Women have better retirement savings habits but lower 401(k) balances than men, Vanguard finds

Among men, the average 401(k) balance last year was $194,597, about 33% higher than the $146,476 average among women, according to Vanguard's new 2026 How America Saves report. However, women are generally more likely to participate in their employer's plan and tend to save more of their paycheck than men, the report shows. While asset allocations in 401(k)s are similar among both genders, some women set aside too much cash outside of retirement savings, says one financial advisor. Women tend to save more of their paycheck for retirement than men, but still trail them in 401(k) account values, new research shows. The average 401(k) balance among men in 2025 was $194,597, compared with $146,476 for women, according to Vanguard's new 2026 How America Saves report, which looks at data from nearly 5 million retirement savers across more than 1,300 workplace plans. Yet women display better...