Imagine a world where over $130 trillion is entrusted to investment advisors, where everyone from retirees to day traders are navigating a dizzying array of options from AI-powered ETFs to tokenized real estate, and where the simple act of investing has become a global phenomenon connecting over half of all U.S. adults and reshaping financial futures from Norway's sovereign wealth fund to the mobile apps of millions of millennials.
Key Takeaways
- Global assets under management (AUM) reached $111.6 trillion in 2022
- U.S. mutual fund AUM was $23.9 trillion as of 2023
- ETF AUM worldwide hit $12.7 trillion in 2023
- 54% of U.S. adults own stock directly or indirectly in 2023
- Average age of U.S. retail investor is 51 in 2023
- 58% of millennials are investing in 2023
- 65% of institutional investors are pension funds
- U.S. institutional ownership 80% of S&P 500 market cap
- Global institutional AUM $100 trillion in 2023
- S&P 500 average annual return 10% since 1957
- U.S. 10-year Treasury yield averaged 2.3% 2013-2023
- Global equity returns 7.5% annualized past 20 years
- Passive investing share 50% of U.S. equity AUM
- ESG AUM grew 15% annually to $40 trillion 2023
- Crypto ETFs approved, AUM $10B in months 2024
Global investment industry assets have reached unprecedented trillions across all categories and investor types.
Assets Under Management
- Global assets under management (AUM) reached $111.6 trillion in 2022
- U.S. mutual fund AUM was $23.9 trillion as of 2023
- ETF AUM worldwide hit $12.7 trillion in 2023
- Hedge fund industry AUM grew to $4.3 trillion in 2023
- Private equity AUM surpassed $4.5 trillion globally in 2022
- U.S. retirement assets totaled $38.4 trillion in Q3 2023
- Global pension fund AUM was $56 trillion in 2022
- Alternative assets AUM reached $13.32 trillion in 2023
- U.S. ETF AUM grew 20% to $7.9 trillion in 2023
- Sovereign wealth funds AUM hit $11.1 trillion in 2023
- Global VC AUM was $2.9 trillion in 2023
- Real estate investment AUM reached $10.7 trillion in 2022
- U.S. 401(k) plan assets were $7.4 trillion in 2023
- European ETF AUM exceeded €1.6 trillion in 2023
- Infrastructure assets AUM grew to $1.2 trillion globally in 2023
- Asia-Pacific AUM hit $30 trillion in 2022
- U.S. RIA AUM surpassed $130 trillion in 2023
- Crypto asset management AUM reached $50 billion in 2023
- Global bond fund AUM was $15 trillion in 2023
- PE dry powder hit $2.6 trillion in 2023
- U.S. money market fund AUM was $6.5 trillion in 2023
- Global sustainable investment AUM reached $35.3 trillion in 2022
- Australian superannuation AUM was AUD 3.9 trillion in 2023
- Canadian pension AUM hit CAD 2.5 trillion in 2023
- UK pension AUM was £2.1 trillion in 2023
- Japan public pension AUM exceeded ¥200 trillion in 2023
- China mutual fund AUM reached RMB 27 trillion in 2023
- India mutual fund AUM hit INR 50 lakh crore in 2024
- Brazil investment fund AUM was BRL 6 trillion in 2023
- South Africa retirement AUM reached ZAR 8 trillion in 2023
Assets Under Management Interpretation
The sheer scale of global assets under management, from the staggering $111.6 trillion total to the trillions parked in everything from pensions to private equity, reveals a world so financially interwoven that our collective retirement plans could probably buy and sell the planet several times over.
