American Crystal Sugar Company 401(k) Review & Grade
American Crystal Sugar Company 401(k) Partnership Plan
Moorhead, MNManufacturing1,636 active participantsPlan year 2024
Estimate from the plan's Form 5500 filing · How we grade
$2,785Employer $ per active participant
$4,987Employee $ saved per active participant
0.08%Direct admin cost, % of plan assets
$185.1MNet plan assets, end of year
$129,339Average balance per account
Score breakdown
- Employer generosity29.9 / 5060th percentile for employer $ per participant
- Low cost20.0 / 2580th percentile for low admin cost vs. same-size plans
- Employee saving7.7 / 1551th percentile for employee $ per participant
- Plan features3 / 10Default investment
- Red-flag deductions-10 pts1 issue reported on the filing
Total score51 / 100 · Grade C
This plan vs. peers
Peers: Manufacturing plans with 500–2,499 active participants (2,376 plans).
| Measure | Percentile |
|---|---|
| Employer $ per participant | 60th |
| Lower admin cost | 80th |
| Employee saving | 51th |
| Peers that auto-enroll | 59% |
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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 ($93 reported). That's money taken from paychecks that sat with the employer longer than the law allows.
What to do if you're in this plan
- American Crystal Sugar put in about $2,785 per active participant, more than the typical peer ($2,320). 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 | $4,558,068 |
| Participant (employee) contributions | $8,160,632 |
| Other contributions (incl. rollovers in) | $1,231,741 |
| Administrative expenses paid from the plan | $141,931 |
| Contract administrator fees | $117,706 |
| Other admin expenses | $7,350 |
| Benefits paid out | $32,865,483 |
| Net assets, start / end of year | $183.6M / $185.1M |
| Active participants, start / end of year | 1,602 / 1,671 |
| Participants with account balances | 1,431 |
| Auto-enrollment (feature code 2S) | Not reported |
| Auditor | Cliftonlarsonallen LLP |
Largest service providers (Schedule C)
| Principal Life Insurance Company | $117,705 reported compensation |
| Mercer | $16,875 reported compensation |
| Clifton Larson Allen LLP | $7,350 reported compensation |
Source: DOL EFAST2 Form 5500 filing, acknowledgment ID 20250829082626NAL0011159809001, received 2025-08-29, EIN 84-0004720, plan #010, plan year 2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31. Verify at efast.dol.gov.