Applied Systems, Inc. 401(k) Review & Grade
Applied Systems, Inc. Retirement Savings Plan
University Park, ILProfessional, Scientific & Technical Services1,660 active participantsPlan year 2024✓ Auto-enroll
Estimate from the plan's Form 5500 filing · How we grade
$2,056Employer $ per active participant
$9,553Employee $ saved per active participant
0.14%Direct admin cost, % of plan assets
$225.8MNet plan assets, end of year
$111,226Average balance per account
Score breakdown
- Employer generosity17.2 / 5034th percentile for employer $ per participant
- Low cost16.4 / 2565th percentile for low admin cost vs. same-size plans
- Employee saving8.2 / 1555th percentile for employee $ per participant
- Plan features10 / 10Auto-enrollment, Default investment
- Red-flag deductions-3 pts1 issue reported on the filing
Total score49 / 100 · Grade C
This plan vs. peers
Peers: Professional, Scientific & Technical Services plans with 500–2,499 active participants (1,469 plans).
| Measure | Percentile |
|---|---|
| Employer $ per participant | 34th |
| Lower admin cost | 65th |
| Employee saving | 55th |
| Peers that auto-enroll | 48% |
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Red flags from the filing
Corrective distributions: the plan refunded $799 in contributions, which usually means it failed annual nondiscrimination testing.
What to do if you're in this plan
- Applied Systems put in about $2,056 per active participant, below the typical peer ($3,082). Any match is still an instant return, so contribute enough to get all of it.
- The filing shows total dollars, not the match formula. Ask HR for the Summary Plan Description so you know the exact match and vesting schedule.
- Fund expense ratios aren't in the filing. Look them up in your 404(a)(5) fee disclosure and favor low-cost index or target-date funds.
- The plan auto-enrolls employees. Check your default contribution rate. Defaults are often lower than what it takes to get the full match.
- Changing jobs? You can usually leave the money in the plan, move it to your new employer's plan, or roll it into an IRA. Don't cash out: you'd owe taxes and possibly a 10% penalty.
The raw numbers from the filing
| Employer contributions | $3,412,760 |
| Participant (employee) contributions | $15,857,916 |
| Other contributions (incl. rollovers in) | $2,908,146 |
| Administrative expenses paid from the plan | $291,343 |
| Investment advisory & management fees | $65,141 |
| Benefits paid out | $17,431,265 |
| Net assets, start / end of year | $193.5M / $225.8M |
| Active participants, start / end of year | 1,616 / 1,704 |
| Participants with account balances | 2,030 |
| Auto-enrollment (feature code 2S) | Yes |
| Auditor | Sikich CPA LLC |
Largest service providers (Schedule C)
| Empower Annuity Insurance Company | $210,202 reported compensation |
| Gallagher Benefit Services, Inc. | $40,000 reported compensation |
| Empower Advisory Group, LLC | $25,141 reported compensation |
Source: DOL EFAST2 Form 5500 filing, acknowledgment ID 20250627083938NAL0005408243001, received 2025-06-27, EIN 20-5511045, plan #001, plan year 2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31. Verify at efast.dol.gov.