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Aon Hewitt 401(k) Index Shows Higher-than-Normal 401(k) Trading-Movement Away from Equities
Aon Hewitt Experts Available to Discuss 401(k) Participants’ Trading Activity in Light of Market Volatility

LINCOLNSHIRE, Ill. – As the stock market fluctuates, data from Aon Hewitt, the global talent, retirement and health solutions business of Aon plc (NYSE: AON), shows higher-than-normal trading in 401(k) accounts.

According to the Aon Hewitt 401(k) Index, which tracks the 401(k) trading activities of nearly 1.3 million participants, representing nearly $160 billion in collective assets:

  • Five of the first 11 trading days of October saw “moderate” or “high” levels of 401(k) trading activity. In comparison, there were only 12 total “moderate” or “high” trading days in the first nine months of the year (January – September).
  • The highest trading days centered exactly on, and immediately after, the days when the S&P 500 decreased the most.
  • When 401(k) participants made trades, most trades were away from equities and into fixed income. For example, on Tuesday, October 14, a day after the S&P 500 was off 1.65 percent, 88 percent of trades saw money flowing to fixed income.
  • Markets upticks on Friday (October 17) and Monday (October 20) saw more participants making trades to equities—71% on Friday and 83% on Monday. However, trading activity was lighter on Friday than other days when the market was down.

Aon Hewitt experts are available to discuss the latest 401(k) trading activity. Daily data demonstrating trading activity in relation to S&P 500 activity and direction of trades is available in the PDF file below.

To arrange an interview or for data from the Aon Hewitt 401(k) Index, please contact:

MacKenzie Lucas, mackenzie.lucas@aonhewitt.com, or 847-442-2995

Maurissa Kanter, Maurissa.kanter@aonhewitt.com, or 847-442-0952

 

About Aon Hewitt
Aon Hewitt empowers organizations and individuals to secure a better future through innovative talent, retirement and health solutions. We advise, design and execute a wide range of solutions that enable clients to cultivate talent to drive organizational and personal performance and growth, navigate retirement risk while providing new levels of financial security, and redefine health solutions for greater choice, affordability and wellness.  Aon Hewitt is the global leader in human resource solutions, with over 30,000 professionals in 90 countries serving more than 20,000 clients worldwide.  For more information on Aon Hewitt, please visit www.aonhewitt.com.

About Aon

Aon plc (NYSE:AON) is the leading global provider of risk management, insurance and reinsurance brokerage, and human resources solutions and outsourcing services. Through its more than 66,000 colleagues worldwide, Aon unites to empower results for clients in over 120 countries via innovative and effective risk and people solutions and through industry-leading global resources and technical expertise. Aon has been named repeatedly as the world’s best broker, best insurance intermediary, best reinsurance intermediary, best captives manager, and best employee benefits consulting firm by multiple industry sources. Visit aon.com for more information on Aon and aon.com/manchesterunited to learn about Aon’s global partnership with Manchester United

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