Southwestern Energy Company 401(k) Review & Grade
Southwestern Energy Company 401k Savings Plan
Spring, TXManagement of Companies1,218 active participantsPlan year 2024
Estimate from the plan's Form 5500 filing · How we grade
$16,841Employer $ per active participant
$7,209Employee $ saved per active participant
0.18%Direct admin cost, % of plan assets
$109.4MNet plan assets, end of year
$119,517Average balance per account
Score breakdown
- Employer generosity49.7 / 5099th percentile for employer $ per participant
- Low cost14.6 / 2558th percentile for low admin cost vs. same-size plans
- Employee saving9.6 / 1564th percentile for employee $ per participant
- Plan features3 / 10Default investment
- Red-flag deductions-13 pts2 issues reported on the filing
Total score64 / 100 · Grade B
This plan vs. peers
Peers: Management of Companies plans with 500–2,499 active participants (172 plans).
| Measure | Percentile |
|---|---|
| Employer $ per participant | 99th |
| Lower admin cost | 58th |
| Employee saving | 64th |
| 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 ($5,017,733 reported). That's money taken from paychecks that sat with the employer longer than the law allows.
Corrective distributions: the plan refunded $8,447 in contributions, which usually means it failed annual nondiscrimination testing.
What to do if you're in this plan
- Southwestern Energy put in about $16,841 per active participant, more than the typical peer ($2,492). 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 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 | $20,512,389 |
| Participant (employee) contributions | $8,780,333 |
| Other contributions (incl. rollovers in) | $324,087 |
| Administrative expenses paid from the plan | $281,477 |
| Investment advisory & management fees | $16,250 |
| Benefits paid out | $160,327,988 |
| Net assets, start / end of year | $208.3M / $109.4M |
| Active participants, start / end of year | 1,218 / 0 |
| Participants with account balances | 915 |
| Auto-enrollment (feature code 2S) | Not reported |
| Employer stock held by plan | $2,589,257 |
Largest service providers (Schedule C)
| Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner and S | $265,393 reported compensation |
| Regions | $16,250 reported compensation |
Source: DOL EFAST2 Form 5500 filing, acknowledgment ID 20250922132205NAL0005292049001, received 2025-09-22, EIN 71-0205415, plan #003, plan year 2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31. Verify at efast.dol.gov.