Steppenwolf Theatre Company 401(k) Review & Grade
Steppenwolf Theatre Company 401(k) Plan
Chicago, ILArts, Entertainment & Recreation1,385 active participantsPlan year 2024
Estimate from the plan's Form 5500 filing · How we grade
$164Employer $ per active participant
$323Employee $ saved per active participant
0.66%Direct admin cost, % of plan assets
$8.2MNet plan assets, end of year
–Average balance per account (account count looks misreported)
Score breakdown
- Employer generosity5.1 / 5010th percentile for employer $ per participant
- Low cost3.7 / 2515th percentile for low admin cost vs. same-size plans
- Employee saving0.5 / 154th percentile for employee $ per participant
- Plan features3 / 10Default investment
Total score12 / 100 · Grade F
This plan vs. peers
Peers: Arts, Entertainment & Recreation plans with 500–2,499 active participants (225 plans).
| Measure | Percentile |
|---|---|
| Employer $ per participant | 10th |
| Lower admin cost | 15th |
| Employee saving | 4th |
| Peers that auto-enroll | 38% |
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Red flags from the filing
No red flags were reported on this filing's compliance questions.
What to do if you're in this plan
- Steppenwolf Theatre put in about $164 per active participant, below the typical peer ($995). 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 (0.66% 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 | $226,739 |
| Participant (employee) contributions | $447,535 |
| Other contributions (incl. rollovers in) | $147,019 |
| Administrative expenses paid from the plan | $49,624 |
| Contract administrator fees | $49,624 |
| Benefits paid out | $273,879 |
| Net assets, start / end of year | $6.8M / $8.2M |
| Active participants, start / end of year | 1,376 / 1,394 |
| Participants with account balances | 181 |
| Auto-enrollment (feature code 2S) | Not reported |
| Auditor | Plante & Moran |
Largest service providers (Schedule C)
| Principal Life Insurance Company | $49,624 reported compensation |
| Raymond James & Associates Inc | $17,468 reported compensation |
Source: DOL EFAST2 Form 5500 filing, acknowledgment ID 20260612140817NAL0007053137001, received 2026-06-12, EIN 51-0149370, plan #001, plan year 2024-09-01 to 2025-08-31. Verify at efast.dol.gov.