Emsl Analytical, Inc. 401(k) Review & Grade
Emsl Analytical, Inc. 401(k) Retirement Plan
Cinnaminson, NJProfessional, Scientific & Technical Services803 active participantsPlan year 2024✓ Auto-enroll
Estimate from the plan's Form 5500 filing · How we grade
$295Employer $ per active participant
$2,753Employee $ saved per active participant
0.47%Direct admin cost, % of plan assets
$34.1MNet plan assets, end of year
$39,584Average balance per account
Score breakdown
- Employer generosity5.2 / 5010th percentile for employer $ per participant
- Low cost6.3 / 2525th percentile for low admin cost vs. same-size plans
- Employee saving2.1 / 1514th percentile for employee $ per participant
- Plan features10 / 10Auto-enrollment, Default investment
Total score24 / 100 · Grade F
This plan vs. peers
Peers: Professional, Scientific & Technical Services plans with 500–2,499 active participants (1,469 plans).
| Measure | Percentile |
|---|---|
| Employer $ per participant | 10th |
| Lower admin cost | 25th |
| Employee saving | 14th |
| Peers that auto-enroll | 48% |
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Red flags from the filing
No red flags were reported on this filing's compliance questions.
What to do if you're in this plan
- Emsl Analytical put in about $295 per active participant, below the typical peer ($3,082). 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 (0.47% 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 auto-enrolls employees. Check your default contribution rate. Defaults are often lower than what it takes to get the full match.
- 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 | $236,490 |
| Participant (employee) contributions | $2,210,414 |
| Other contributions (incl. rollovers in) | $146,081 |
| Administrative expenses paid from the plan | $151,747 |
| Investment advisory & management fees | $48,782 |
| Benefits paid out | $3,109,573 |
| Net assets, start / end of year | $31.0M / $34.1M |
| Active participants, start / end of year | 797 / 809 |
| Participants with account balances | 861 |
| Auto-enrollment (feature code 2S) | Yes |
| Auditor | Cbiz Cpas P.C. |
Largest service providers (Schedule C)
| Bpas | $102,965 reported compensation |
| HFM Investment Advisors | $48,782 reported compensation |
Source: DOL EFAST2 Form 5500 filing, acknowledgment ID 20251015160840NAL0002606179001, received 2025-10-15, EIN 22-2357101, plan #002, plan year 2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31. Verify at efast.dol.gov.