February 06, 2017 12:00 AM

Graphic: The state of retirement readiness

Retirement assets are near all-time highs, even though many experts believe individuals are not saving enough. DC plans have gained ground quickly on DB plans as they have become employers' option of choice. Individual savers have also looked to alternative platforms such as robo-advisers, which offer investors greater ease to put money away and manage it with minimal effort.

Convergent: The split of institutional retirement assets between DB and DC plans has converged over the decades as DC plans became the norm, a trend that accelerated in the 1990s.

Growing percentage: Retirement assets − including claims on plan sponsors and IRAs − are currently 39% of total household financial assets, slightly down from peak levels in 2011.

It's automatic: Auto enrollment in DC plans has become increasingly popular among employers. Target-date options are the most commonly used auto-enrollment options, and many plans use auto-escalate features to grow contributions with salary increases.

Tech aids: Investors have taken their retirement into their own hands. Robo-advisers have seen dramatic increases in growth in both assets and clients since their advent, appealing to a younger demographic with less maintenance and easy access. The three largest providers control 72% of the market.