Mutual Funds Content

Defined contribution retirement plans have played a critical role in democratizing access to investing in the US. In 2025, approximately 80 million (about 60% ) US household held DC plan accounts. For many Americans, these plans represent not only a vehicle for retirement saving but also their primary introduction to investing in the capital markets.

The rise of capital ownership is a defining feature of middle-class life in the US. Built through generations of thrift, innovation, and prudent decision-making, supported by the right institutions, products, and policies. That legacy continues, with more than half of U.S. households investing in mutual funds, ETFs, and other investments. Altogether, these roughly 130 million individual investors hold a direct stake in the growth and success of American businesses.

The latest ICI research, “What US Households Consider When They Select Mutual Funds, 2025”, shows investors consistently value diversification and low costs when choosing mutual funds.

A new report released by the Investment Company Institute shows the average expense ratios for both actively managed and index mutual funds have decreased over the past 29 years, contributing to the overall decline in mutual fund expense ratios.

Across the country, families are still feeling squeezed after the pandemic-era inflation. Prices remain high, mortgage rates are elevated, and many communities struggle to attract the investment they...

The repo market is vital to government bond markets, but its key vulnerabilities stem from leveraged, short‑term financing structures and not from regulated mutual funds. What matters is not who participates in repo transactions, but how vulnerabilities are generated.