Judy Diamond Associates Analysis Reveals Major Differences in 401(k) Plan Performance Across Different Industries Nationwide

Washington, D.C., April 29, 2014 – Judy Diamond Associates, the 401(k) plan intelligence provider of leading financial advisors, brokers and fund companies, today released an analysis that reveals major differences in performance of 401(k) plans across industries.

Looking at the average plan scores for 401(k) plans in 20 different industry classifications, Judy Diamond Associates discovered a 38% difference in the average score between the top ranking industry group, Finance and Insurance, and the lowest ranking group, Accommodation and Food Services.

“While it won’t shock many to learn that financial professionals have the best performing 401(k) plans, when looking at the spread it becomes clear that there’s a real disparity between the top and bottom industries,” said Eric Ryles, managing director of Judy Diamond Associates.   “Workers on the bottom rung are faced with special difficulties in saving enough for retirement, and may have to contend with low (or no) employer matches, lack of financial education and sub-optimal contribution rates.”

Plan Scores are calculated using an algorithm that considers key measures of a plan’s performance compared to other plans nationwide.  This study looked at the average plan score for each of the 20 highest level industry groupings from within the North American Industry Classification System, encompassing 517,000 plans and $3.47 trillion in total assets.  Low plan scores can result from comparatively low participation rates, declines in contributions, a requirement for a plan to issue corrective distributions, or other signs of distress.

Average 401(k) Plan Scores by Industry:

Rank

Row Labels

NAICS
code

# of
Plans

Avg Plan
Score

1 Finance and Insurance 52

35,062

61.8

2 Health Care and Social Assistance 62

100,391

61.6

3 Mining 21

3,073

61.0

4 Utilities 22

1,832

60.7

5 Professional, Scientific and Technical Services 54

112,988

60.4

6 Management of Companies and Enterprises 55

1,760

57.7

7 Wholesale Trade 42

28,549

57.4

8 Information 51

10,303

56.1

9 Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting 11

5,417

55.9

10 Public Administration 92

301

55.7

11 Real Estate Rental and Leasing 53

13,879

55.2

12 Other Services 81

27,234

55.1

13 Manufacturing 31-33

61,418

54.4

14 Construction 23

39,490

54.4

15 Educational Services 61

4,412

52.4

16 Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services 56

12,576

52.1

17 Transportation and Warehousing 48-49

10,577

51.7

18 Arts, Entertainment and Recreation 71

6,301

51.6

19 Retail Trade 44-45

34,116

51.3

20 Accommodation and Food Services 72

7,698

44.8

  Grand Total   517,377

57.5

Judy Diamond Associates based this research on the most recently available 401(k) plan disclosure documents released by the Department of Labor, which are available in its Retirement Plan Prospector database. Retirement Plan Prospector is an intuitive and comprehensive online sales prospecting and plan analysis tool, providing insights to the defined contribution and defined benefits markets.

For more information about this research, please contact us at www.judydiamond.com/about/contact or follow us on Twitter @401kFacts.

Media Contact
Regina Marie Glick
646-746-8878
[email protected]

Sales Contact
Eric Ryles
202-370-4811
[email protected]

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