U.S. Defined Contribution Distribution 2023
Adapting to Fiduciary Trends in the Advisor-Sold Market
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Summary
This annual report focuses on product development and distribution opportunities for asset managers and other providers in the defined contribution (DC) market. The report also features detailed 401(k) plan sizing and coverage of retirement plan intermediaries (advisors and consultants), along with sizing of the advisor-sold DC market.
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A Note from the Author
CITs Surpass Mutual Funds as the Top Investment Vehicle by DCIO Assets

Idin Eftekhari
Senior Analyst
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Idin Eftekhari
Senior Analyst
Idin is a senior analyst in Cerulli’s Retirement research practice, which specializes in the defined contribution (DC) and individual retirement account (IRA) markets.
Prior to joining Cerulli, Idin was a senior member of the Portfolio Evaluation Group at Fisher Investments, where he was responsible for providing asset allocation and benchmark recommendations for high-net-worth clients in the U.S., Canada, and the U.K. During his 15+ year tenure at Fisher Investments, Idin served in multiple roles supporting the firm’s Private Client Group and Institutional Group.Full biography here.
According to our latest research, collective investment trust (CIT) assets stand at $4.63 trillion. Despite a 15.7% contraction from the prior year, defined contribution investment-only (DCIO) asset managers remain optimistic about the vehicle’s adoption—especially at the larger end of the 401(k) mid-market ($100 million to $250 million) as 401(k) plan providers seek greater cost efficiency and customization.
While CITs are dominating the DC spotlight, mutual funds still remain in the picture as the preferred investment vehicle for asset managers operating in the small and mid-sized plan asset segments, specifically non-revenue-share class of mutual funds.
What does the future look like for product development and adoption as retirement providers seek solutions for retirement accumulation and decumulation? Where can managers add value? Our latest report, U.S. Defined Contribution Distribution 2023: Adapting to Fiduciary Trends in the Advisor-Sold Market addresses these questions and more.
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