Best Western International, Inc. 401(k) Review & Grade
Best Western International, Inc. 401(k) Investment Plan
Phoenix, AZAccommodation & Food Services1,353 active participantsPlan year 2024✓ Auto-enroll
Estimate from the plan's Form 5500 filing · How we grade
$7,043Employer $ per active participant
$7,363Employee $ saved per active participant
0.09%Direct admin cost, % of plan assets
$231.8MNet plan assets, end of year
$147,266Average balance per account
Score breakdown
- Employer generosity49.9 / 50100th percentile for employer $ per participant
- Low cost19.3 / 2577th percentile for low admin cost vs. same-size plans
- Employee saving14.7 / 1598th percentile for employee $ per participant
- Plan features10 / 10Auto-enrollment, Default investment
- Red-flag deductions-10 pts1 issue reported on the filing
Total score84 / 100 · Grade A
This plan vs. peers
Peers: Accommodation & Food Services plans with 500–2,499 active participants (458 plans).
| Measure | Percentile |
|---|---|
| Employer $ per participant | 100th |
| Lower admin cost | 77th |
| Employee saving | 98th |
| Peers that auto-enroll | 17% |
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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 ($96 reported). That's money taken from paychecks that sat with the employer longer than the law allows.
What to do if you're in this plan
- Best Western International put in about $7,043 per active participant, more than the typical peer ($266). 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.
- 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 | $9,528,648 |
| Participant (employee) contributions | $9,961,927 |
| Other contributions (incl. rollovers in) | $1,490,252 |
| Administrative expenses paid from the plan | $190,850 |
| Contract administrator fees | $167,850 |
| Benefits paid out | $12,634,048 |
| Net assets, start / end of year | $201.4M / $231.8M |
| Active participants, start / end of year | 1,376 / 1,330 |
| Participants with account balances | 1,574 |
| Auto-enrollment (feature code 2S) | Yes |
| Auditor | Cbiz Cpas P.C. |
Largest service providers (Schedule C)
| Principal Life Insurance Company | $179,400 reported compensation |
| Cbiz Cpas P.C. | $22,000 reported compensation |
| Wilshire Advisors LLC | $0 reported compensation |
Source: DOL EFAST2 Form 5500 filing, acknowledgment ID 20260713130107NAL0000217441001, received 2026-07-13, EIN 86-0138899, plan #002, plan year 2024-12-01 to 2025-11-30. Verify at efast.dol.gov.