Air Products & Chemicals, Inc. 401(k) Review & Grade
Air Products & Chemicals, Inc. Retirement Savings Plan
Allentown, PAManufacturing6,542 active participantsPlan year 2024✓ Auto-enroll
Estimate from the plan's Form 5500 filing · How we grade
$8,244Employer $ per active participant
$10,640Employee $ saved per active participant
0.02%Direct admin cost, % of plan assets
$2.7BNet plan assets, end of year
$296,756Average balance per account
Score breakdown
- Employer generosity44.7 / 5089th percentile for employer $ per participant
- Low cost23.8 / 2595th percentile for low admin cost vs. same-size plans
- Employee saving12.8 / 1585th percentile for employee $ per participant
- Plan features10 / 10Auto-enrollment, Default investment
- Red-flag deductions-10 pts1 issue reported on the filing
Total score81 / 100 · Grade A
This plan vs. peers
Peers: Manufacturing plans with 2,500–9,999 active participants (566 plans).
| Measure | Percentile |
|---|---|
| Employer $ per participant | 89th |
| Lower admin cost | 95th |
| Employee saving | 85th |
| Peers that auto-enroll | 70% |
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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 ($102,098 reported). That's money taken from paychecks that sat with the employer longer than the law allows.
What to do if you're in this plan
- Air Products & Chemicals put in about $8,244 per active participant, more than the typical peer ($3,452). 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 auto-enrolls employees. Check your default contribution rate. Defaults are often lower than what it takes to get the full match.
- 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 | $53,932,485 |
| Participant (employee) contributions | $69,608,561 |
| Other contributions (incl. rollovers in) | $22,460,576 |
| Administrative expenses paid from the plan | $457,369 |
| Contract administrator fees | $3,300 |
| Investment advisory & management fees | $92,266 |
| Other admin expenses | $71,733 |
| Benefits paid out | $339,007,613 |
| Net assets, start / end of year | $2.6B / $2.7B |
| Active participants, start / end of year | 6,170 / 6,914 |
| Participants with account balances | 9,202 |
| Auto-enrollment (feature code 2S) | Yes |
| Auditor | Deloitte & Touche LLP |
| Employer stock held by plan | $458,761,191 |
Largest service providers (Schedule C)
| Fidelity Investments Institutional | $298,500 reported compensation |
| Strategic Advisors, Inc. | $92,266 reported compensation |
| Towers Watson Investment Services | $71,733 reported compensation |
Source: DOL EFAST2 Form 5500 filing, acknowledgment ID 20250708151748NAL0007147232001, received 2025-07-08, EIN 23-1274455, plan #001, plan year 2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31. Verify at efast.dol.gov.