Meridian Waste Acquisitions, LLC 401(k) Review & Grade
Meridian Waste Acquisitions, LLC 401(k) Plan
Charlotte, NCAdministrative, Support & Staffing Services1,032 active participantsPlan year 2024
Estimate from the plan's Form 5500 filing · How we grade
$783Employer $ per active participant
$1,387Employee $ saved per active participant
0.41%Direct admin cost, % of plan assets
$9.6MNet plan assets, end of year
–Average balance per account (account count looks misreported)
Score breakdown
- Employer generosity27.4 / 5055th percentile for employer $ per participant
- Low cost7.4 / 2530th percentile for low admin cost vs. same-size plans
- Employee saving6.3 / 1542th percentile for employee $ per participant
- Plan features3 / 10Default investment
- Red-flag deductions-10 pts1 issue reported on the filing
Total score34 / 100 · Grade D
This plan vs. peers
Peers: Administrative, Support & Staffing Services plans with 500–2,499 active participants (401 plans).
| Measure | Percentile |
|---|---|
| Employer $ per participant | 55th |
| Lower admin cost | 30th |
| Employee saving | 42th |
| Peers that auto-enroll | 27% |
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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 ($123,576 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
- Meridian Waste Acquisitions put in about $783 per active participant, more than the typical peer ($712). 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 (0.41% 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 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 | $808,452 |
| Participant (employee) contributions | $1,430,875 |
| Other contributions (incl. rollovers in) | $125,316 |
| Administrative expenses paid from the plan | $35,811 |
| Investment advisory & management fees | $2,597 |
| Benefits paid out | $1,624,064 |
| Net assets, start / end of year | $7.8M / $9.6M |
| Active participants, start / end of year | 773 / 1,291 |
| Participants with account balances | 316 |
| Auto-enrollment (feature code 2S) | Not reported |
| Auditor | Forvis Mazars, LLP |
Largest service providers (Schedule C)
| Fidelity Investments Institutional | $33,214 reported compensation |
Source: DOL EFAST2 Form 5500 filing, acknowledgment ID 20251013081331NAL0001476080001, received 2025-10-13, EIN 82-4934650, plan #001, plan year 2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31. Verify at efast.dol.gov.