What Americans Invest In Now

It’s a tale of two trends: more (and younger) Americans buying stocks directly, and the giant that is retirement investing. Almost 60% of households had exposure to the stock market in 2022, the last time the Federal Reserve ran its triennial survey of Americans’ finances. Many did so through funds and retirement accounts, but the share of Americans trading stock directly spiked to 21%, close to the record set in 2001.

Besides bank accounts, retirement accounts such as IRAs and workplace 401(k) plans are the most commonly held financial instrument. The median value in retirement funds is $86,900, compared with just $15,000 in directly held stocks.