Chicago Zoological Society 401(k) Review & Grade
Chicago Zoological Society Retirement Savings Plan
Brookfield, ILArts, Entertainment & Recreation552 active participantsPlan year 2024✓ Auto-enroll
Estimate from the plan's Form 5500 filing · How we grade
$1,253Employer $ per active participant
$5,302Employee $ saved per active participant
0.14%Direct admin cost, % of plan assets
$84.3MNet plan assets, end of year
$102,610Average balance per account
Score breakdown
- Employer generosity30.4 / 5061th percentile for employer $ per participant
- Low cost16.2 / 2565th percentile for low admin cost vs. same-size plans
- Employee saving13.1 / 1587th percentile for employee $ per participant
- Plan features10 / 10Auto-enrollment, Default investment
- Red-flag deductions-3 pts1 issue reported on the filing
Total score67 / 100 · Grade B
This plan vs. peers
Peers: Arts, Entertainment & Recreation plans with 500–2,499 active participants (225 plans).
| Measure | Percentile |
|---|---|
| Employer $ per participant | 61th |
| Lower admin cost | 65th |
| Employee saving | 87th |
| Peers that auto-enroll | 38% |
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Red flags from the filing
Corrective distributions: the plan refunded $3,386 in contributions, which usually means it failed annual nondiscrimination testing.
What to do if you're in this plan
- Chicago Zoological Society put in about $1,253 per active participant, more than the typical peer ($995). 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 auto-enrolls employees. Check your default contribution rate. Defaults are often lower than what it takes to get the full match.
- 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 | $691,741 |
| Participant (employee) contributions | $2,926,458 |
| Other contributions (incl. rollovers in) | $345,396 |
| Administrative expenses paid from the plan | $114,590 |
| Investment advisory & management fees | $13,867 |
| Benefits paid out | $7,033,561 |
| Net assets, start / end of year | $76.4M / $84.3M |
| Active participants, start / end of year | 529 / 575 |
| Participants with account balances | 822 |
| Auto-enrollment (feature code 2S) | Yes |
| Auditor | Plante & Moran, PLLC |
Largest service providers (Schedule C)
| Empower Annuity Insurance Company O | $100,723 reported compensation |
| Empower Advisory Group, LLC | $13,867 reported compensation |
Source: DOL EFAST2 Form 5500 filing, acknowledgment ID 20251001110244NAL0005891123001, received 2025-10-01, EIN 36-2167016, plan #002, plan year 2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31. Verify at efast.dol.gov.