National Futures Association 401(k) Review & Grade
National Futures Association Employee Retirement Savings Plan
Chicago, ILOther Services524 active participantsPlan year 2024✓ Auto-enroll
Estimate from the plan's Form 5500 filing · How we grade
$15,523Employer $ per active participant
$15,470Employee $ saved per active participant
0.00%Direct admin cost, % of plan assets
$300.9MNet plan assets, end of year
$355,257Average balance per account
Score breakdown
- Employer generosity49.8 / 50100th percentile for employer $ per participant
- Low cost24.8 / 2599th percentile for low admin cost vs. same-size plans
- Employee saving15.0 / 15100th percentile for employee $ per participant
- Plan features10 / 10Auto-enrollment, Default investment
- Red-flag deductions-3 pts1 issue reported on the filing
Total score97 / 100 · Grade A
This plan vs. peers
Peers: Other Services plans with 500–2,499 active participants (333 plans).
| Measure | Percentile |
|---|---|
| Employer $ per participant | 100th |
| Lower admin cost | 99th |
| Employee saving | 100th |
| Peers that auto-enroll | 40% |
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Red flags from the filing
Corrective distributions: the plan refunded $46,280 in contributions, which usually means it failed annual nondiscrimination testing.
What to do if you're in this plan
- National Futures Association put in about $15,523 per active participant, more than the typical peer ($1,257). 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.
- 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 | $8,133,985 |
| Participant (employee) contributions | $8,106,087 |
| Other contributions (incl. rollovers in) | $440,009 |
| Administrative expenses paid from the plan | $7,635 |
| Investment advisory & management fees | $4,335 |
| Benefits paid out | $18,018,033 |
| Net assets, start / end of year | $263.2M / $300.9M |
| Active participants, start / end of year | 546 / 502 |
| Participants with account balances | 847 |
| Auto-enrollment (feature code 2S) | Yes |
| Auditor | Grant Thornton LLP |
Largest service providers (Schedule C)
| Schwab Retirement Plan Services Inc | $7,635 reported compensation |
| Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. | $0 reported compensation |
Source: DOL EFAST2 Form 5500 filing, acknowledgment ID 20251015194153NAL0002828803001, received 2025-10-15, EIN 36-2960981, plan #001, plan year 2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31. Verify at efast.dol.gov.