Since their authorization in 1974, individual retirement accounts have enjoyed astounding growth. In total, IRAs have more than $3 trillion in assets and are held by more than 45 percent of U.S. households.¹ Roughly 26 percent of the $11.6 trillion U.S. retirement asset market is held in individual retirement accounts.² Assets held in IRAs have increased 13 percent per year since 1990.³