How the Average Retirement Account Compares to the Top 10% of Savers

Core Insights - The article discusses the disparity in retirement account balances among Americans, highlighting the importance of understanding both median and mean balances to assess retirement savings effectively [3][4][5]. Group 1: Retirement Account Balances - The median retirement account balance in America is $86,900, while the mean balance is significantly higher at $334,000, indicating a wide dispersion in savings [7]. - Approximately 54.3% of American families had retirement accounts in 2022, showcasing a substantial portion of the population engaged in retirement savings [5]. Group 2: Top Savers - About 9.3% of households have retirement account balances of $500,000 or more, serving as a rough estimate for the top 10% of savers [6]. - A small percentage of American households, specifically 4.6%, possess over $1 million in retirement accounts, while 4.7% have balances between $500,000 and $1 million [8].