bank Guarantee • May Lose Value
The securities shown are for informational purposes only and are not a recommendation to transact in any security.
Through its operating subsidiaries, The Charles Schwab Corporation (NYSE: SCHW) provides a full range of wealth management, securities brokerage, banking, asset management, custody, and financial advisory services to individual investors and independent investment advisors. Its broker-dealer subsidiaries and their affiliates offer a complete range of investment services and products including an extensive selection of mutual funds; financial planning and investment advice; retirement plan and equity compensation plan services; referrals to independent, fee-based investment advisors; and custodial, operational and trading support for independent, fee-based investment advisors through Schwab Advisor Services. Its primary banking subsidiary, Charles Schwab Bank, SSB (member FDIC and an Equal Housing Lender), provides banking and lending services and products. More information is available at www.aboutschwab.com. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and LinkedIn.
This report is for informational purposes only and is not a solicitation, or a recommendation that any particular investor should purchase or sell any particular security.
Schwab Personal Choice Retirement Account® (PCRA) is offered through Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. (member SIPC), the registered broker/dealer, which also provides other brokerage and custody services to its customers.
All corporate names are for illustrative purposes only and are not a recommendation, offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy any security.
(1120-OJC7)
