C.L. Smith Company 401(k) Review & Grade
Novvia Group 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan
ST. Louis, MOManufacturing552 active participantsPlan year 2024
Estimate from the plan's Form 5500 filing · How we grade
$1,468Employer $ per active participant
$2,993Employee $ saved per active participant
0.36%Direct admin cost, % of plan assets
$22.1MNet plan assets, end of year
–Average balance per account (account count looks misreported)
Score breakdown
- Employer generosity15.1 / 5030th percentile for employer $ per participant
- Low cost8.5 / 2534th percentile for low admin cost vs. same-size plans
- Employee saving3.4 / 1523th percentile for employee $ per participant
- Plan features0 / 10No auto-enrollment or default investment reported
- Red-flag deductions-10 pts1 issue reported on the filing
Total score17 / 100 · Grade F
This plan vs. peers
Peers: Manufacturing plans with 500–2,499 active participants (2,376 plans).
| Measure | Percentile |
|---|---|
| Employer $ per participant | 30th |
| Lower admin cost | 34th |
| 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 ($430,969 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
- C.L. Smith put in about $1,468 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 (0.36% 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 | $809,396 |
| Participant (employee) contributions | $1,650,796 |
| Other contributions (incl. rollovers in) | $332,008 |
| Administrative expenses paid from the plan | $75,220 |
| Investment advisory & management fees | $75,220 |
| Benefits paid out | $2,536,913 |
| Net assets, start / end of year | $19.6M / $22.1M |
| Active participants, start / end of year | 530 / 573 |
| Participants with account balances | 181 |
| Auto-enrollment (feature code 2S) | Not reported |
| Auditor | Armanino LLP |
Largest service providers (Schedule C)
| Moneta Group | $44,578 reported compensation |
| Alerus Financial, N.A. | $30,642 reported compensation |
Source: DOL EFAST2 Form 5500 filing, acknowledgment ID 20251010134951NAL0008252449001, received 2025-10-10, EIN 43-1051754, plan #001, plan year 2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31. Verify at efast.dol.gov.