Liberty Utilities Service Corp. 401(k) Review & Grade
Liberty Utilities National 401(k) Plan
Litchfield Park, AZUtilities2,477 active participantsPlan year 2024✓ Auto-enroll
Estimate from the plan's Form 5500 filing · How we grade
$4,701Employer $ per active participant
$8,840Employee $ saved per active participant
0.12%Direct admin cost, % of plan assets
$442.2MNet plan assets, end of year
$172,136Average balance per account
Score breakdown
- Employer generosity14.2 / 5028th percentile for employer $ per participant
- Low cost17.2 / 2569th percentile for low admin cost vs. same-size plans
- Employee saving4.5 / 1530th percentile for employee $ per participant
- Plan features10 / 10Auto-enrollment, Default investment
- Red-flag deductions-10 pts1 issue reported on the filing
Total score36 / 100 · Grade D
This plan vs. peers
Peers: Utilities plans with 500–2,499 active participants (75 plans).
| Measure | Percentile |
|---|---|
| Employer $ per participant | 28th |
| Lower admin cost | 69th |
| Employee saving | 30th |
| Peers that auto-enroll | 76% |
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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 ($4,035 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
- Liberty Utilities Service put in about $4,701 per active participant, below the typical peer ($6,264). 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 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 | $11,643,159 |
| Participant (employee) contributions | $21,896,612 |
| Other contributions (incl. rollovers in) | $2,281,575 |
| Administrative expenses paid from the plan | $514,979 |
| Contract administrator fees | $514,979 |
| Benefits paid out | $38,773,588 |
| Net assets, start / end of year | $395.6M / $442.2M |
| Active participants, start / end of year | 2,492 / 2,462 |
| Participants with account balances | 2,569 |
| Auto-enrollment (feature code 2S) | Yes |
| Auditor | Pickett, Chaney & Mcmullen LLP |
Largest service providers (Schedule C)
| Voya Retirement Advisors, LLC. | $222,850 reported compensation |
| Actuarial Consulting Services | $204,041 reported compensation |
| Osaic Wealth, Inc | $90,000 reported compensation |
Source: DOL EFAST2 Form 5500 filing, acknowledgment ID 20251009105859NAL0003512019001, received 2025-10-09, EIN 33-1224978, plan #001, plan year 2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31. Verify at efast.dol.gov.