Industry Trends
- Passive investing share 50% of U.S. equity AUM
- ESG AUM grew 15% annually to $40 trillion 2023
- Crypto ETFs approved, AUM $10B in months 2024
- Robo-advisors AUM $1.5 trillion globally 2023
- Private markets democratized via intervals
- AI in asset management saves $10B costs annually
- Tokenization market $16 trillion by 2030 projected
- Direct indexing AUM $500B in 2023
- Active ETF launches doubled to 200 in 2023
- Sustainable debt issuance $1 trillion in 2023
- Fractional shares trading volume up 50%
- DeFi TVL $100B peak 2023
- Wealthtech funding $20B 2022-2023
- Multi-asset income strategies popular post-2022
- 90/10 portfolios rise for income
- Regulated crypto products grow 200%
- Open banking boosts embedded investing
- Factor investing AUM $1.5 trillion
- Outcome-based investing up 30%
- Digital assets in 5% institutional portfolios
- SMAs AUM $3 trillion U.S. 2023
- Climate risk disclosure mandatory EU 2024
- Quantum computing threat to encryption by 2030
- Gig economy retirement plans emerge
- Cross-border ETFs $2 trillion AUM
- Model portfolios used by 70% advisors
- Alternatives in 401(k)s 10% allocation avg
Industry Trends Interpretation
It's a dazzling but prudent circus where everyone now clamors for the tent, from the passive-index acrobats and ESG-conscious clowns to the crypto lion tamers and AI-powered ringmasters, all while regulators frantically check the safety nets and quantum-computing sharpshooters eye the main supports.
Institutional Investors
- 65% of institutional investors are pension funds
- U.S. institutional ownership 80% of S&P 500 market cap
- Global institutional AUM $100 trillion in 2023
- Endowments allocate 25% to alternatives
- Hedge funds manage $4.5 trillion for institutions
- Insurance companies hold $30 trillion globally
- SWFs invest $1.5 trillion in equities annually
- Corporate pensions AUM $5 trillion U.S.
- Foundations allocate 15% to PE/VC
- 40% of institutional portfolios in fixed income
- CalPERS AUM $500 billion in 2023
- Norway SWF $1.5 trillion AUM
- Harvard Endowment returned 2.8% FY2023
- Institutions use 60% passive strategies
- DB pension plans cover 30 million U.S. workers
- Asia institutional investors $25 trillion AUM
- EU pension funds €3 trillion in equities
- UK LDI crisis affected £1.5 trillion
- Canadian pensions 20% in infrastructure
- Institutions 70% ESG integrated
- Yale model influences 50% endowments
- Family offices institutionalize $5 trillion
- Japan GPIF $1.6 trillion AUM
- Australia super funds $2.5 trillion
Institutional Investors Interpretation
The sleeping giants of finance—pension funds, insurers, and sovereign wealth—are the vast, cautious landlords of global capitalism, quietly owning everything from your office park to your future retirement, while occasionally dabbling in venture capital and fretting over returns that sometimes can't outpace a decent cup of coffee.
Investment Performance
- S&P 500 average annual return 10% since 1957
- U.S. 10-year Treasury yield averaged 2.3% 2013-2023
- Global equity returns 7.5% annualized past 20 years
- Gold returned 5.2% annually over 10 years to 2023
- Bitcoin annualized return 230% since 2013
- U.S. corporate bonds yielded 4.8% in 2023
- Emerging markets equity 4% annual return 2013-2023
- REITs returned 8.5% annually past decade
- Value stocks outperformed growth by 2% in 2023
- Small-cap premium 2.5% historical
- Dividend aristocrats 9% annual return
- ESG funds underperformed by 1% in 2023
- Hedge fund average return 7.8% in 2023
- VC median return 15% IRR net
- Private equity 12% net IRR past 10 years
- 60/40 portfolio returned 6% annually 2013-2023
- Inflation-protected bonds 1.5% real return
- Commodities index 3% annual return
- Euro Stoxx 50 6.5% annualized 10 years
- Nikkei 225 9% annual return past decade
- MSCI China 2% annual return 2013-2023
- High-yield bonds 5.5% return in 2023
- Leveraged loans returned 8% in 2023
- MLPs energy 10% dividend yield avg
- Preferred stocks 5.8% yield 2023
- U.S. housing index up 150% since 2012
- S&P 500 dividend yield 1.5% in 2023
- Active funds beat passive 40% time last decade
- Global bonds -2% total return 2022
- AI-themed stocks up 100% in 2023
Investment Performance Interpretation
The sobering reality of investing is that while a reckless crypto bet could theoretically turn a janitor into a jetsetter, the far more likely path to a comfortable future is a boring, diversified portfolio that grudgingly compounds while you're busy living your actual life.
