The Children's Hospital of Alabama 401(k) Review & Grade
Children's of Alabama 401(k) Plan
Birmingham, ALHealth Care & Social Assistance5,507 active participantsPlan year 2024
Estimate from the plan's Form 5500 filing · How we grade
$2,218Employer $ per active participant
$5,257Employee $ saved per active participant
0.09%Direct admin cost, % of plan assets
$618.0MNet plan assets, end of year
$90,222Average balance per account
Score breakdown
- Employer generosity36.3 / 5073th percentile for employer $ per participant
- Low cost15.3 / 2561th percentile for low admin cost vs. same-size plans
- Employee saving11.1 / 1574th percentile for employee $ per participant
- Plan features3 / 10Default investment
- Red-flag deductions-23 pts3 issues reported on the filing
Total score43 / 100 · Grade D
This plan vs. peers
Peers: Health Care & Social Assistance plans with 2,500–9,999 active participants (312 plans).
| Measure | Percentile |
|---|---|
| Employer $ per participant | 73th |
| Lower admin cost | 61th |
| Employee saving | 74th |
| Peers that auto-enroll | 38% |
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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 ($1,961 reported). That's money taken from paychecks that sat with the employer longer than the law allows.
Benefits not paid when due: the plan reported failing to pay some benefits on time.
Corrective distributions: the plan refunded $170,887 in contributions, which usually means it failed annual nondiscrimination testing.
What to do if you're in this plan
- Children's Hospital of Alabama put in about $2,218 per active participant, more than the typical peer ($800). 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 | $12,216,805 |
| Participant (employee) contributions | $28,952,557 |
| Other contributions (incl. rollovers in) | $2,360,737 |
| Administrative expenses paid from the plan | $511,746 |
| Contract administrator fees | $1,500 |
| Investment advisory & management fees | $114,729 |
| Other admin expenses | $79,653 |
| Benefits paid out | $44,279,523 |
| Net assets, start / end of year | $544.4M / $618.0M |
| Active participants, start / end of year | 5,422 / 5,592 |
| Participants with account balances | 6,850 |
| Auto-enrollment (feature code 2S) | Not reported |
| Auditor | Deloitte & Touche LLP |
Largest service providers (Schedule C)
| Fidelity Investments Institutional | $367,855 reported compensation |
| Cap Financial Partners, LLC | $79,653 reported compensation |
| Strategic Advisors, Inc. | $64,538 reported compensation |
Source: DOL EFAST2 Form 5500 filing, acknowledgment ID 20250715131702NAL0002200625001, received 2025-07-15, EIN 63-0307306, plan #001, plan year 2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31. Verify at efast.dol.gov.