NFL Scores Big in 401k Ranking

It’s that time of year—gifts, parties, booze and BrightScope’s year-end list of the top 30 401(k) plans. So who’s doing it right?

In its seventh year of ranking plans with over $1 billion in assets, the San Diego-based research firm reports that plan quality has steadily increased and target date funds are experiencing growth spikes. However, it also found that participation rates fell nearly one percent year-over-year and average account balances have decreased by nearly $10,000 since last year’s list.

“It’s encouraging to see the average plan rating continue to improve, demonstrating employers recognize the importance a high quality 401k plan plays in helping employees retire with dignity,” Mike Alfred, CEO and co-founder of BrightScope, said in a statement.

Noteworthy findings since BrightScope’s last release:

The NFL Player Second Career Savings Plan, new to the list in 2013, claims the No. 1 spot for the third year
The Astrazeneca Savings and Security Plan jumps from No. 22 in 2014 to No. 6 this year with the help of increased company generosity and higher salary deferrals
Other major moves since 2014 include the Anadarko Employee Savings Plan from No. 28 to No. 11 and Novartis Corporation Investment Savings Plan from No. 30 to No. 20
BrightScope gives a warm welcome to new honorees: the Agilent Technologies, Inc. 401(k) Plan (No. 12), Pfizer Savings Plan (No. 16), BASF Corporation Retirement Savings Plan (No. 24), Takeda Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., Inc. Savings and Retirement Plan (No. 25), Sanofi U.S. Group Savings Plan (No. 26), Bristol-Myers Squibb Company Savings and Investment Program (No. 27), The 401(k) Savings and Profit Sharing Plan of McGraw-Hill Financial, Inc. and its Subsidiaries (No. 28), Allergan, Inc. Savings and Investment Plan (No. 30)
BrightScope welcomes back Chevron Employee Savings Investment Plan (No. 9) who previously ranked in the Top 30 plan list in 2009

The entire list of the 2015 Top 30 401k Plans with more than $1 billion in assets:


2015 Rank	2014 Rank	Plan Name	U.S. Headquarters	BrightScope Rating™
1	1	NFL Player Second Career Savings Plan	Baltimore, MD	91.13
2	3	The Savings Plan of Saudi Arabian Oil Company	Houston, TX	90.79
3	6	Amgen Retirement and Savings Plan	Thousand Oaks, CA	90.78
4	2	Southwest Airlines Pilots Retirement Savings Plan	Dallas, TX	90.63
5	4	Wellington Retirement and Pension Plan	Boston, MA	90.48
6	22	Astrazeneca Savings and Security Plan	Wilmington, DE	89.39
7	7	UPS/IPA Defined Contribution Money Purchase Pension Plan	Louisville, KY	89.10
8	8	ConocoPhillips Savings Plan	Houston, TX	88.75
9	N/A	Chevron Employee Savings Investment Plan	San Ramon, CA	88.68
10	11	BP Employee Savings Plan	Houston, TX	88.31
11	28	Anadarko Employee Savings Plan	The Woodlands, TX	88.30
12	N/A	Agilent Technologies, Inc. 401(k) Plan	Santa Clara, CA	88.26
13	16	Bechtel Trust & Thrift Plan	San Francisco, CA	88.22
14	13	Southern California Permanente Medical Group Retirement Plan	Pasadena, CA	88.21
15	10	ExxonMobil Savings Plan	Houston, TX	88.20
16	N/A	Pfizer Savings Plan	Peapack, NJ	88.12
17	14	Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. 401(K) Savings &Investment Plan	Charlotte, NC	88.11
18	12	Google Inc. 401(K) Savings Plan	Mountain View, CA	88.07
19	9	Bayer Corporation Savings and Retirement Plan	Pittsburgh, PA	87.89
20	30	Novartis Corporation Investment Savings Plan	New York, NY	87.88
21	15	Phillips 66 Savings Plan	Houston, TX	87.68
22	26	Shell Provident Fund	Houston, TX	87.59
23	17	Latham & Watkins 401(k) Savings and Profit Sharing Plan	Los Angeles, CA	87.56
24	N/A	BASF Corporation Retirement Savings Plan	Florham Park, NJ	87.56
25	N/A	Takeda Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., Inc. Savings and Retirement Plan	Deerfield, IL	87.53
26	N/A	Sanofi U.S. Group Savings Plan	Bridgewater, NJ	87.46
27	N/A	Bristol-Myers Squibb Company Savings and Investment Program	New York, NY	87.44
28	N/A	The 401(k) Savings and Profit Sharing Plan of McGraw-Hill Financial, Inc. and its Subsidiaries	New York, NY	87.31
29	27	Federal National Mortgage Association Retirement Savings Plan for Employees	Washington, DC	87.26
30	N/A	Allergan, Inc. Savings and Investment Plan	Irvine, CA	87.18

John Sullivan

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With more than 20 years serving financial markets, John Sullivan is the former editor-in-chief of Investment Advisor magazine and retirement editor of ThinkAdvisor.com. Sullivan is also the former editor of Boomer Market Advisor and Bank Advisor magazines, and has a background in the insurance and investment industries in addition to his journalism roots.