If your 401(k) or IRA statement looked unusually good this quarter, you're not imagining it. Fidelity's latest data shows account balances posted their strongest quarterly jump since 2020, and that kind of jump is worth a quick check-in even after you've retired.

Fidelity reports the average 401(k) balance grew to $155,800, up 10.5% in a single quarter, while the average IRA balance rose 10% to $144,523. A number moving that much in three months is a good moment to look at what you're actually doing with the growth, not just enjoy the bigger balance on paper.

Decision

Tell us how you're using your accounts right now

Your next move after a strong quarter depends on whether you're drawing from these accounts yet.

What a Record Quarter Should Change About Your Plan

A strong quarter doesn't mean it's time to spend more automatically, and it doesn't mean nothing should change either. The useful move is to treat it as a scheduled check-in rather than either extreme.

Fidelity also found that savings rates hit a record 14.4% average for 401(k) participants, and more than 8 in 10 savers are getting their full employer match. Those figures describe people still working, but the underlying habit, checking in on the account instead of ignoring it, applies just as well once you're the one drawing from it.

Calculator

See what's left after this year's plans

Enter your current balance, then subtract anything you've already earmarked, to see what's actually free to plan around.

Enter your numbers to see the total.

If you haven't checked your safe withdrawal number against this year's balance, read Check Your 4% Withdrawal Rule Number before deciding whether to adjust anything.

Let the Good Quarter Fund Something You'll Actually Use

One reasonable way to use part of a strong quarter is to put a little more toward the parts of retirement that make the day-to-day better, not just the balance on a statement.

That doesn't mean a major purchase. A modest, planned amount toward classes, travel, or a hobby you've been putting off is a fair way to let good news reach your actual life instead of sitting only on paper.

Find affordable activities that fit your week, energy, and budget.

Build my planClose tool

Turn a general idea into a short weekly plan that fits your budget, energy, and transportation comfort.

Low-cost activity planner

  • Check your library or senior center for one free class, club, or talk.
  • Pick one low-cost fitness or hobby outing that fits your weekly budget.
  • Choose one low-pressure backup activity in case your first plan falls through.
  • Keep the plan to 2 outings or commitments this week.

Checklist

If you're already drawing from these accounts, check these

A bigger balance changes the math on your withdrawal rate.

0 of 3 done.

Timeline

Turn this into a repeatable habit

Work through this once, then repeat it each quarter.

Use the actual current number, not the one from your last annual review.

Pick something specific instead of letting it sit undecided.

Put a recurring date on your calendar tied to your statement date.

Save what you decided here so the good quarter turns into a real plan.

Make the Check-In a Habit, Not a One-Time Thing

Quarters like this one won't happen every time, and a weak quarter will eventually follow a strong one. The habit worth keeping is the check-in itself, on a schedule, regardless of which direction the balance moved.

Put a repeating date on your calendar, tied to when your statements arrive, rather than waiting for a headline about a record quarter to prompt the review.

For the full picture of how much you can safely spend each year, Build a Retirement Budget That Can Stretch covers the broader plan.

Common questions

How much did retirement account balances grow in Fidelity's Q2 2026 report?

The average 401(k) balance grew to $155,800, up 10.5% in a single quarter and the largest quarterly jump since 2020. The average 403(b) balance rose to $145,000 and the average IRA balance rose to $144,523, both up about 10 to 11.5% for the quarter.

Should I change my withdrawal amount after a strong market quarter?

Recalculate your withdrawal rate against the new balance rather than assuming your old dollar amount still makes sense, but don't assume you need to spend more either. Treat it as a scheduled check-in: confirm your asset mix and withdrawal rate still fit, then decide separately whether to use any of the extra growth.

What should I do with extra retirement account growth if I'm not withdrawing yet?

Confirm your asset mix still matches how soon you'll start withdrawals, check whether the gains moved your required minimum distribution timeline if you're near 73, and revisit your beneficiary designations, since a larger account makes them more consequential.