Kansas City Southern 401(k) Review & Grade
Kansas City Southern 401(k) and Profit Sharing Plan
Kansas City, MOManagement of Companies2,336 active participantsPlan year 2024
Estimate from the plan's Form 5500 filing · How we grade
$1,825Employer $ per active participant
$3,683Employee $ saved per active participant
0.07%Direct admin cost, % of plan assets
$192.3MNet plan assets, end of year
$138,117Average balance per account
Score breakdown
- Employer generosity17.8 / 5036th percentile for employer $ per participant
- Low cost20.1 / 2580th percentile for low admin cost vs. same-size plans
- Employee saving4.6 / 1531th percentile for employee $ per participant
- Plan features3 / 10Default investment
- Red-flag deductions-10 pts1 issue reported on the filing
Total score36 / 100 · Grade D
This plan vs. peers
Peers: Management of Companies plans with 500–2,499 active participants (172 plans).
| Measure | Percentile |
|---|---|
| Employer $ per participant | 36th |
| Lower admin cost | 80th |
| Employee saving | 31th |
| Peers that auto-enroll | 58% |
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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 ($10,565 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
- Kansas City Southern put in about $1,825 per active participant, below the typical peer ($2,492). 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 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 | $4,262,116 |
| Participant (employee) contributions | $8,603,132 |
| Other contributions (incl. rollovers in) | $728,845 |
| Administrative expenses paid from the plan | $139,478 |
| Investment advisory & management fees | $60,907 |
| Benefits paid out | $28,178,754 |
| Net assets, start / end of year | $181.1M / $192.3M |
| Active participants, start / end of year | 1,586 / 3,086 |
| Participants with account balances | 1,392 |
| Auto-enrollment (feature code 2S) | Not reported |
| Auditor | Armanino LLP |
| Employer stock held by plan | $10,873,453 |
Largest service providers (Schedule C)
| Fidelity Investments Institutional | $79,042 reported compensation |
| Strategic Advisors, Inc. | $60,907 reported compensation |
Source: DOL EFAST2 Form 5500 filing, acknowledgment ID 20260313181512NAL0008015569001, received 2026-03-13, EIN 44-0663509, plan #005, plan year 2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31. Verify at efast.dol.gov.