State · sponsors with a Iowa filing address
Retirement plans in Iowa
Form 5500 filings for plan years 2009 to 2025; medians for plan year 2024.
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. A plan is counted in the state of its sponsor's address, not where its participants live.
829 retirement plans based in Iowa with 100 or more participants filed Form 5500 for plan year 2024 (780 defined contribution, 49 defined benefit). All Form 5500 pension filers in the group reported 995,276 participant records and $68.8B in net assets.
The median defined contribution plan held $65,190 per participant, above the national median of $53,031, and its employer put in $2,167 per active participant (national: $2,174). Among plans reporting Schedule C compensation the median was $176 per participant against $123 nationally.
Employers contributed $1.75B and participants $2.57B during the year, and the plans paid out $6.60B in benefits.
In 2009 the same group numbered 940 plans with $28.5B; by 2024 it was 829 plans (down 12%) and $68.8B (up 141%). From plan year 2023 the 100-participant line counts participants with account balances, which moved many plans to the short form.
Beyond the full-form filers, 5,666 small plans based in Iowa filed the short Form 5500-SF for 2024, with 168,847 participants and $12.8B in net assets. Small plans are counted here and nowhere else on this site.
Medians compared with all US plans
| Median plan, plan year 2024 | IA: DC | US: DC | IA: DB | US: DB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net assets per participant | $65,190 | $53,031 | $81,973 | $86,234 |
| Employer contributions per active participant | $2,167 | $2,174 | $6,953 | $10,244 |
| Schedule C compensation per participant | $176 | $123 | $236 | $344 |
| Schedule C compensation, share of net assets | 0.31% | 0.26% | 0.21% | 0.42% |
| Administrative expenses per participant | $163 | $116 | $293 | $527 |
Medians across plans with 100 or more participants (748 DC and 48 DB plans with a Schedule H here). Fee medians cover plans reporting an amount. DC: defined contribution, such as 401(k) and 403(b). DB: defined benefit pension.
Distribution of DC plans
| Measure | 25th percentile | Median | 75th percentile | Plans |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net assets per participant | $34,562 | $65,190 | $114,262 | 748 |
| Employer contributions per active participant | $1,133 | $2,167 | $3,962 | 723 |
| Schedule C compensation per participant | $82.53 | $176 | $309 | 683 |
| Administrative expenses per participant | $72.21 | $163 | $282 | 713 |
Trend by plan year
| Plan year | Plans 100+ | Participants | Net assets | Employer contributions | Participant contributions | Median DC assets / participant | Median DC Sch. C / participant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025partial | 123 | 88,827 | $9.83B | $249M | $371M | $88,203 | $236 |
| 2024 | 829 | 995,276 | $68.8B | $1.75B | $2.57B | $65,190 | $176 |
| 2023 | 825 | 930,974 | $62.9B | $1.71B | $2.41B | $59,571 | $156 |
| 2022 | 944 | 886,053 | $55.2B | $1.60B | $2.22B | $45,032 | $140 |
| 2021 | 908 | 815,051 | $63.1B | $1.24B | $1.94B | $55,777 | $152 |
| 2020 | 914 | 808,254 | $59.4B | $1.36B | $1.76B | $53,049 | $123 |
| 2019 | 932 | 790,250 | $52.1B | $1.18B | $1.66B | $46,186 | $110 |
| 2018 | 925 | 782,946 | $44.4B | $1.43B | $1.56B | $39,134 | $105 |
| 2017 | 929 | 801,686 | $54.1B | $2.09B | $1.55B | $42,978 | $94.59 |
| 2016 | 925 | 1,402,900 | $95.3B | $2.50B | $2.92B | $38,367 | $78.97 |
| 2015 | 915 | 782,984 | $42.5B | $1.42B | $1.34B | $35,946 | $67.99 |
| 2014 | 913 | 787,826 | $43.2B | $1.18B | $1.22B | $38,120 | $64.41 |
| 2013 | 902 | 746,728 | $40.4B | $1.12B | $1.24B | $35,783 | $52.13 |
| 2012 | 895 | 739,109 | $35.3B | $1.21B | $1.15B | $32,004 | $51.53 |
| 2011 | 899 | 765,014 | $32.6B | $1.22B | $1.11B | $28,628 | $51.00 |
| 2010 | 908 | 761,951 | $32.6B | $1.03B | $1.06B | $29,140 | $48.28 |
| 2009 | 940 | 763,487 | $28.5B | $1.08B | $1.05B | $24,548 | $42.11 |
Plan year is the year in which the plan year began. The drop in large plans from 2023 follows a rule change: the 100-participant line now counts participants with account balances, so many plans moved to the short form.
