Americans not only have significant retirement accumulation, but nine of 10 workers transitioning to retirement have employer-sponsored qualified retirement plans, according to research highlighted on a new website launched today by the Investment Company Institute (ICI).

The ICI’s FactsOnRetirement.org presents the association’s in-depth research and data on the US retirement system, takes on common misconceptions about retirement preparedness, and provides tips for those who want to learn more about saving for retirement.

For instance, the ICI found that more than 80 percent of individuals reported income from employer-sponsored retirement plans, annuities, or IRAs, either directly or through a spouse. Another 8 percent received a Form 1099-R (reporting a rollover or other retirement account transaction that did not generate income), a Form 5498 (indicating IRA ownership), or both.

The ICI also analyzed tax data to find that retirees across all income levels maintained their spendable income levels by drawing on a number of financial resources after claiming Social Security. “Lower-income retirees typically had higher replacement rates,” the ICI found.

“ICI has a team of experts dedicated to studying the US retirement system and FactsOnRetirement.org will help make their work more readily available and easily accessible to the growing body of academics, policymakers, and the public who are engaged on this important issue,” ICI President and CEO Paul Schott Stevens said.

The availability of ICI’s extensive research and data also ensures policy will be written based on facts, rather than on false assumptions that can cloud reality and lead to haphazard or imprecise initiatives regarding America’s retirement preparedness.

“Whether you’re new to the issue or a seasoned expert, we believe this site will be a valuable resource that shows how we can build on the strengths of the current system to enhance retirement savings—and security—in the United States,” said Stevens.

FactsOnRetirement.org has four sections:

  • Retirement by the Numbers guides users through ICI’s comprehensive research on the resources Americans have accumulated for retirement. As the site notes, total retirement assets have increased from $469 billion in 1975 to $28 trillion today—seven times as much per household, after inflation.
  • Myth vs. Fact responds to common, misleading claims about the retirement system. For instance, ICI responds to the claim that most workers aren’t covered by a workplace retirement plan by showing that nearly three-quarters of individual filers with incomes of $20,000 or more, and joint filers with incomes of $40,000 or more, participate in retirement plans either directly or through a spouse.
  • Tips for Savers offers a step-by-step explanation of how workers can better take advantage of workplace retirement plans.
  • Additional Resources provides users with more extensive research and source materials that can be found at ICI.org.