Carl Zeiss, Inc. 401(k) Review & Grade
Carl Zeiss, Inc. 401(k) Savings & Investment Plan
White Plains, NYManufacturing1,477 active participantsPlan year 2024
Estimate from the plan's Form 5500 filing · How we grade
$6,777Employer $ per active participant
$11,699Employee $ saved per active participant
0.01%Direct admin cost, % of plan assets
$360.6MNet plan assets, end of year
$168,053Average balance per account
Score breakdown
- Employer generosity45.3 / 5091th percentile for employer $ per participant
- Low cost24.6 / 2598th percentile for low admin cost vs. same-size plans
- Employee saving14.1 / 1594th percentile for employee $ per participant
- Plan features3 / 10Default investment
- Red-flag deductions-13 pts2 issues reported on the filing
Total score74 / 100 · Grade B
This plan vs. peers
Peers: Manufacturing plans with 500–2,499 active participants (2,376 plans).
| Measure | Percentile |
|---|---|
| Employer $ per participant | 91th |
| Lower admin cost | 98th |
| Employee saving | 94th |
| 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 ($1,387,254 reported). That's money taken from paychecks that sat with the employer longer than the law allows.
Corrective distributions: the plan refunded $2,207 in contributions, which usually means it failed annual nondiscrimination testing.
What to do if you're in this plan
- Carl Zeiss put in about $6,777 per active participant, more than the typical peer ($2,320). 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 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 | $10,008,956 |
| Participant (employee) contributions | $17,280,054 |
| Other contributions (incl. rollovers in) | $2,073,642 |
| Administrative expenses paid from the plan | $25,579 |
| Contract administrator fees | $300 |
| Benefits paid out | $33,639,918 |
| Net assets, start / end of year | $315.3M / $360.6M |
| Active participants, start / end of year | 1,454 / 1,500 |
| Participants with account balances | 2,146 |
| Auto-enrollment (feature code 2S) | Not reported |
| Auditor | Maillie LLP |
Largest service providers (Schedule C)
| Fidelity Investments Institutional | $25,579 reported compensation |
Source: DOL EFAST2 Form 5500 filing, acknowledgment ID 20251010152555NAL0004371043001, received 2025-10-10, EIN 13-1495820, plan #002, plan year 2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31. Verify at efast.dol.gov.