Provider share
Service provider organisations named most often on the Schedule C of the 832 plans on this page's list, by number of plans. A plan usually names several providers.
Largest plans
The 60 largest by participants of 832 plans with a page on this site.
| Plan | Sponsor | Type | Participants | Net assets | Per participant | Employer / active | Sch. C / participant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Principal Ease 401(k) Plan | Principal Life Insurance Company | DC | 163,954 | $651M | $3,970 | $254 | $40.43 |
| The Hy-Vee and Affiliates 401(k) Plan | Hy-Vee, Inc. | DC | 75,634 | $3.11B | $41,098 | $684 | $45.28 |
| Casey's General Stores 401(k) Plan | Casey's General Stores Inc. | DC | 38,025 | $514M | $13,527 | $440 | $17.89 |
| Iowa Health System Section 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan | Iowa Health System | DC | 34,650 | $3.31B | $95,413 | $3,111 | $60.20 |
| Transamerica Pension Plan | Transamerica Corporation | DB | 29,045 | $2.20B | $75,648 | $6,835 | $55.82 |
| The RSM US LLP Retirement Plan | RSM US, LLP | DC | 21,754 | $3.38B | $155,156 | $6,696 | $72.47 |
| Principal Cash Balance Plan | Principal Financial Group, Inc. | DB | 18,478 | $1.46B | $78,889 | $4,432 | $519 |
| The Principal Select Savings Plan | Principal Financial Group, Inc. | DC | 17,643 | $4.58B | $259,567 | $6,008 | $57.14 |
| Life Care Companies LLC Retirement and 401(k) Savings Plan | Life Care Companies LLC | DC | 14,326 | $295M | $20,623 | $776 | $26.63 |
| Transamerica 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan | Transamerica Corporation | DC | 14,137 | $2.72B | $192,437 | $4,218 | $4.95 |
| Pella Corporation 401(k) Savings Plan | Pella Corporation | DC | 12,418 | $1.22B | $98,569 | $2,406 | $51.27 |
| Hni Corporation 401(k) Plan | Hni Corporation | DC | 11,594 | $1.59B | $136,871 | $3,746 | $49.70 |
| Thrivewise Pooled Employer Plan | Principal Life Insurance Company | DC | 9,531 | $732M | $76,786 | $3,132 | $180 |
| Midamerican Energy Company Retirement Savings Plan | Midamerican Energy Company | DC | 8,969 | $2.28B | $253,743 | $9,784 | $50.63 |
| Fareway Stores, Inc. 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan | Fareway Stores, Inc. | DC | 7,393 | $437M | $59,044 | $710 | $74.48 |
| Ruan Employees' 401(k) Savings Plan | Ruan Transport Corporation | DC | 6,822 | $300M | $43,912 | $1,170 | $100 |
| The Architect Retirement PEP | The Finway Group | DC | 6,773 | $146M | $21,591 | $956 | $16.15 |
| Annett Holdings, Inc. Employee Savings and Profit Sharing Plan | Annett Holdings Inc. | DC | 6,529 | $118M | $18,074 | $1,018 | $49.04 |
| Lee Enterprises, Inc. Employees Retirement Account Plan | Lee Enterprises, Inc. | DC | 5,939 | $442M | $74,349 | $1,046 | $24.92 |
| Iaicu Multiple Employer Plan | Iowa Independent Higher Education Research Foundation | DC | 5,791 | $621M | $107,312 | $2,569 | $251 |
| Vermeer Corporation 401(k) Retirement Plan | Vermeer Corporation | DC | 5,384 | $499M | $92,642 | $2,167 | $254 |
| Midamerican Energy Company Retirement Plan | Midamerican Energy Company | DB | 5,345 | $521M | $97,537 | — | $267 |
