Nothing surprises me much anymore, neither should the results of the survey that a Nasdaq 100 survey supports the inclusion of Nasdaq 100 index funds.
According to the Annual Nasdaq-100 Retirement Plan Survey, nearly 80 percent of 401(k) plan participants recognize the importance of including a Nasdaq-100 product in their investment options. This finding suggests a new market opportunity for retirement plans.
The survey, which included 1,000 401(k) participants and reflected the 2023 U.S. Census data regarding gender, age, and region, revealed significant demand among investors for the index within retirement plans.
As of December 31, 2024, Americans held $12.4 trillion in all employer-based defined contribution retirement plans, with $8.9 trillion of that in 401(k) plans, according to a quarterly report from the Investment Company Institute published on March 25, 2025.
However, data from over 700,000 401(k) plans shows that the allocation to Nasdaq-100 Index mutual funds accounts for less than 1% of all 401(k) assets. This is a notable underrepresentation compared to allocations in the S&P 500 and other large-cap growth indexes, as indicated by BrightScope Beacon.
