Fehrer Automotive North America, LLC 401(k) Review & Grade
Fehrer Automotive North America, LLC 401(k) Plan
Duncan, SCManufacturing873 active participantsPlan year 2024✓ Auto-enroll
Estimate from the plan's Form 5500 filing · How we grade
$1,425Employer $ per active participant
$1,802Employee $ saved per active participant
1.27%Direct admin cost, % of plan assets
$13.7MNet plan assets, end of year
$7,861Average balance per account
Score breakdown
- Employer generosity14.3 / 5029th percentile for employer $ per participant
- Low cost1.0 / 254th percentile for low admin cost vs. same-size plans
- Employee saving1.4 / 159th percentile for employee $ per participant
- Plan features10 / 10Auto-enrollment, Default investment
- 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 | 29th |
| Lower admin cost | 4th |
| Employee saving | 9th |
| 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 ($331,243 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
- Fehrer Automotive North America put in about $1,425 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 (1.27% 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.
- 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 | $1,244,154 |
| Participant (employee) contributions | $1,573,092 |
| Other contributions (incl. rollovers in) | $79,575 |
| Administrative expenses paid from the plan | $152,760 |
| Contract administrator fees | $40,139 |
| Benefits paid out | $845,670 |
| Net assets, start / end of year | $10.4M / $13.7M |
| Active participants, start / end of year | 870 / 876 |
| Participants with account balances | 1,745 |
| Auto-enrollment (feature code 2S) | Yes |
| Auditor | Elliott Group Cpas, PLLC |
Largest service providers (Schedule C)
| John Hancock Life Insurance Company | $137,406 reported compensation |
Source: DOL EFAST2 Form 5500 filing, acknowledgment ID 20250723123039NAL0008661762001, received 2025-07-23, EIN 57-1082399, plan #001, plan year 2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31. Verify at efast.dol.gov.