| Wells Enterprises, Inc. 401(k) Plan | Wells Enterprises, Inc. | DC | 5,007 | $446M | $89,039 | $3,798 | $84.44 |
| CRST Expedited Inc. d/b/a CRST the Transportation Solution Inc. PS 401(k) Plan | CRST Expedited Inc. | DC | 4,764 | $101M | $21,109 | $619 | $73.00 |
| McCoy Group, Inc. 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan | McCoy Group, Inc. | DC | 4,747 | $267M | $56,189 | $1,450 | $137 |
| Annett Holdings, Inc. Employee Stock Ownership Plan & Trust | Annett Holdings, Inc. | DC | 4,646 | $418M | $90,075 | $5,874 | — |
| Danfoss USA Savings Plan | Danfoss Power Solutions US Company | DC | 4,379 | $564M | $128,791 | $5,321 | $117 |
| 10 Roads Express 401(k) Plan | 10 Roads Express | DC | 4,217 | $63.0M | $14,930 | $150 | $43.85 |
| Purfoods, LLC DBA Mom's Meals 401(k) Plan | Purfoods, LLC | DC | 3,851 | $42.7M | $11,093 | $1,411 | $69.89 |
| Sabre Industries 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan | Sabre Industries, Inc. | DC | 3,646 | $93.4M | $25,629 | $1,135 | $67.05 |
| Care Initiatives 403 (B) Group Retirement Plan | Care Initiatives | DC | 3,584 | $33.8M | $9,419 | $75 | $19.76 |
| Wright Service Corp. Employee Stock Ownership Plan | Wright Service Corp. | DC | 3,369 | $232M | $68,972 | $4,671 | — |
| Wright Service Corp. 401(k) Retirement Plan | Wright Service Corp. | DC | 3,300 | $86.6M | $26,253 | $14 | $138 |
| Choice Pooled Employer Plan III | Administrative Group, LLC DBA Transamerica Fiduciary Services | DC | 3,224 | $53.0M | $16,438 | $556 | $60.54 |
| Retirement Savings Plan for Seaboard Triumph Foods | Seaboard Triumph Foods, LLC | DC | 3,202 | $5.7M | $1,776 | $177 | $11.56 |
| Employers Mutual Casualty Company Retirement Plan | Employers Mutual Casualty Company | DB | 3,139 | $362M | $115,268 | — | $38.30 |
| The Waldinger Corporation Profit Sharing and Savings Plan | The Waldinger Corporation | DC | 3,047 | $199M | $65,212 | $3,951 | $41.76 |
| Connectify HR Retirement Savings Plan | Connectify HR, LLC | DC | 2,986 | $84.4M | $28,268 | $1,322 | $129 |
| Employers Mutual Casualty Company 401(k) Savings Plan | Emc Insurance Companies | DC | 2,956 | $555M | $187,761 | $4,096 | $83.36 |
| Hibu Inc. 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan Trust | Hibu Inc. | DC | 2,945 | $352M | $119,416 | $1,584 | $98.16 |
| Farm Bureau 401(k) Savings Plan | Iowa Farm Bureau Federation and Affiliated Companies | DC | 2,934 | $498M | $169,574 | $7,434 | $175 |
| BH Management 401(k) Plan | BH Management Services, LLC | DC | 2,926 | $58.7M | $20,074 | $1,614 | $69.69 |
| Bomgaars Supply, Inc. Profit Sharing and Savings Plan | Bomgaars Supply, Inc. | DC | 2,873 | $52.7M | $18,328 | $990 | $77.62 |
| Excelwise Pooled Employer Plan | Administrative Group, LLC DBA Transamerica Fiduciary Services | DC | 2,866 | $55.9M | $19,498 | $380 | $1.15 |
| Danfoss USA Savings Plan II | Danfoss Power Solutions II, LLC | DC | 2,810 | $178M | $63,232 | $5,948 | $114 |
| Great River Health System, Inc. 401(k) Retirement Plan | Great River Health System, Inc. | DC | 2,781 | $183M | $65,839 | $2,643 | $94.90 |
| Per Mar Security and Research Corp. 401(k) Plan | Per Mar Security & Research Corporation | DC | 2,776 | $36.8M | $13,253 | $629 | $2.81 |
