Firmenich Incorporated 401(k) Review & Grade
Firmenich Retirement Savings Plan
Plainsboro, NJManufacturing1,608 active participantsPlan year 2024✓ Auto-enroll
Estimate from the plan's Form 5500 filing · How we grade
$10,407Employer $ per active participant
$12,089Employee $ saved per active participant
0.06%Direct admin cost, % of plan assets
$514.5MNet plan assets, end of year
$220,813Average balance per account
Score breakdown
- Employer generosity48.3 / 5097th percentile for employer $ per participant
- Low cost21.3 / 2585th percentile for low admin cost vs. same-size plans
- Employee saving14.2 / 1594th percentile for employee $ per participant
- Plan features10 / 10Auto-enrollment, Default investment
- Red-flag deductions-13 pts2 issues reported on the filing
Total score81 / 100 · Grade A
This plan vs. peers
Peers: Manufacturing plans with 500–2,499 active participants (2,376 plans).
| Measure | Percentile |
|---|---|
| Employer $ per participant | 97th |
| Lower admin cost | 85th |
| 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 ($53 reported). That's money taken from paychecks that sat with the employer longer than the law allows.
Corrective distributions: the plan refunded $29,023 in contributions, which usually means it failed annual nondiscrimination testing.
What to do if you're in this plan
- Firmenich Incorporated put in about $10,407 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 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 | $16,739,912 |
| Participant (employee) contributions | $19,445,603 |
| Other contributions (incl. rollovers in) | $2,644,720 |
| Administrative expenses paid from the plan | $269,673 |
| Contract administrator fees | $11,288 |
| Investment advisory & management fees | $90,245 |
| Benefits paid out | $29,546,343 |
| Net assets, start / end of year | $442.8M / $514.5M |
| Active participants, start / end of year | 1,585 / 1,632 |
| Participants with account balances | 2,330 |
| Auto-enrollment (feature code 2S) | Yes |
| Auditor | Eisneramper, LLP |
Largest service providers (Schedule C)
| Schwab Retirement Plan Services Inc | $194,472 reported compensation |
| Curcio Webb LLC | $40,975 reported compensation |
| Eisneramper LLP | $34,126 reported compensation |
Source: DOL EFAST2 Form 5500 filing, acknowledgment ID 20251027135650NAL0014997474001, received 2025-10-27, EIN 13-5560633, plan #002, plan year 2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31. Verify at efast.dol.gov.