Forum Communications Company 401(k) 401(k) Review & Grade
Forum Communications Company 401(k) Plan
Fargo, NDInformation775 active participantsPlan year 2024
Estimate from the plan's Form 5500 filing · How we grade
$858Employer $ per active participant
$3,125Employee $ saved per active participant
0.16%Direct admin cost, % of plan assets
$90.9MNet plan assets, end of year
$103,282Average balance per account
Score breakdown
- Employer generosity8.1 / 5016th percentile for employer $ per participant
- Low cost15.4 / 2562th percentile for low admin cost vs. same-size plans
- Employee saving1.8 / 1512th percentile for employee $ per participant
- Plan features0 / 10No auto-enrollment or default investment reported
- Red-flag deductions-10 pts1 issue reported on the filing
Total score15 / 100 · Grade F
This plan vs. peers
Peers: Information plans with 500–2,499 active participants (310 plans).
| Measure | Percentile |
|---|---|
| Employer $ per participant | 16th |
| Lower admin cost | 62th |
| Employee saving | 12th |
| 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 ($87 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
- Forum Communications Company 401(k) put in about $858 per active participant, below the typical peer ($2,829). 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.
- 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 | $664,902 |
| Participant (employee) contributions | $2,421,877 |
| Other contributions (incl. rollovers in) | $148,480 |
| Administrative expenses paid from the plan | $140,288 |
| Contract administrator fees | $140,288 |
| Benefits paid out | $8,870,776 |
| Net assets, start / end of year | $86.3M / $90.9M |
| Active participants, start / end of year | 791 / 759 |
| Participants with account balances | 880 |
| Auto-enrollment (feature code 2S) | Not reported |
| Auditor | Eide Bailly LLP |
Largest service providers (Schedule C)
| Bell State Bank & Trust | $140,288 reported compensation |
Source: DOL EFAST2 Form 5500 filing, acknowledgment ID 20260423143242NAL0004829537001, received 2026-04-23, EIN 45-0129560, plan #004, plan year 2024-10-01 to 2025-09-30. Verify at efast.dol.gov.