District of Columbia › Professional, scientific and technical services › 1,000 to 4,999 participants
Form 5500 statement · plan year 1 Jan 2024 to 31 Dec 2024
The Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc. 403(b) Savings Plan
Sponsored by Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc., Washington, DC
Form 5500 information is as filed by the plan administrator with the Department of Labor and may be amended. Figures reflect the plan year shown, not current balances. Form 5500 contains no individual account balances. Look up the original filing at EFAST2.
In the plan year ending 31 Dec 2024, The Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc. 403(b) Savings Plan covered 2,186 participants and held $299M in net assets. The plan is a 403(b) plan sponsored by Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc. of Washington, District of Columbia.
Net assets came to $136,696 per participant, well above the $50,295 median for defined contribution plans with 1,000 to 4,999 participants and well above the $73,951 median for defined contribution plans in professional, scientific and technical services. The figure is an average across everyone in the plan, including former employees with small balances; Form 5500 holds no individual account data.
Schedule C lists 3 service provider organisations paid $5,000 or more, with reported compensation of $108K: $49.56 per participant, well below the same-size median of $82.08. Administrative expenses charged to the plan were $231K. Schedule C does not capture every cost: fees netted from fund returns and fees the employer pays directly are outside it.
Across the filings on record, net assets went from $112M in 2009 to $299M in 2024 (up 167%), and participants from 1,379 to 2,186 (up 59%).
The independent accountant's opinion on the financial statements was disclaimer, from an audit whose scope was limited under ERISA section 103(a)(3)(C) to exclude investment information certified by a bank or insurer.
Compared with similar plans
| Measure | This plan | Same size | Same industry | All US DC plans |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net assets per participant | $136,696 | $50,295 | $73,951 | $53,102 |
| Employer contributions per active participant | — | $2,045 | $3,219 | $2,175 |
| Schedule C compensation per participant | $49.56 | $82.08 | $148 | $123 |
| Schedule C compensation, share of net assets | 0.04% | 0.17% | 0.22% | 0.26% |
| Administrative expenses per participant | $106 | $82.20 | $140 | $116 |
Peer columns are medians for plan year 2024 across defined contribution plans with 100 or more participants: 1,000 to 4,999 participants (10,207 plans), professional, scientific and technical services (9,776) and all US plans (63,460). Fee medians cover plans that report an amount.
Trend by plan year
| Plan year | Participants | Net assets | Per participant | Employer contributions | Participant contributions | Schedule C compensation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2,186 | $299M | $136,696 | — | $13.4M | $108K |
| 2023 | 1,966 | $273M | $139,042 | — | $12.4M | $104K |
| 2022 | 1,601 | $237M | $148,201 | — | $11.4M | $110K |
| 2021 | 1,805 | $283M | $156,614 | — | $10.8M | $110K |
| 2020 | 1,464 | $253M | $172,831 | — | $10.0M | $100K |
| 2019 | 1,896 | $217M | $114,648 | — | $8.8M | $91K |
| 2018 | 1,930 | $185M | $95,660 | — | $8.3M | $87K |
| 2017 | 1,943 | $191M | $98,171 | — | $7.5M | $25K |
| 2016 | 1,528 | $167M | $109,522 | — | $6.7M | $25K |
| 2015 | 1,449 | $156M | $107,737 | — | $6.0M | $25K |
| 2014 | 1,422 | $159M | $111,646 | — | $5.3M | $25K |
| 2013 | 1,454 | $149M | $102,558 | — | $5.3M | $0 |
| 2012 | 1,485 | $131M | $88,434 | — | $5.2M | $0 |
| 2011 | 1,739 | $123M | $70,873 | — | $5.1M | $3,000 |
| 2010 | 1,206 | $123M | $101,947 | $0 | $5.0M | $0 |
| 2009 | 1,379 | $112M | $81,091 | — | $4.7M | $0 |
Years in which the plan filed the full Form 5500 with 100 or more participants, from 2009. Plan year is the year in which the plan year began.
Statement for the year
- Net assets, beginning of year$273,356,916
- Employer contributions—
- Participant contributions$13,351,332
- Rollovers and other contributions$1,527,385
- Total contributions$14,878,717
- Total income, including investment results$54,028,805
- Benefits paid$28,336,620
- Administrative expenses$230,951
- Total expenses$28,567,571
- Net income$25,461,234
- Net transfers$0
- Net assets, end of year$298,818,150
Participants
- Active participants1,557
- Retired or separated, receiving benefits9
- Retired or separated, entitled to future benefits607
- Participants with account balances1,619
- Total participants, end of year2,186
Fees and service providers
| Organisation | Services reported | Direct | Indirect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fidelity Investments Institutional | Recordkeeping fees; Account maintenance fees; Securities brokerage commissions and fees | $57,168 | $0 |
| Strategic Advisors, Inc. | Investment advisory (plan) | $26,172 | $0 |
| Multnomah Group | Consulting (general) | $25,000 | $0 |
Schedule C, Part I line 2: providers that received $5,000 or more, with the form's own service codes. Individuals named on Schedule C (plan employees, individual trustees) are never shown and their compensation is excluded. Eligible indirect compensation disclosed by formula carries no dollar amount. See how to read Schedule C fees.
