Axle Informatics, LLC 401(k) Review & Grade
Axle Retirement Plan
North Bethesda, MDProfessional, Scientific & Technical Services654 active participantsPlan year 2024
Estimate from the plan's Form 5500 filing · How we grade
$4,171Employer $ per active participant
$8,178Employee $ saved per active participant
0.10%Direct admin cost, % of plan assets
$36.3MNet plan assets, end of year
$51,341Average balance per account
Score breakdown
- Employer generosity32.9 / 5066th percentile for employer $ per participant
- Low cost18.7 / 2575th percentile for low admin cost vs. same-size plans
- Employee saving6.4 / 1543th percentile for employee $ per participant
- Plan features0 / 10No auto-enrollment or default investment reported
- Red-flag deductions-3 pts1 issue reported on the filing
Total score55 / 100 · Grade C
This plan vs. peers
Peers: Professional, Scientific & Technical Services plans with 500–2,499 active participants (1,469 plans).
| Measure | Percentile |
|---|---|
| Employer $ per participant | 66th |
| Lower admin cost | 75th |
| Employee saving | 43th |
| Peers that auto-enroll | 48% |
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Red flags from the filing
Corrective distributions: the plan refunded $45 in contributions, which usually means it failed annual nondiscrimination testing.
What to do if you're in this plan
- Axle Informatics put in about $4,171 per active participant, more than the typical peer ($3,082). 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.
- 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 | $2,726,071 |
| Participant (employee) contributions | $5,344,381 |
| Other contributions (incl. rollovers in) | $2,220,347 |
| Administrative expenses paid from the plan | $29,538 |
| Contract administrator fees | $300 |
| Investment advisory & management fees | $11,579 |
| Benefits paid out | $2,637,093 |
| Net assets, start / end of year | $24.4M / $36.3M |
| Active participants, start / end of year | 548 / 759 |
| Participants with account balances | 707 |
| Auto-enrollment (feature code 2S) | Not reported |
| Auditor | Clifton Larson Allen LLP |
Largest service providers (Schedule C)
| Fidelity Investments Institutional | $18,550 reported compensation |
| Strategic Advisors, Inc. | $11,579 reported compensation |
Source: DOL EFAST2 Form 5500 filing, acknowledgment ID 20251015132438NAL0009806146001, received 2025-10-15, EIN 72-1533966, plan #001, plan year 2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31. Verify at efast.dol.gov.