The Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation 401(k) Review & Grade
The Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation 401k Retirement Savings Plan
El Cajon, CAArts, Entertainment & Recreation2,162 active participantsPlan year 2024
Estimate from the plan's Form 5500 filing · How we grade
$915Employer $ per active participant
$3,167Employee $ saved per active participant
0.46%Direct admin cost, % of plan assets
$106.2MNet plan assets, end of year
$69,327Average balance per account
Score breakdown
- Employer generosity23.2 / 5046th percentile for employer $ per participant
- Low cost6.5 / 2526th percentile for low admin cost vs. same-size plans
- Employee saving10.0 / 1567th percentile for employee $ per participant
- Plan features3 / 10Default investment
- Red-flag deductions-3 pts1 issue reported on the filing
Total score40 / 100 · Grade D
This plan vs. peers
Peers: Arts, Entertainment & Recreation plans with 500–2,499 active participants (225 plans).
| Measure | Percentile |
|---|---|
| Employer $ per participant | 46th |
| Lower admin cost | 26th |
| Employee saving | 67th |
| Peers that auto-enroll | 38% |
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Red flags from the filing
Corrective distributions: the plan refunded $9,905 in contributions, which usually means it failed annual nondiscrimination testing.
What to do if you're in this plan
- Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation put in about $915 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 (0.46% 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 | $1,978,182 |
| Participant (employee) contributions | $6,847,609 |
| Other contributions (incl. rollovers in) | $173,331 |
| Administrative expenses paid from the plan | $458,548 |
| Contract administrator fees | $458,548 |
| Benefits paid out | $8,560,063 |
| Net assets, start / end of year | $95.0M / $106.2M |
| Active participants, start / end of year | 2,154 / 2,171 |
| Participants with account balances | 1,532 |
| Auto-enrollment (feature code 2S) | Not reported |
| Auditor | Wipfli, LLP |
Largest service providers (Schedule C)
| Empower Annuity Insurance Company | $283,379 reported compensation |
| Onedigital Investment Advisors LLC | $146,141 reported compensation |
| Ascensus Inc | $48,956 reported compensation |
Source: DOL EFAST2 Form 5500 filing, acknowledgment ID 20251003174032NAL0000938723001, received 2025-10-03, EIN 33-0881662, plan #001, plan year 2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31. Verify at efast.dol.gov.