Easter Seals Southern California, Inc. 401(k) Review & Grade
Easterseals Southern California Retirement Plan
Irvine, CAHealth Care & Social Assistance2,781 active participantsPlan year 2024
Estimate from the plan's Form 5500 filing · How we grade
$2,050Employer $ per active participant
$3,897Employee $ saved per active participant
0.24%Direct admin cost, % of plan assets
$91.7MNet plan assets, end of year
$25,653Average balance per account
Score breakdown
- Employer generosity35.0 / 5070th percentile for employer $ per participant
- Low cost7.2 / 2529th percentile for low admin cost vs. same-size plans
- Employee saving9.3 / 1562th percentile for employee $ per participant
- Plan features3 / 10Default investment
- Red-flag deductions-10 pts1 issue reported on the filing
Total score45 / 100 · Grade C
This plan vs. peers
Peers: Health Care & Social Assistance plans with 2,500–9,999 active participants (312 plans).
| Measure | Percentile |
|---|---|
| Employer $ per participant | 70th |
| Lower admin cost | 29th |
| Employee saving | 62th |
| Peers that auto-enroll | 38% |
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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 ($6,244 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
- Easter Seals Southern California put in about $2,050 per active participant, more than the typical peer ($800). 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.
- Direct plan expenses (0.24% of assets) are well above similar-size plans (0.12%). 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 | $5,700,598 |
| Participant (employee) contributions | $10,836,922 |
| Other contributions (incl. rollovers in) | $689,672 |
| Administrative expenses paid from the plan | $195,686 |
| Contract administrator fees | $195,686 |
| Benefits paid out | $4,914,783 |
| Net assets, start / end of year | $69.2M / $91.7M |
| Active participants, start / end of year | 2,623 / 2,939 |
| Participants with account balances | 3,575 |
| Auto-enrollment (feature code 2S) | Not reported |
| Auditor | Windes, Inc. |
Largest service providers (Schedule C)
| Lincon National Corporation | $195,686 reported compensation |
Source: DOL EFAST2 Form 5500 filing, acknowledgment ID 20250909125208NAL0034126912001, received 2025-09-09, EIN 94-3068149, plan #002, plan year 2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31. Verify at efast.dol.gov.