Retirement account holders at Mirae Asset Securities increased their ETF investment ratios to around 50% across all age groups this year, according to an analysis of Defined Contribution (DC) and Individual Retirement Pension (IRP) accounts. The shift represents a significant change from 2024 when ETF allocations ranged from 30-40%. The transformation was driven by investors moving away from bond ETFs toward equity-focused products, particularly S&P500 index funds and Korean semiconductor ETFs. Investment patterns varied by age, with those in their 40s showing the highest ETF allocation at 60.4%, while investors aged 70 and above favored AI-focused active ETFs as their top holding.
Investors in Their 40s Lead ETF Adoption at 60.4%
Investors in their 40s showed the highest ETF investment ratio at 60.4%, followed by those in their 50s at 58.2%, 30s at 57.7%, and 60s at 50.4%. Even the 20s and 70+ age groups, which remained in the 30% range through last year, reached 49.4% and 48.5% respectively. The 40s age group's leading position reflects active economic participation and rapidly growing retirement account balances during this life stage.
Bond ETFs Disappear from Top Holdings
In 2024, bond ETFs appeared consistently in popular holdings across age groups, with 'TIGER 25-10 Corporate Bond (A+ or higher) Active' ranking as the top holding for investors aged 50 through 70. This year, no pure bond ETFs appear in the top 1-5 holdings for any age group. Equity ETFs focusing on the US S&P500, Nasdaq 100, Korean benchmark indices, and Korean semiconductors filled the void. Bond-mixed ETFs combining Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix stocks with bonds gained traction, with 'RISE Samsung Electronics SK Hynix Bond Mixed 50' entering the popular holdings rankings for investors in their 30s, 40s, 50s, and 60s.
Korean Semiconductor ETFs Enter Retirement Portfolios
Korean equity ETFs, previously absent from retirement account holdings, entered the rankings across multiple age groups. For investors in their 20s and 30s, 'TIGER 200' and 'RISE Samsung Electronics SK Hynix Bond Mixed 50' ranked fifth in holdings respectively. Among those in their 40s, 'RISE Samsung Electronics SK Hynix Bond Mixed 50' ranked third, 'TIGER 200' fourth, and 'KODEX 200' fifth. 'TIGER Semiconductor TOP10' ranked second for both 60s and 70+ age groups. 'TIGER US S&P500' remained the top holding for most age groups from 20s through 60s.
Investors Aged 70+ Choose AI Active ETF as Top Holding
Investors aged 20 through 60 concentrated holdings in US benchmark index ETFs, with S&P500 and Nasdaq 100 ETFs maintaining top positions. The 20-30 age groups showed the highest allocation to US index ETFs. Investors aged 70 and above displayed different preferences, with 'TIME Global AI Artificial Intelligence Active' ranking as their top holding. 'TIGER TDF2045 Qualified', targeting a 2045 retirement date, ranked fifth among 70+ investors, indicating aggressive asset allocation well beyond actual retirement age.
FAQ
What percentage of retirement account assets are invested in ETFs across all age groups?
All age groups at Mirae Asset Securities reached ETF investment ratios around 50% this year, up from 30-40% in 2024. Investors in their 40s showed the highest ratio at 60.4%, followed by 50s at 58.2% and 30s at 57.7%.
Which ETF do investors aged 70 and above hold most in their retirement accounts?
'TIME Global AI Artificial Intelligence Active' ranked as the top holding for investors aged 70 and above, representing an active investment strategy in the AI industry rather than traditional conservative retirement investments.
