Braun Industries, Inc. 401(k) Review & Grade
Braun Industries, Inc. 401(k) Plan
Van Wert, OHManufacturing600 active participantsPlan year 2024
Estimate from the plan's Form 5500 filing · How we grade
$1,164Employer $ per active participant
$3,014Employee $ saved per active participant
0.70%Direct admin cost, % of plan assets
$16.9MNet plan assets, end of year
$27,683Average balance per account
Score breakdown
- Employer generosity10.7 / 5021th percentile for employer $ per participant
- Low cost3.2 / 2513th percentile for low admin cost vs. same-size plans
- Employee saving3.4 / 1523th percentile for employee $ per participant
- Plan features3 / 10Default investment
- Red-flag deductions-13 pts2 issues reported on the filing
Total score7 / 100 · Grade F
This plan vs. peers
Peers: Manufacturing plans with 500–2,499 active participants (2,376 plans).
| Measure | Percentile |
|---|---|
| Employer $ per participant | 21th |
| Lower admin cost | 13th |
| Employee saving | 23th |
| Peers that auto-enroll | 59% |
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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 ($301,924 reported). That's money taken from paychecks that sat with the employer longer than the law allows.
Corrective distributions: the plan refunded $44,978 in contributions, which usually means it failed annual nondiscrimination testing.
What to do if you're in this plan
- Braun Industries put in about $1,164 per active participant, below the typical peer ($2,320). Any match is still an instant return, so contribute enough to get all of it.
- 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 (0.70% 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 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 | $698,850 |
| Participant (employee) contributions | $1,809,808 |
| Other contributions (incl. rollovers in) | $239,851 |
| Administrative expenses paid from the plan | $110,308 |
| Investment advisory & management fees | $45,086 |
| Benefits paid out | $2,143,195 |
| Net assets, start / end of year | $14.6M / $16.9M |
| Active participants, start / end of year | 574 / 627 |
| Participants with account balances | 612 |
| Auto-enrollment (feature code 2S) | Not reported |
| Auditor | Baden, Gage & Schroeder, LLC |
Largest service providers (Schedule C)
| KT Administrators LLC | $51,240 reported compensation |
| Sym Financial | $45,086 reported compensation |
| Baden, Gage & Schroeder,llc | $10,500 reported compensation |
Source: DOL EFAST2 Form 5500 filing, acknowledgment ID 20251014075129NAL0003320992001, received 2025-10-14, EIN 31-0792103, plan #001, plan year 2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31. Verify at efast.dol.gov.