Authority Brands, Inc. 401(k) Review & Grade
Authority Brands, Inc. 401(k) Plan
Columbia, MDAdministrative, Support & Staffing Services1,460 active participantsPlan year 2024✓ Auto-enroll
Estimate from the plan's Form 5500 filing · How we grade
$1,859Employer $ per active participant
$4,761Employee $ saved per active participant
0.66%Direct admin cost, % of plan assets
$51.2MNet plan assets, end of year
$29,891Average balance per account
Score breakdown
- Employer generosity38.8 / 5078th percentile for employer $ per participant
- Low cost3.6 / 2515th percentile for low admin cost vs. same-size plans
- Employee saving11.4 / 1576th percentile for employee $ per participant
- Plan features10 / 10Auto-enrollment, Default investment
- Red-flag deductions-13 pts2 issues reported on the filing
Total score51 / 100 · Grade C
This plan vs. peers
Peers: Administrative, Support & Staffing Services plans with 500–2,499 active participants (401 plans).
| Measure | Percentile |
|---|---|
| Employer $ per participant | 78th |
| Lower admin cost | 15th |
| Employee saving | 76th |
| Peers that auto-enroll | 27% |
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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 ($482,441 reported). That's money taken from paychecks that sat with the employer longer than the law allows.
Corrective distributions: the plan refunded $165,380 in contributions, which usually means it failed annual nondiscrimination testing.
What to do if you're in this plan
- Authority Brands put in about $1,859 per active participant, more than the typical peer ($712). 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.
- Direct plan expenses (0.66% of assets) are well above similar-size plans (0.23%). Check your annual fee disclosure, choose low-cost index funds if you can, and think about whether savings beyond the match belong in an IRA.
- 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 | $2,713,331 |
| Participant (employee) contributions | $6,948,959 |
| Other contributions (incl. rollovers in) | $1,099,833 |
| Administrative expenses paid from the plan | $311,331 |
| Investment advisory & management fees | $186,944 |
| Benefits paid out | $8,339,248 |
| Net assets, start / end of year | $43.0M / $51.2M |
| Active participants, start / end of year | 1,503 / 1,416 |
| Participants with account balances | 1,713 |
| Auto-enrollment (feature code 2S) | Yes |
| Auditor | Citrin Cooperman & Company, LLP |
Largest service providers (Schedule C)
| Empower Annuity Insurance Company O | $124,387 reported compensation |
| Ubs Financial Services Inc | $106,163 reported compensation |
| Empower Advisory Group, LLC | $80,781 reported compensation |
Source: DOL EFAST2 Form 5500 filing, acknowledgment ID 20251015221654NAL0002920115001, received 2025-10-15, EIN 83-1724245, plan #001, plan year 2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31. Verify at efast.dol.gov.