Germain Motor Company 401(k) Review & Grade
Germain Retirement Security Savings Plan
Columbus, OHRetail Trade1,347 active participantsPlan year 2024✓ Auto-enroll
Estimate from the plan's Form 5500 filing · How we grade
$1,183Employer $ per active participant
$4,250Employee $ saved per active participant
0.62%Direct admin cost, % of plan assets
$59.7MNet plan assets, end of year
$29,486Average balance per account
Score breakdown
- Employer generosity34.3 / 5069th percentile for employer $ per participant
- Low cost4.2 / 2517th percentile for low admin cost vs. same-size plans
- Employee saving10.5 / 1570th percentile for employee $ per participant
- Plan features10 / 10Auto-enrollment, Default investment
- Red-flag deductions-13 pts2 issues reported on the filing
Total score46 / 100 · Grade C
This plan vs. peers
Peers: Retail Trade plans with 500–2,499 active participants (719 plans).
| Measure | Percentile |
|---|---|
| Employer $ per participant | 69th |
| Lower admin cost | 17th |
| Employee saving | 70th |
| Peers that auto-enroll | 48% |
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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 ($1,035,361 reported). That's money taken from paychecks that sat with the employer longer than the law allows.
Corrective distributions: the plan refunded $171 in contributions, which usually means it failed annual nondiscrimination testing.
What to do if you're in this plan
- Germain Motor put in about $1,183 per active participant, more than the typical peer ($743). 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 (0.62% 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 | $1,594,030 |
| Participant (employee) contributions | $5,725,118 |
| Other contributions (incl. rollovers in) | $738,751 |
| Administrative expenses paid from the plan | $346,093 |
| Investment advisory & management fees | $247,550 |
| Benefits paid out | $6,899,659 |
| Net assets, start / end of year | $52.7M / $59.7M |
| Active participants, start / end of year | 1,146 / 1,548 |
| Participants with account balances | 2,025 |
| Auto-enrollment (feature code 2S) | Yes |
| Auditor | Ary Roepcke Mulchaey, P.C. |
Largest service providers (Schedule C)
| Schneider Downs Wealth Mgmt Adv. | $247,550 reported compensation |
| Schneider Downs Ret. Solutions | $81,673 reported compensation |
| Charles Schwab Trust Company | $16,870 reported compensation |
Source: DOL EFAST2 Form 5500 filing, acknowledgment ID 20251015102701NAL0002144147001, received 2025-10-15, EIN 31-4368856, plan #001, plan year 2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31. Verify at efast.dol.gov.