Total assets in U.S. brokerage accounts reach 55 trillion dollars. The median balance stands at 23,500 dollars. Equity allocations average 62 percent of holdings while ETFs represent 42 percent of assets by value.
Key Takeaways
- The median brokerage account balance is $23,500 as of Q4 2023.
- Total assets in U.S. brokerage accounts exceed $50 trillion in 2023.
- Average equity allocation in brokerage accounts is 62%.
- Average brokerage account fee is 0.25% AUM annually.
- Commission-free trades adopted by 95% of brokerages.
- Average expense ratio for ETFs: 0.44%.
- As of 2023, approximately 62% of U.S. adults own stock either directly in brokerage accounts or indirectly through retirement accounts.
- In 2022, there were over 150 million individual brokerage accounts held by U.S. investors.
- Millennials represent 32% of all brokerage account holders in the U.S. as of 2023.
- Average trades per brokerage account per year: 45 in 2023.
- 72% of brokerage accounts executed at least one trade in 2023.
- Options trading volume in retail accounts: 1.2 billion contracts.
- Number of brokerage accounts grew 15% YoY to 160 million in 2023.
- Online brokerage market size: $12.5 billion in 2023.
- Robinhood users grew 25% to 23 million funded accounts.
U.S. brokerage balances reached about $55 trillion in 2023, with a median account holding $23,500.
Related reading
01 · Category
Account Balances and Assets30 stats
01
The median brokerage account balance is $23,500as of Q4 2023.
02
Total assets in U.S. brokerage accounts exceed $50 trillion in 2023.
03
Average equity allocation in brokerage accounts is 62%.
04
28% of accounts hold over $100,000 in assets.
05
Fixed income assets make up 18% of brokerage holdings.
06
Robo-advised accounts average $15,000balance.
07
12% of accounts have balances under $1,000.
08
ETFs represent 42% of total brokerage assets by value.
09
Cash holdings average 8% of portfolio balances.
10
Million-dollar brokerage accounts number 5.2 million.
11
Bonds in brokerage accounts total $8.7 trillion.
12
Average mutual fund holding per account is $45,000.
13
35% of assets in taxable brokerage accounts.
14
Crypto assets in brokerages average 2% allocation.
15
Retirement-linked brokerage assets: $32 trillion.
16
High-yield savings within brokerages: $1.2 trillion.
17
Options contracts tied to accounts average $5,200exposure.
18
ESG assets in brokerages: $4.5 trillion.
19
Dividend stocks comprise 25% of equity assets.
20
Margin debt across brokerage accounts: $650 billion.
21
Average international allocation: 15%.
22
Small-cap stocks: 10% of holdings.
23
Commodities exposure averages 3%.
24
Preferred stocks: 4% of fixed income.
25
REITs in portfolios: 6% average.
26
Zero-coupon bonds: 2% of bond holdings.
27
Growth stocks: 55% of equities.
28
Value stocks: 20% of equities.
29
Emerging markets: 5% allocation.
30
Total brokerage AUM growth 12% YoY to $55T.
Interpretation
Account Balances and Assets Interpretation
The data paints a picture of an immensely wealthy market where the typical individual is just trying to keep their head above water, as the staggering $55 trillion ocean of brokerage assets conceals a median balance of only $23,500, revealing a vast and cautious distance between Wall Street's averages and Main Street's reality.
02 · Category
Fees and Costs29 stats
01
Average brokerage account fee is 0.25% AUM annually.
02
Commission-free trades adopted by 95% of brokerages.
03
Average expense ratio for ETFs: 0.44%.
04
Margin interest rates average 8.5%.
05
Inactivity fees charged by 5% of brokerages: $10/month.
06
Robo-advisor fees: 0.28% average.
07
Wire transfer fees: $25outgoing.
08
Options contract fees: $0.65per contract.
09
Mutual fund transaction fees: 1.2% average.
10
Account minimums waived for 88% of brokerages.
11
ADR fees: $0.01-0.03 per share.
12
IRA closure fees: $50average.
13
Forex spreads average 1.2 pips.
14
ACAT transfer fees: $75outgoing.
15
Paper statement fees: $2-5/month.
16
Foreign transaction fees: 1% average.
17
Managed account fees: 1.05%.
18
Short-term redemption fees: 1-2%.
19
Platform fees for premium tools: $100/month.
20
Custodial fees for 529 plans: 0.13%.
21
Futures commission: $2.25per contract.
22
Crypto trading fees: 0.5-1.5%.
23
Annuity surrender charges: 7% year 1.
24
Broker-assisted trade fees: $25.
25
SEC fees: $8per $1M principal.
26
TAF fees: $0.00279per share.
27
ORF: $0.02945per contract.
28
Total U.S. brokerage fees collected: $45 billion in 2023.
29
Average 401k brokerage window fee: 0.72%.
Interpretation
Fees and Costs Interpretation
This dense thicket of percentages and penalties reveals a simple truth: while the finance industry loudly trumpets free trades and zero minimums, it quietly collects a $45 billion toll from the pockets of investors through an elaborate maze of fees cleverly hidden in the fine print.
03 · Category
Ownership and Demographics30 stats
01
As of 2023, approximately 62% of U.S. adults own stock either directly in brokerage accounts or indirectly through retirement accounts.
02
In 2022, there were over 150 million individual brokerage accounts held by U.S. investors.
03
Millennials represent 32% of all brokerage account holders in the U.S. as of 2023.
04
Women accounted for 48% of new brokerage account openings in 2023.