| Heartland Express, Inc. of Iowa 401(k) Plan | Heartland Express, Inc. of Iowa | DC | 2,720 | $103M | $37,718 | $316 | $47.99 |
| Wesleylife 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan | Wesleylife | DC | 2,708 | $38.8M | $14,315 | $876 | $44.93 |
| Non-Contributory Retirement Program for Certain Employees of Wellmark, Inc. | Wellmark, Inc. | DB | 2,700 | $235M | $86,957 | — | $716 |
| Danfoss Power Solutions Employees' Retirement Plan | Danfoss Power Solutions US Company | DB | 2,648 | $151M | $56,931 | $3,937 | $153 |
| Workiva 401(k) Plan | Workiva Inc. | DC | 2,604 | $189M | $72,464 | $2,810 | $6.54 |
| Athene Savings & Retirement Plan | Apollo Management Holdings, LP | DC | 2,577 | $352M | $136,401 | $6,613 | $53.90 |
| Act, Inc. Defined Contribution Retirement Plan | Intermediaryed | DC | 2,571 | $393M | $152,935 | $123,595 | $112 |
| Kent Corporation Retirement Plan | Kent Corporation | DC | 2,563 | $553M | $215,913 | $8,010 | $136 |
| Higginbotham PEP | The Finway Group | DC | 2,481 | $24.8M | $10,012 | $380 | — |
| Drake University Mandatory Tax-Deferred Annuity Retirement Plan | Drake University | DC | 2,469 | $297M | $120,331 | $3,763 | $73.56 |
| Chesterman Company 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan | Chesterman Company | DC | 2,446 | $128M | $52,491 | $1,677 | $187 |
| Von Maur 401(k) Retirement Plan | Von Maur, Inc. | DC | 2,423 | $112M | $46,337 | $1,023 | $118 |
| Abcm Corporation 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan | Abcm Corporation | DC | 2,366 | $6.1M | $2,576 | — | $167 |
By plan size
By industry
By plan year
Questions and answers
How many retirement plans are there in Iowa?
829 plans with 100 or more participants filed Form 5500 for plan year 2024, out of 1,224 pension plans on the full form. Smaller plans file Form 5500-SF and are counted separately where shown.
What is the typical 401(k) balance in Iowa?
The median defined contribution plan reported $65,190 in net assets per participant (middle half of plans: $34,562 to $114,262); nationally it was $53,031. This is a plan-level average that includes former employees, not a typical person's balance.
What do employers contribute in Iowa?
The median defined contribution plan received $2,167 in employer contributions per active participant, against $2,174 nationally. Plans with no employer contribution are included at zero.
What are average 401(k) fees in Iowa?
Among defined contribution plans that report any Schedule C compensation, the median was $176 per participant and 0.31% of net assets (nationally $123 and 0.26%). Schedule C leaves out fund expense ratios and fees the employer pays, so it understates total cost.
Where does this come from?
Form 5500 annual reports in the EBSA research files, with filings received through 24 Aug 2026. Medians are computed by this site across plans with 100 or more participants.
Provenance
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration, Form 5500 and Form 5500-SF research files, public domain, with filings received through 24 Aug 2026. Totals count every pension plan on the full form; medians and the plan list cover plans with 100 or more participants. See the methodology.