Retirement investor🐻s are benefiting from stock market gains, but many are still feeling financial strain.

Bank of America reviewed data from over 4 million retirement plan participants in its employee benefits programs, noting that the average 401(k) balance grew by more than 10% in the third quarter — rising to above $102,000 from around $93,000 in June — as the 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:S&P 500 climbed 5.5%.

Despite rising balances, many said they were still living paycheck-to-paycheck. Among the 400,000 participants who completed a financial wellness assessment with Bank of America, nearly 60% reported this financial pressure, saying they didn't have funds left over at the end of the month.

In Q3, the proportion of participants taking 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:401(k) loans decreased slightly to 2.5%, down from 2.7% in Q2. The average loan amount also fell, to $9,100 in Q3 from $9,300 in Q2. 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:Hardship distributions saw a slight increase, rising to 0.72% in Q3 from 0.67% in Q2.🦩

Most participants maintained their retirement savings habits, with the average 401(k) contribution rate ticking slightly higher and younger participants—like 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:Gen Z and millennials—showing the greatest increases. The average 401(k) contribution dropped to $1,440 in Q3 from above $1,500 in Q2.