Lja Engineering, Inc. 401(k) Review & Grade
Lja Engineering, Inc. 401(k) Plan
Houston, TXProfessional, Scientific & Technical Services2,039 active participantsPlan year 2024✓ Auto-enroll
Estimate from the plan's Form 5500 filing · How we grade
$1,226Employer $ per active participant
$6,716Employee $ saved per active participant
0.18%Direct admin cost, % of plan assets
$121.4MNet plan assets, end of year
$46,997Average balance per account
Score breakdown
- Employer generosity11.4 / 5023th percentile for employer $ per participant
- Low cost14.5 / 2558th percentile for low admin cost vs. same-size plans
- Employee saving5.1 / 1534th percentile for employee $ per participant
- Plan features10 / 10Auto-enrollment, Default investment
- Red-flag deductions-10 pts1 issue reported on the filing
Total score31 / 100 · Grade D
This plan vs. peers
Peers: Professional, Scientific & Technical Services plans with 500–2,499 active participants (1,469 plans).
| Measure | Percentile |
|---|---|
| Employer $ per participant | 23th |
| Lower admin cost | 58th |
| Employee saving | 34th |
| 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 ($21 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
- Lja Engineering put in about $1,226 per active participant, below the typical peer ($3,082). 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.
- 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 | $2,500,000 |
| Participant (employee) contributions | $13,693,984 |
| Other contributions (incl. rollovers in) | $10,026,179 |
| Administrative expenses paid from the plan | $186,983 |
| Contract administrator fees | $300 |
| Investment advisory & management fees | $27,319 |
| Other admin expenses | $43,342 |
| Benefits paid out | $6,087,105 |
| Net assets, start / end of year | $88.5M / $121.4M |
| Active participants, start / end of year | 1,760 / 2,318 |
| Participants with account balances | 2,583 |
| Auto-enrollment (feature code 2S) | Yes |
| Auditor | Forvis Mazars, LLP |
Largest service providers (Schedule C)
| Fidelity Investments | $116,322 reported compensation |
| Blue Ridge Esop Associates | $43,342 reported compensation |
| Strategic Advisors | $27,319 reported compensation |
Source: DOL EFAST2 Form 5500 filing, acknowledgment ID 20251009163826NAL0007319025001, received 2025-10-09, EIN 76-0540328, plan #001, plan year 2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31. Verify at efast.dol.gov.