Major airlines again flew away with the best scores for the top 30 401k plans in America.
The annual list, compiled by BrightScope, saw the NFL Player Second Career Savings Plan sacked for a loss, moving from No. 2 last year to No. 5 this year.
The data was pulled from the Department of Labor, and covers 2016 (the latest year available), which was before the latest football controversies.
Outrunning the NFL were Southwest at No. 4, United at No. 3, American at No. 2 and Delta Airlines repeating at No. 1. An additional point of interest? They were all 401k plans for pilots.
Six traits comprise BrightScope’s methodology, including company contributions, eligibility, vesting schedules, fees, participation rates, and salary deferral incentives.
Researchers found that target-date funds keep climbing, representing over 13 percent of assets in the top 30 List. Additionally, index fund representation in plan menus increased to almost 43 percent of assets, a 2 percent rise since last year.
“The BrightScope rating algorithm analyzes 200-plus unique data points per plan and calculates a numerical score for every 401k plan in the country,” according to the company. “The algorithm runs thousands of simulations for each plan to determine how quickly the average 401k participant will get to retirement via their employer’s plan.”
- Delta Pilots Savings Plan
- American Airlines, Inc. 401(k) Plan for Pilots
- United Airlines Pilot Retirement Account Savings
- Southwest Airlines Pilots’ Retirement Savings Plan
- NFL Player Second Career Savings Plan
- The Savings Plan of Saudi Arabian Oil Company
- Novartis Corporation Investment Savings Plan
- UPS/IPA Defined Contribution Money Purchase Pension Plan
- Chevron Employee Savings Investment Plan
- Amgen Retirement and Savings Plan
- Anadarko Employee Savings Plan
- Google Inc. 401(k) Savings Plan
- Pfizer Savings Plan
- Bayer Corporation Savings and Retirement Plan
- NFL Player Annuity Program
- AstraZeneca Savings and Security Plan
- Microsoft Corporation Savings Plus 401(k) Plan
- Bechtel Trust & Thrift Plan
- ConocoPhillips Savings Plan
- Shell Provident Fund
- Latham & Watkins 401(k) Savings and Profit Sharing Plan
- Bristol-Myers Squibb Company Savings and Investment Program
- ExxonMobil Savings Plan
- Deferred Profit-Sharing Plan for Salaried Employees
- Yahoo 401(k) Plan
- Kirkland & Ellis LLP Defined Contribution 401(k) Savings Plan
- The Boeing Company Voluntary Investment Plan
- Federal National Mortgage Association Retirement Savings Plan for Employees
- Sanofi U.S. Group Savings Plan
- Lenovo Savings Plan
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.
401Ks in general are a scam and was never initially meant to retire on. They were constructed in a time when Pensions were the norm, and this was a way to save a little extra. Over the years the companies got extremely greedy, CEO salaries sky rocketed and we are stuck this this new way to save money. Sure, you can end up saving quite a bit but it pales in comparison to what a pension could offer. The only people actually making money off of a 401K are the companies who proctor them. We were all duped and we should be ashamed..
Seriously? To indict an entire industry is thoughtless and shallow Geoff. While there are certainly examples out there to support your argument, there are literally thousands of employers across the country who offer their employees an efficient, effective opportunity to invest for their retirement on a tax-preferred basis – even some with the added incentive of an employer matching contribution. Our qualified plan customers and their participants enjoy the opportunity to invest in a wide variety of proven, very low cost investments along with the experienced, professional guidance to support it. We are very proud of our proven record of having assisted thousands of employees achieve a much greater level of financial success than they would/could have without their quality 401k plan.
Not everyone in the industry is a greedy crook Geoff. Therefore, I take exception to your comment as do many of my fellow reputable, honest retirement plan advisors across the country, I’m sure.