L'oreal USA, Inc. 401(k) Review & Grade
L'oreal USA, Inc. Employee Retirement Savings Plan
Berkeley Heights, NJManufacturing8,894 active participantsPlan year 2024✓ Auto-enroll
Estimate from the plan's Form 5500 filing · How we grade
$3,934Employer $ per active participant
$9,438Employee $ saved per active participant
0.04%Direct admin cost, % of plan assets
$2.0BNet plan assets, end of year
$159,019Average balance per account
Score breakdown
- Employer generosity28.9 / 5058th percentile for employer $ per participant
- Low cost21.7 / 2587th percentile for low admin cost vs. same-size plans
- Employee saving11.5 / 1577th percentile for employee $ per participant
- Plan features10 / 10Auto-enrollment, Default investment
- Red-flag deductions-10 pts1 issue reported on the filing
Total score62 / 100 · Grade B
This plan vs. peers
Peers: Manufacturing plans with 2,500–9,999 active participants (566 plans).
| Measure | Percentile |
|---|---|
| Employer $ per participant | 58th |
| Lower admin cost | 87th |
| Employee saving | 77th |
| Peers that auto-enroll | 70% |
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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 ($1,249 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
- L'oreal USA put in about $3,934 per active participant, more than the typical peer ($3,452). 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 | $34,989,947 |
| Participant (employee) contributions | $83,945,244 |
| Other contributions (incl. rollovers in) | $9,450,156 |
| Administrative expenses paid from the plan | $700,149 |
| Investment advisory & management fees | $119,257 |
| Other admin expenses | $2,838 |
| Benefits paid out | $160,557,881 |
| Net assets, start / end of year | $1.8B / $2.0B |
| Active participants, start / end of year | 8,902 / 8,887 |
| Participants with account balances | 12,810 |
| Auto-enrollment (feature code 2S) | Yes |
| Auditor | Bdo USA, P.C. |
Largest service providers (Schedule C)
| T Rowe Price RPS Inc | $528,199 reported compensation |
| Capfinancial Partners LLC | $119,257 reported compensation |
| Bdo USA, P.C. | $41,500 reported compensation |
Source: DOL EFAST2 Form 5500 filing, acknowledgment ID 20251014164253NAL0006903314001, received 2025-10-14, EIN 22-1539735, plan #003, plan year 2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31. Verify at efast.dol.gov.