Retail Investors
- 54% of U.S. adults own stock directly or indirectly in 2023
- Average age of U.S. retail investor is 51 in 2023
- 58% of millennials are investing in 2023
- Women represent 52% of Robinhood users in 2023
- 33% of Gen Z started investing before age 21
- U.S. retail investors hold $40 trillion in assets in 2023
- 15% of retail trades are from individuals in U.S. in 2023
- Mobile trading apps used by 70% of retail investors
- Average retail investor portfolio return lags market by 1.5%
- 40% of retail investors trade options in 2023
- Crypto ownership among U.S. retail at 13% in 2023
- ESG investing popular with 85% of retail investors
- Day trading accounts grew 30% among retail in 2023
- 62% of retail investors use robo-advisors
- Average retail investor age dropped to 34 for meme stocks
- 25% of retail portfolios in tech stocks
- Female retail investors outperformed males by 1% annually
- 70% of retail investors check portfolios daily
- Robinhood retail users hit 23 million in 2023
- 45% of retail investors under 40 own ETFs
- Retail short interest rose 50% in 2021 volatility
- 80% of retail investors influenced by social media
- Average retail account size $10,000 in U.S.
- 35% of retail in dividend stocks
- UK retail investors number 12 million in 2023
- EU retail ETF holdings up 25%
- India retail mutual fund SIPs 5 crore in 2024
- 28% of global retail in sustainable funds
- Brazil retail investors grew 20% to 5 million
- Australia retail super contributions $150B annually
Retail Investors Interpretation
America's financial democracy is now a digital, social, and surprisingly youthful arena, where a historically broad and active base of retail investors—armed with apps, swayed by trends, and chasing everything from meme stocks to ESG—collectively commands trillions yet still struggles to outrun their own impulsive habits.
Sources & References
- Reference 1MCKINSEYmckinsey.comVisit source
- Reference 2ICIici.orgVisit source
- Reference 3ETFGIetfgi.comVisit source
- Reference 4PWCpwc.comVisit source
- Reference 5THINKINGAHEADINSTITUTEthinkingaheadinstitute.orgVisit source
- Reference 6PREQINpreqin.comVisit source
- Reference 7STATISTAstatista.comVisit source
- Reference 8SWFINSTITUTEswfinstitute.orgVisit source
- Reference 9CBINSIGHTScbinsights.comVisit source
- Reference 10INREVinrev.euVisit source
- Reference 11EFAMAefama.orgVisit source
- Reference 12ASIFMAasifma.comVisit source
- Reference 13INVESTMENTADVISERinvestmentadviser.orgVisit source
- Reference 14COINDESKcoindesk.comVisit source
- Reference 15MORNINGSTARmorningstar.comVisit source
- Reference 16BAINbain.comVisit source
- Reference 17USSIFussif.orgVisit source
- Reference 18APRAapra.gov.auVisit source
- Reference 19HSCBhscb.caVisit source
- Reference 20THEPENSIONSREGULATORthepensionsregulator.gov.ukVisit source
- Reference 21GPIgpi.netVisit source
- Reference 22AMACamac.org.cnVisit source
- Reference 23AMFIINDIAamfiindia.comVisit source
- Reference 24ANBIMAanbima.com.brVisit source
- Reference 25ASISAasisa.org.zaVisit source
- Reference 26GALLUPgallup.comVisit source
