HD Fowler Company 401(k) Review & Grade
HD Fowler Company Profit Sharing and Salary Deferral Plan
Bellevue, WAWholesale Trade634 active participantsPlan year 2024
Estimate from the plan's Form 5500 filing · How we grade
$12,286Employer $ per active participant
$6,548Employee $ saved per active participant
0.08%Direct admin cost, % of plan assets
$111.3MNet plan assets, end of year
$145,643Average balance per account
Score breakdown
- Employer generosity49.4 / 5099th percentile for employer $ per participant
- Low cost19.7 / 2579th percentile for low admin cost vs. same-size plans
- Employee saving11.1 / 1574th percentile for employee $ per participant
- Plan features3 / 10Default investment
- Red-flag deductions-13 pts2 issues reported on the filing
Total score70 / 100 · Grade B
This plan vs. peers
Peers: Wholesale Trade plans with 500–2,499 active participants (603 plans).
| Measure | Percentile |
|---|---|
| Employer $ per participant | 99th |
| Lower admin cost | 79th |
| Employee saving | 74th |
| Peers that auto-enroll | 53% |
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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 ($710 reported). That's money taken from paychecks that sat with the employer longer than the law allows.
Corrective distributions: the plan refunded $52,048 in contributions, which usually means it failed annual nondiscrimination testing.
What to do if you're in this plan
- HD Fowler put in about $12,286 per active participant, more than the typical peer ($1,792). 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 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 | $7,795,533 |
| Participant (employee) contributions | $4,154,714 |
| Other contributions (incl. rollovers in) | $857,063 |
| Administrative expenses paid from the plan | $85,964 |
| Contract administrator fees | $300 |
| Investment advisory & management fees | $68,328 |
| Benefits paid out | $19,322,934 |
| Net assets, start / end of year | $102.6M / $111.3M |
| Active participants, start / end of year | 637 / 632 |
| Participants with account balances | 764 |
| Auto-enrollment (feature code 2S) | Not reported |
| Auditor | Sweeney Conrad, P.S. |
Largest service providers (Schedule C)
| Strategic Advisors, Inc. | $68,328 reported compensation |
| Fidelity Investments Institutional | $17,636 reported compensation |
Source: DOL EFAST2 Form 5500 filing, acknowledgment ID 20251015161035NAL0010564882001, received 2025-10-15, EIN 91-0534909, plan #001, plan year 2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31. Verify at efast.dol.gov.