DC plan withdrawal activity, which has always tended to be limited, fell to even lower levels in the first quarter of 2010.

In 2009, rising expense ratios of long-term funds were offset by a decline in load fee payments by investors.

Proxy voting is one of several ways that funds promote stronger governance and better management, and in turn promote shareholder value.

Lower 401(k) fees are related to the size of DC plans, contribution rates by employers and employees, and greater use of automatic enrollment.

ICI's monthly report for July shows a continuation of several trends in bond and stock mutual funds, and includes analysis from chief economist Brian Reid.

Traditional IRA contribution rates rise with income, even after controlling for other factors like age and gender.

Mutual fund–owning households often held several funds, and equity funds were the most commonly owned type of mutual fund.

At year-end 2009, bond closed-end fund assets were $136 billion, or 59 percent of closed-end fund assets.

IRAs held $4.3 trillion at the end of the first quarter of 2010, up 2.1 percent from year-end 2009.

Investors’ commitment to 401(k) plans continues with stronger contribution activity and declining levels of participant-initiated withdrawals and changes in asset allocations.

Among traditional IRA investors who contributed to their traditional IRAs in 2007, a sizable majority made repeat contributions in 2008.

ICI’s annual compilation—our fiftieth edition—reports on retirement assets, characteristics of mutual fund owners, use of index funds, and other trends.

Total money market mutual fund assets increased by $3.70 billion to $2.834 trillion for the week ended Wednesday, August 25.

Total estimated inflows to long-term mutual funds were $1.73 billion for the week ended Wednesday, August 25.

The combined assets of the nation’s mutual funds increased by $415.3 billion, or 4.0 percent, to $10.916 trillion in July.

The combined assets of the nation’s exchange-traded funds (ETFs) were $821.39 billion in July.

Unit investment trusts, investment companies that hold fixed portfolios of selected stocks or bonds, had total deposits of $2.55 billion in July.

The combined assets of the nation’s closed-end funds were $227.30 billion at the end of June 2010.

Mutual fund assets worldwide increased 0.3 percent to $23.02 trillion at the end of the first quarter of 2010.

Total U.S. retirement assets were $16.0 trillion at year-end 2009, up nearly $2.0 trillion, or 14 percent from year-end 2008.

ICI’s annual compilation—our fiftieth edition—reports on retirement assets, characteristics of mutual fund owners, use of index funds, and other trends. The 2010 Investment Company Fact Book is also available in an HTML version.