Eastern Wholesale Fence, LLC 401(k) Review & Grade
Eastern Wholesale Fence, LLC 401(k) Plan
Medford, NYManufacturing598 active participantsPlan year 2024
Estimate from the plan's Form 5500 filing · How we grade
$1,122Employer $ per active participant
$2,144Employee $ saved per active participant
0.46%Direct admin cost, % of plan assets
$17.3MNet plan assets, end of year
–Average balance per account (account count looks misreported)
Score breakdown
- Employer generosity9.9 / 5020th percentile for employer $ per participant
- Low cost6.4 / 2526th percentile for low admin cost vs. same-size plans
- Employee saving2.0 / 1514th percentile for employee $ per participant
- Plan features3 / 10Default investment
- Red-flag deductions-10 pts1 issue reported on the filing
Total score11 / 100 · Grade F
This plan vs. peers
Peers: Manufacturing plans with 500–2,499 active participants (2,376 plans).
| Measure | Percentile |
|---|---|
| Employer $ per participant | 20th |
| Lower admin cost | 26th |
| Employee saving | 14th |
| 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 ($756,752 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
- Eastern Wholesale Fence put in about $1,122 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 (0.46% 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 | $670,247 |
| Participant (employee) contributions | $1,281,002 |
| Other contributions (incl. rollovers in) | $83,793 |
| Administrative expenses paid from the plan | $76,626 |
| Contract administrator fees | $15,745 |
| Investment advisory & management fees | $60,881 |
| Benefits paid out | $2,333,964 |
| Net assets, start / end of year | $15.8M / $17.3M |
| Active participants, start / end of year | 622 / 573 |
| Participants with account balances | 283 |
| Auto-enrollment (feature code 2S) | Not reported |
| Auditor | Greer & Walker LLP |
Largest service providers (Schedule C)
| Wealth Enhancement Advisory Service | $60,881 reported compensation |
| Newport Group, Inc. | $15,745 reported compensation |
Source: DOL EFAST2 Form 5500 filing, acknowledgment ID 20260203161601NAL0001375347001, received 2026-02-03, EIN 82-0906793, plan #002, plan year 2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31. Verify at efast.dol.gov.