05
The average age of a brokerage account holder in the U.S. is 51 years old in 2023.
06
15% of U.S. households with incomes under $50,000 own brokerage accounts as of 2022.
07
Baby Boomers hold 42% of all brokerage accounts by number in 2023.
08
28% of Gen Z adults opened their first brokerage account in 2023.
09
Hispanic Americans make up 12% of brokerage account owners in 2023.
10
Urban residents account for 68% of all U.S. brokerage account holders.
11
55% of brokerage accounts are jointly owned by couples as of 2022.
12
African American investors represent 8% of brokerage account holders in 2023.
13
Retirees hold 25% of all active brokerage accounts.
14
40% of teachers have brokerage accounts for personal investing.
15
High-net-worth individuals (>$1M assets) own 35% of brokerage accounts by value.
16
22% of brokerage accounts are held by self-employed individuals.
17
College graduates are 3x more likely to have brokerage accounts than non-grads.
18
18-24 year olds opened 12 million new brokerage accounts in 2021-2023.
19
Married individuals hold 52% of all brokerage accounts.
20
Rural brokerage account penetration is 32% vs 65% urban.
21
45% of brokerage account holders have college degrees.
22
Veterans represent 9% of brokerage investors.
23
Single parents hold 7% of accounts despite being 15% of population.
24
60% of physicians have active brokerage accounts.
25
Tech workers open 2x more brokerage accounts than average.
26
33% of brokerage accounts are IRA-linked.
27
LGBTQ+ investors are 14% of new account holders.
28
50% of accounts held by those over 50.
29
Immigrants hold 11% of U.S. brokerage accounts.
30
25% growth in female-led brokerage accounts 2018-2023.
Interpretation
Ownership and Demographics Interpretation
America’s investing landscape is no longer just a rich old man’s club, but a sprawling and imperfect party where the young, the urban, and the college-educated are crowding the door while too many women, single parents, and rural residents are still figuring out how to get an invite.
More related reading
04 · Category
Trading Activity29 stats
01
Average trades per brokerage account per year: 45 in 2023.
02
72% of brokerage accounts executed at least one trade in 2023.
03
Options trading volume in retail accounts: 1.2 billion contracts.
04
Day trading accounts represent 18% of active traders.
05
Average trade size: $12,500.
06
65% of trades are in equities.
07
ETF trades: 28% of total volume.
08
Mobile app trades: 85% of all retail trades.
09
Average holding period: 6 months.
10
High-frequency retail trades: 5% of volume.
11
Futures contracts traded via brokerages: 450 million.
12
After-hours trading: 22% of daily volume.
13
Algorithmic trades by retail: 15%.
14
Short selling volume: 3.2% of trades.
15
IPO participation via brokerages: 2.1 million accounts.
16
Dividend reinvestment trades: 40% automated.
17
Cross-asset trades (stock+bond): 12%.
18
Limit orders: 68% of order types.
19
Market orders: 25%.
20
Stop-loss orders: 7%.
21
Weekly active traders: 25 million.
22
Trade cancellation rate: 4.5%.
23
Dark pool usage by retail: 8%.
24
Social trading copies: 1.5 million trades.
25
Margin trades: 22% of volume.
26
Average commission per trade: $0.65.
27
55% of trades are buy orders.
28
Sector rotation trades: 35% quarterly.
29
Volatility-based trades spiked 40% in 2023.
Interpretation
Trading Activity Interpretation
The modern brokerage account, now essentially a casino in your pocket, sees investors tapping their phones with the fervor of a caffeine addict, yet their average commitment to a stock lasts about as long as a celebrity marriage.
05 · Category
Trends and Growth24 stats
01
Number of brokerage accounts grew 15% YoY to 160 million in 2023.
02
Online brokerage market size: $12.5 billion in 2023.
03
Robinhood users grew 25% to 23 million funded accounts.
04
Zero-commission trading adoption reached 100% by major firms.
05
Crypto trading in brokerages up 300% since 2020.
06
ESG investing accounts surged 45%.
07
Mobile trading apps downloads: 150 million in 2023.
08
Fractional shares trading volume: $200 billion.
09
AI-driven robo-advisors AUM: $1.8 trillion.
10
Direct indexing accounts: 2 million new in 2023.
11
Meme stock trading episodes: 5 major in 2023.
12
Gamified investing apps users: 50 million.
13
Brokerage consolidation: 20% market share to top 5.
14
Passive investing now 60% of assets.
15
24/7 trading pilots in 15 brokerages.
16
Social media referrals: 30% of new accounts.
17
DeFi integration with brokerages: 10% pilot programs.
18
Sustainable investing mandates up 50%.
19
Account opening via app: 92% of new accounts.
20
Predictive analytics usage: 65% of brokerages.
21
Cross-border brokerage accounts: +28% growth.
22
Tokenized assets trading: $10 billion volume.
23
Personalized portfolio growth: 40% adoption.
24
Volatility trading products up 35%.
Interpretation
Trends and Growth Interpretation
While the market consolidates into a few serious giants, the individual investor, now armed with a phone and fueled by social media, is gleefully turning finance into a 24/7 gamified arena where crypto, ESG, and meme stocks collide in a zero-commission frenzy.
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
David Kowalski. (2026, February 13). Brokerage Account Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/brokerage-account-statistics
MLA
David Kowalski. "Brokerage Account Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/brokerage-account-statistics.
Chicago
David Kowalski. 2026. "Brokerage Account Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/brokerage-account-statistics.
Sources & references
82 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level