How does ICI gather information about mutual fund shareholders?
ICI conducts the Annual Mutual Fund Shareholder Tracking Survey each spring to gather information on the demographic and financial characteristics of mutual fund–owning households in the United States. The most recent survey was undertaken in May 2008 and was based on a sample of 4,100 U.S. households selected by random digit dialing, of which 1,844 households, or 45.0 percent, owned mutual funds. Eligible households included those owning mutual funds inside or outside employer-sponsored retirement plans. All interviews were conducted over the telephone with the member of the household who was the sole or co-decisionmaker most knowledgeable about the household’s savings and investments.
