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Fixed Annuities Lead 403(b) Investments

Funds in 403(b)s were invested more heavily in fixed annuities than in any other kind of investment in 2014, according to the Spectrem Group, a financial analysis firm.

Spectrem reports that last year, 43% of 403(b) funds were invested in fixed annuities; 33% were invested in variable annuities; and 24% were invested in mutual funds. In dollars, that amounts to $464 billion, $351 billion and $260 billion, respectively, according to 403(b)wise. The proportions were largely unchanged from those of 2013.

Higher education was the sector that accounted for the highest percentage of 403(b) funds — 46%, or twice that of the next highest, public education. Next came health care at 21% and private education at 7%.

In dollars, that translates to $493 billion in the higher ed 403(b) market; $244 billion in the public education market; $227 billion in the health care sector and $75 billion in the private education sector. Those holdings all were higher than in 2013, especially for the higher ed sector — 403(b)s in that sector grew by $41 billion from 2013 to 2014.