Monster Beverage Corporation 401(k) Review & Grade
Monster Energy Company 401 K Plan
Corona, CAWholesale Trade3,652 active participantsPlan year 2024✓ Auto-enroll
Estimate from the plan's Form 5500 filing · How we grade
$2,630Employer $ per active participant
$6,613Employee $ saved per active participant
0.13%Direct admin cost, % of plan assets
$260.2MNet plan assets, end of year
$63,315Average balance per account
Score breakdown
- Employer generosity27.5 / 5055th percentile for employer $ per participant
- Low cost12.0 / 2548th percentile for low admin cost vs. same-size plans
- Employee saving11.0 / 1574th percentile for employee $ per participant
- Plan features10 / 10Auto-enrollment, Default investment
- Red-flag deductions-10 pts1 issue reported on the filing
Total score51 / 100 · Grade C
This plan vs. peers
Peers: Wholesale Trade plans with 2,500–9,999 active participants (103 plans).
| Measure | Percentile |
|---|---|
| Employer $ per participant | 55th |
| Lower admin cost | 48th |
| Employee saving | 74th |
| Peers that auto-enroll | 62% |
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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 ($5,657,679 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
- Monster Beverage put in about $2,630 per active participant, more than the typical peer ($2,459). 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 | $9,603,902 |
| Participant (employee) contributions | $24,145,999 |
| Other contributions (incl. rollovers in) | $3,171,362 |
| Administrative expenses paid from the plan | $306,239 |
| Contract administrator fees | $90,500 |
| Benefits paid out | $13,484,984 |
| Net assets, start / end of year | $213.2M / $260.2M |
| Active participants, start / end of year | 3,607 / 3,696 |
| Participants with account balances | 4,110 |
| Auto-enrollment (feature code 2S) | Yes |
| Auditor | Pension Assurance LLP |
Largest service providers (Schedule C)
| Transamerica Retirement Solutions | $214,739 reported compensation |
| Actuarial Benefits Corp | $90,500 reported compensation |
| Bdo | $1,000 reported compensation |
Source: DOL EFAST2 Form 5500 filing, acknowledgment ID 20251015153541NAL0002678899001, received 2025-10-15, EIN 47-1809393, plan #001, plan year 2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31. Verify at efast.dol.gov.