- Reference 27SCHWABschwab.comVisit source
- Reference 28FIDELITYfidelity.comVisit source
- Reference 29INVESTORSinvestors.robinhood.comVisit source
- Reference 30BANKRATEbankrate.comVisit source
- Reference 31NYSEnyse.comVisit source
- Reference 32DALBARdalbar.comVisit source
- Reference 33TASTYLIVEtastylive.comVisit source
- Reference 34PEWRESEARCHpewresearch.orgVisit source
- Reference 35MORGANSTANLEYmorganstanley.comVisit source
- Reference 36BLOOMBERGbloomberg.comVisit source
- Reference 37JPMORGANjpmorgan.comVisit source
- Reference 38VANGUARDvanguard.comVisit source
- Reference 39E*TRADEe*trade.comVisit source
- Reference 40BLACKROCKblackrock.comVisit source
- Reference 41SECsec.govVisit source
- Reference 42INVESTOPEDIAinvestopedia.comVisit source
- Reference 43FINRAfinra.orgVisit source
- Reference 44FCAfca.org.ukVisit source
- Reference 45ESMAesma.europa.euVisit source
- Reference 46B3b3.com.brVisit source
- Reference 47SPGLOBALspglobal.comVisit source
- Reference 48WTWCOwtwco.comVisit source
- Reference 49NACUBOnacubo.orgVisit source
- Reference 50HFRhfr.comVisit source
- Reference 51IAISWEBiaisweb.orgVisit source
- Reference 52DOLdol.govVisit source
- Reference 53FSGfsg.orgVisit source
- Reference 54CALPERScalpers.ca.govVisit source
- Reference 55NBIMnbim.noVisit source
- Reference 56HMChmc.harvard.eduVisit source
- Reference 57PB GCpb gc.govVisit source
- Reference 58ASIANINVESTORasianinvestor.netVisit source
- Reference 59EIOPAeiopa.europa.euVisit source
- Reference 60BANKOFENGLANDbankofengland.co.ukVisit source
- Reference 61UNPRIunpri.orgVisit source
- Reference 62YALEyale.eduVisit source
- Reference 63UBSubs.comVisit source
- Reference 64GPIFgpif.go.jpVisit source
- Reference 65SUPERANNUATIONsuperannuation.asn.auVisit source
- Reference 66TREASURYtreasury.govVisit source
- Reference 67MSCImsci.comVisit source
- Reference 68GOLDgold.orgVisit source
- Reference 69COINGECKOcoingecko.comVisit source
- Reference 70NAREITnareit.comVisit source
- Reference 71FACTSETfactset.comVisit source
- Reference 72DIMENSIONALdimensional.comVisit source
- Reference 73PROSHARESproshares.comVisit source
- Reference 74BARCLAYHEDGEbarclayhedge.comVisit source
- Reference 75CAMBRIDGEASSOCIATEScambridgeassociates.comVisit source
- Reference 76ETFetf.comVisit source
- Reference 77STOXXstoxx.comVisit source
- Reference 78INDEXESindexes.nikkei.co.jpVisit source
- Reference 79S&PGLOBALs&Pglobal.comVisit source
- Reference 80ALPSFUNDSalpsfunds.comVisit source
- Reference 81FREDfred.stlouisfed.orgVisit source
- Reference 82MULTPLmultpl.comVisit source
- Reference 83ETFTRENDSetftrends.comVisit source
- Reference 84DELOITTEdeloitte.comVisit source
- Reference 85BCGbcg.comVisit source
- Reference 86CLIMATEBONDSclimatebonds.netVisit source
- Reference 87NASDAQnasdaq.comVisit source
- Reference 88DEFILLAMAdefillama.comVisit source
- Reference 89ACCENTUREaccenture.comVisit source
- Reference 90MERCERmercer.comVisit source
- Reference 91EYey.comVisit source
- Reference 92ENVESTNETenvestnet.comVisit source
- Reference 93BRIGHTSCOPEbrightscope.comVisit source