Berlin Packaging L.L.C. 401(k) Review & Grade
Berlin Packaging L.L.C. 401(k) Plan
Chicago, ILWholesale Trade868 active participantsPlan year 2024✓ Auto-enroll
Estimate from the plan's Form 5500 filing · How we grade
$2,913Employer $ per active participant
$10,482Employee $ saved per active participant
0.17%Direct admin cost, % of plan assets
$159.9MNet plan assets, end of year
$136,766Average balance per account
Score breakdown
- Employer generosity36.5 / 5073th percentile for employer $ per participant
- Low cost15.0 / 2560th percentile for low admin cost vs. same-size plans
- Employee saving14.2 / 1595th percentile for employee $ per participant
- Plan features10 / 10Auto-enrollment, Default investment
- Red-flag deductions-3 pts1 issue reported on the filing
Total score73 / 100 · Grade B
This plan vs. peers
Peers: Wholesale Trade plans with 500–2,499 active participants (603 plans).
| Measure | Percentile |
|---|---|
| Employer $ per participant | 73th |
| Lower admin cost | 60th |
| Employee saving | 95th |
| Peers that auto-enroll | 53% |
Get the monthly 401(k) report card
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Red flags from the filing
Corrective distributions: the plan refunded $590 in contributions, which usually means it failed annual nondiscrimination testing.
What to do if you're in this plan
- Berlin Packaging put in about $2,913 per active participant, more than the typical peer ($1,792). 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.
- The plan auto-enrolls employees. Check your default contribution rate. Defaults are often lower than what it takes to get the full match.
- 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 | $2,529,519 |
| Participant (employee) contributions | $9,103,616 |
| Other contributions (incl. rollovers in) | $884,372 |
| Administrative expenses paid from the plan | $248,367 |
| Other admin expenses | $171,806 |
| Benefits paid out | $16,089,521 |
| Net assets, start / end of year | $137.8M / $159.9M |
| Active participants, start / end of year | 878 / 859 |
| Participants with account balances | 1,169 |
| Auto-enrollment (feature code 2S) | Yes |
| Auditor | Sikich CPA LLC |
Largest service providers (Schedule C)
| Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC | $171,806 reported compensation |
| Fidelity Investments Institutional | $76,561 reported compensation |
Source: DOL EFAST2 Form 5500 filing, acknowledgment ID 20250716121652NAL0002392307001, received 2025-07-16, EIN 36-4200026, plan #001, plan year 2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31. Verify at efast.dol.gov.