Elm 401(k) Review & Grade
Elm Locating and Utility Services 401(k) Plan
Peoria, ILInformation1,053 active participantsPlan year 2024✓ Auto-enroll
Estimate from the plan's Form 5500 filing · How we grade
$0Employer $ per active participant
$3,326Employee $ saved per active participant
0.53%Direct admin cost, % of plan assets
$14.2MNet plan assets, end of year
$9,040Average balance per account
Score breakdown
- Employer generosity0.0 / 500th percentile for employer $ per participant
- Low cost5.3 / 2521th percentile for low admin cost vs. same-size plans
- Employee saving2.0 / 1513th percentile for employee $ per participant
- Plan features10 / 10Auto-enrollment, Default investment
Total score17 / 100 · Grade F
This plan vs. peers
Peers: Information plans with 500–2,499 active participants (310 plans).
| Measure | Percentile |
|---|---|
| Employer $ per participant | 0th |
| Lower admin cost | 21th |
| Employee saving | 13th |
| Peers that auto-enroll | 59% |
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Red flags from the filing
No red flags were reported on this filing's compliance questions.
What to do if you're in this plan
- This plan reported $0 in employer contributions for 2024. Some employers put their money into a separate plan, so check any other plans listed below and ask HR. If there really is no company money, you still get the tax break. Compare the plan's fees and funds with an IRA before deciding where your next dollar goes.
- 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.
- Direct plan expenses (0.53% of assets) are well above similar-size plans (0.23%). Check your annual fee disclosure, choose low-cost index funds if you can, and think about whether savings beyond the match belong in an IRA.
- 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 | $0 |
| Participant (employee) contributions | $3,501,993 |
| Other contributions (incl. rollovers in) | $161,007 |
| Administrative expenses paid from the plan | $66,950 |
| Other admin expenses | $13,201 |
| Benefits paid out | $1,913,624 |
| Net assets, start / end of year | $11.1M / $14.2M |
| Active participants, start / end of year | 918 / 1,188 |
| Participants with account balances | 1,574 |
| Auto-enrollment (feature code 2S) | Yes |
| Auditor | Cliftonlarsonallen LLP |
Largest service providers (Schedule C)
| Fidelity Investments Institutional | $53,749 reported compensation |
| Morgan Stanley Smith Barney | $28,587 reported compensation |
| Clifton Larson Allen LLP | $13,201 reported compensation |
Source: DOL EFAST2 Form 5500 filing, acknowledgment ID 20250806161016NAL0002979201001, received 2025-08-06, EIN 81-0529580, plan #001, plan year 2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31. Verify at efast.dol.gov.