The Dow Jones Industrial Average and S&P 500 rose sharply during the fourth quarter — up over 16% and 7.5% respectively. This was in contrast to the previous three quarters of the year when all three major indices declined. The Nasdaq fell slightly in Q4, down less than 1%, as it had throughout most of the year in 2022. The primary factors behind these latest gains were the positive outlook on inflation, the hope that interest rates wouldn’t need to rise as high as previously expected, and the belief that the Chinese government would ease its “Zero COVID” policies. The AmericanTCS 401(k ..read more

After three straight years of positive annual returns, 401(k) participants face a nearly 18% decline as we hit the halfway point of 2022. Just two years ago, as the pandemic took hold across the globe, 401(k) participants watched their account balances get walloped. In the first quarter of 2020, the Mid Atlantic Trust Company 401(k) Composite Benchmark showed a 16.12% decline for that quarter alone for the hypothetical 401(k) participant. But, of course, from that low point, the markets came roaring back with solid gains achieved throughout the remainder of 2020 to finish the year at +14.85 ..read more

If the typical 401(k) participant will see a fourth consecutive year of gains, it will require making up for almost a 6% Q1 loss out of the gate. After a relatively steady year of returns in 2021 and three straight years of positive returns, the Mid Atlantic Trust Company 401(k) Composite Benchmark started the year with a -5.78% return for Q1. The Benchmark’s performance in Q1 gave back all of the gains (and then some) that were realized in Q4 of 2021 when the typical 401(k) performance saw their 401(k) account increase by 5.47%. This performance reversal reflects the overall performance of th ..read more

The headlines throughout 2021 were dominated by concerning news for employees — COVID-19 variants, supply-chain challenges, inflation and labor shortages. The past two years have certainly been a period that most would choose to soon forget; however, a bright spot amidst all of the turmoil is the typical 401(k) participant’s account performance. 2021 marked the third consecutive year of gains for the typical 401(k) participant, with a 14.92% gain over the 12 months as measured by the Mid Atlantic Trust Company 401(k) Composite Benchmark. 401(k) participants enjoyed a steady return throughout ..read more

  When all was said and done and the books were closed on 2020, the Mid Atlantic Trust Company Composite Benchmark finished in positive territory in three out of four quarters, providing the hypothetical 401(k) investor with a positive return for the year. While things certainly got off to a shaky start in 2020, 401(k) investors that rode out the storm can take comfort in the fact that for the second year in a row their 401(k) balance ended up in positive territory. Out of the gate in the first quarter of 2020, the Mid Atlantic Trust Company 401(k) Benchmark dug quite a hole for itself wi ..read more

  After a rollercoaster performance across the 1st half of 2020, the Mid Atlantic Trust Company 401(k) Benchmark delivers a second straight positive quarterly return, which means the hypothetical 401(k) investor now has a positive YTD return for 2020. Following up on a return of over 15% in the second quarter of 2020, the Mid Atlantic Trust Company 401(k) Benchmark continued its momentum in the third quarter and tipped the year-to-date return for the hypothetical 401(k) participant* into positive territory. The benchmark, which reflects the portfolio performance across 401(k) plans servic ..read more

After a rocky end to the first quarter of 2020 across the markets, the second quarter offered a brisk bounce back for investments and that performance can be seen in the Mid Atlantic Trust Company 401(k) Benchmark. The benchmark, which reflects the portfolio performance across 401(k) plans serviced by the company, finished the second quarter up 15.48% for the three months ending June 30, 2020, and now stands at a -3.14% year to date return for 2020. The performance to date for the 401(k) Benchmark in 2020 mirrors the swings in the major market indices in recent months, as investors react to tr ..read more

  The Mid Atlantic Trust Company 401(k) Benchmark, which reflects the portfolio performance across 401(k) plans serviced by the company, finished the first quarter of 2020 with a -16.12% trailing return. The 16.12% decline for the quarter comes on the heels of a 6.13% return for the fourth quarter of 2019 and an overall return of 21.24% for the calendar year 2019. The performance of the 401(k) Benchmark is in line with the trajectory of the major market indices amidst the world’s response to the Coronavirus pandemic. Six weeks into 2020 all of the major indices reached all-time highs, but ..read more