American Learning Systems, Inc. 401(k) Review & Grade
American Learning Systems Savings Plan
Plantation, FLEducational Services868 active participantsPlan year 2024
Estimate from the plan's Form 5500 filing · How we grade
$1,154Employer $ per active participant
$4,109Employee $ saved per active participant
0.37%Direct admin cost, % of plan assets
$46.6MNet plan assets, end of year
$43,756Average balance per account
Score breakdown
- Employer generosity24.1 / 5048th percentile for employer $ per participant
- Low cost8.3 / 2533th percentile for low admin cost vs. same-size plans
- Employee saving10.6 / 1571th percentile for employee $ per participant
- Plan features3 / 10Default investment
- Red-flag deductions-5 pts1 issue reported on the filing
Total score41 / 100 · Grade D
This plan vs. peers
Peers: Educational Services plans with 500–2,499 active participants (144 plans).
| Measure | Percentile |
|---|---|
| Employer $ per participant | 48th |
| Lower admin cost | 33th |
| Employee saving | 71th |
| Peers that auto-enroll | 37% |
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Red flags from the filing
Auditor disclaimer: the auditor issued a disclaimer of opinion.
What to do if you're in this plan
- American Learning Systems put in about $1,154 per active participant, below the typical peer ($1,225). 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.
- Direct plan expenses (0.37% 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.
- 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 | $1,002,324 |
| Participant (employee) contributions | $3,568,726 |
| Other contributions (incl. rollovers in) | $115,450 |
| Administrative expenses paid from the plan | $164,594 |
| Contract administrator fees | $50,440 |
| Investment advisory & management fees | $114,154 |
| Benefits paid out | $5,661,983 |
| Net assets, start / end of year | $42.8M / $46.6M |
| Active participants, start / end of year | 851 / 886 |
| Participants with account balances | 1,066 |
| Auto-enrollment (feature code 2S) | Not reported |
| Auditor | Burton & Company |
Largest service providers (Schedule C)
| Merrill Lynch Retirement & Benefit | $114,154 reported compensation |
| Ascensus LLC | $50,440 reported compensation |
Source: DOL EFAST2 Form 5500 filing, acknowledgment ID 20260429141013NAL0017624176001, received 2026-04-29, EIN 59-1235428, plan #001, plan year 2024-07-01 to 2025-06-30. Verify at efast.dol.gov.