Sidley Austin LLP 401(k) Review & Grade
Sidley Austin LLP Savings and Investment Plan
Chicago, ILProfessional, Scientific & Technical Services3,393 active participantsPlan year 2024✓ Auto-enroll
Estimate from the plan's Form 5500 filing · How we grade
$4,155Employer $ per active participant
$18,134Employee $ saved per active participant
0.02%Direct admin cost, % of plan assets
$1.9BNet plan assets, end of year
$328,800Average balance per account
Score breakdown
- Employer generosity33.7 / 5067th percentile for employer $ per participant
- Low cost23.9 / 2596th percentile for low admin cost vs. same-size plans
- Employee saving14.0 / 1593th percentile for employee $ per participant
- Plan features10 / 10Auto-enrollment, Default investment
- Red-flag deductions-10 pts1 issue reported on the filing
Total score72 / 100 · Grade B
This plan vs. peers
Peers: Professional, Scientific & Technical Services plans with 2,500–9,999 active participants (231 plans).
| Measure | Percentile |
|---|---|
| Employer $ per participant | 67th |
| Lower admin cost | 96th |
| Employee saving | 93th |
| Peers that auto-enroll | 47% |
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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 ($2,259 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
- Sidley Austin LLP put in about $4,155 per active participant, more than the typical peer ($2,951). 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.
- 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 | $14,098,850 |
| Participant (employee) contributions | $61,528,762 |
| Other contributions (incl. rollovers in) | $69,469,182 |
| Administrative expenses paid from the plan | $285,636 |
| Investment advisory & management fees | $23,741 |
| Benefits paid out | $175,697,416 |
| Net assets, start / end of year | $1.7B / $1.9B |
| Active participants, start / end of year | 3,344 / 3,442 |
| Participants with account balances | 5,876 |
| Auto-enrollment (feature code 2S) | Yes |
| Auditor | KPMG LLP |
Largest service providers (Schedule C)
| Schwab Retirement Plan Services Inc | $217,495 reported compensation |
| At Investment Advisers Inc | $205,701 reported compensation |
| Cerity Partners LLC | $48,980 reported compensation |
Source: DOL EFAST2 Form 5500 filing, acknowledgment ID 20251013130756NAL0002002384001, received 2025-10-13, EIN 36-4474078, plan #100, plan year 2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31. Verify at efast.dol.gov.