Ho-Chunk Nation 401(k) Review & Grade
Ho-Chunk Nation 401(k) Plan & Trust
Black River Falls, WIArts, Entertainment & Recreation2,313 active participantsPlan year 2024
Estimate from the plan's Form 5500 filing · How we grade
$1,529Employer $ per active participant
$2,187Employee $ saved per active participant
0.28%Direct admin cost, % of plan assets
$85.5MNet plan assets, end of year
$39,036Average balance per account
Score breakdown
- Employer generosity34.6 / 5069th percentile for employer $ per participant
- Low cost10.6 / 2543th percentile for low admin cost vs. same-size plans
- Employee saving6.9 / 1546th percentile for employee $ per participant
- Plan features0 / 10No auto-enrollment or default investment reported
- Red-flag deductions-13 pts2 issues reported on the filing
Total score39 / 100 · Grade D
This plan vs. peers
Peers: Arts, Entertainment & Recreation plans with 500–2,499 active participants (225 plans).
| Measure | Percentile |
|---|---|
| Employer $ per participant | 69th |
| Lower admin cost | 43th |
| Employee saving | 46th |
| Peers that auto-enroll | 38% |
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Red flags from the filing
Late deposits: the filing says some employee contributions were not sent to the plan on time ($793 reported). That's money taken from paychecks that sat with the employer longer than the law allows.
Corrective distributions: the plan refunded $1,501 in contributions, which usually means it failed annual nondiscrimination testing.
What to do if you're in this plan
- Ho-Chunk Nation put in about $1,529 per active participant, more than the typical peer ($995). Contribute at least enough to collect the full match. Skipping it leaves part of your pay on the table.
- 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 reported late deposits of employee contributions. Compare your pay stubs with your account statements, and contact the plan administrator if money shows up late.
- 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 | $3,536,471 |
| Participant (employee) contributions | $5,058,779 |
| Other contributions (incl. rollovers in) | $287,871 |
| Administrative expenses paid from the plan | $223,130 |
| Contract administrator fees | $55,995 |
| Investment advisory & management fees | $64,967 |
| Benefits paid out | $4,527,291 |
| Net assets, start / end of year | $72.0M / $85.5M |
| Active participants, start / end of year | 2,234 / 2,392 |
| Participants with account balances | 2,191 |
| Auto-enrollment (feature code 2S) | Not reported |
| Auditor | Cliftonlarsonallen LLP |
Largest service providers (Schedule C)
| Newport Group, Inc. | $135,360 reported compensation |
| NFP Retirement, Inc. | $64,967 reported compensation |
Source: DOL EFAST2 Form 5500 filing, acknowledgment ID 20260219140915NAL0010551139001, received 2026-02-19, EIN 39-1140880, plan #001, plan year 2024-07-01 to 2025-06-30. Verify at efast.dol.gov.