Administrative expenses on Schedule H
- Other administrative expenses$147,611
- Recordkeeping fees$57,168
- Investment advisory and management fees$26,172
- Total administrative expenses$230,951
Investment structure
Assets at year end by Schedule H category. The form shows the kind of vehicle holding the money, not the funds on the menu.
- Registered investment companies (mutual funds)$223M · 74.7%
- Insurance company general account$37.8M · 12.6%
- Other investments$31.3M · 10.5%
- Pooled separate accounts$3.7M · 1.2%
- Cash (interest and non-interest bearing)$2.1M · 0.7%
- Participant loans$590K · 0.2%
Audit and compliance answers, as filed
- Accountant's opinionDisclaimer
- Audit scope limited under ERISA section 103(a)(3)(C)Yes
- Accounting firmCliftonLarsonAllen LLP
- Participant contributions reported as transmitted lateNo
- Covered by a fidelity bondYes, $500,000
- Blackout period during the yearNo
These are the plan administrator's own answers on Schedule H, Part IV. A reported late transmittal is the filer's disclosure of a timing lapse, usually corrected through the Department of Labor's voluntary program; the amount is the total involved, not a loss.
Plan characteristics
2GTotal participant-directed account plan2LCode section 403(b)(1) arrangement (annuity contracts)2MCode section 403(b)(7) accounts (custodial accounts for regulated investment company stock)2RParticipant-directed brokerage accounts provided as an investment option under the plan
Codes entered on Form 5500 line 8a, with the labels from the official instructions. Business code 541700: Scientific Research & Development Services.
Other plans of Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc.
| Plan | Participants | Net assets |
|---|---|---|
| Aura, Inc. Money Purchase Pension Plan and Trust | 2,766 | $428M |
Similar plans in District of Columbia
| Plan | Sponsor | Participants | Net assets | Per participant |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chemonics International, Inc. 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan | Chemonics International,inc. | 2,198 | $187M | $84,930 |
| Crowell & Moring LLP Retirement Plan | Crowell & Moring LLP | 2,089 | $695M | $332,626 |
| Ankura Consulting Group, LLC Savings Plan | Ankura Consulting Group, LLC | 2,276 | $230M | $101,265 |
| BRG 401(k) Plan | Berkeley Research Group, LLC | 2,004 | $303M | $151,341 |
| Vox Media 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan and Trust | Vox Media, LLC | 2,299 | $179M | $77,991 |
| Arentfox Schiff 401(k) Plan | Arentfox Schiff LLP | 1,603 | $279M | $174,164 |
Defined contribution plans in professional, scientific and technical services closest in size.
Questions and answers
How big is The Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc. 403(b) Savings Plan?
2,186 participants at the end of the plan year ending 31 Dec 2024, of whom 1,557 were active employees, with net assets of $298,818,150. Among defined contribution plans that places it in the 1,000 to 4,999 participants band, which held 10,207 plans in plan year 2024.
What does Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc. contribute per participant?
This filing has no Schedule H financial statement, so employer contributions are not reported here.
What fees does the plan pay and how do they compare?
Schedule C reports $108,340 in compensation to service provider organisations, $49.56 per participant or 0.04% of net assets. The same-size median among plans reporting any Schedule C compensation was $82.08 per participant. Administrative expenses on Schedule H were $230,951. Investment costs deducted inside mutual funds and other pooled vehicles are not itemised on Form 5500, so these figures are a floor rather than a full cost.
Who runs the plan?
The sponsor is Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc.. Recordkeeping or administration: Fidelity Investments Institutional. Investment advisory or management: Strategic Advisors, Inc.. The financial statements were audited by CliftonLarsonAllen LLP. Form 5500 also names the plan administrator's signer and other individuals; this site publishes organisations only.
Was the audit opinion unqualified?
The filing reports an disclaimer opinion from a limited-scope audit, in which the accountant did not audit investment information certified by a bank or insurance company. A disclaimer of opinion was the usual result of a limited-scope audit under the rules in force before 2021 and is not by itself a finding about the plan.
How current is this, and does it show my balance?
This is the Form 5500 for the plan year 1 Jan 2024 to 31 Dec 2024, received by the Department of Labor on 10 Oct 2025. Filings are due seven months after the plan year ends, or nine and a half with an extension, so the public record always runs a year or more behind. It contains plan-level totals only: no individual balances, contributions or names of participants exist in the data.
Provenance
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration, Form 5500 research files (Form 5500, Schedule H, Schedule C) for plan years 2009 to 2025, public domain, with filings received through 24 Aug 2026. This page shows the latest filing on record for EIN 86-0138043, plan 006, received 10 Oct 2025; an amended filing replaces it at the next build. Medians and percentiles are computed by this site; see the methodology. Report an error through corrections.