National Cable Communications LLC (DBA Ampersand) 401(k) Review & Grade
Ampersand 401(k) Plan
New York, NYProfessional, Scientific & Technical Services544 active participantsPlan year 2024✓ Auto-enroll
Estimate from the plan's Form 5500 filing · How we grade
$5,331Employer $ per active participant
$12,339Employee $ saved per active participant
0.07%Direct admin cost, % of plan assets
$178.7MNet plan assets, end of year
$236,647Average balance per account
Score breakdown
- Employer generosity37.9 / 5076th percentile for employer $ per participant
- Low cost20.4 / 2582th percentile for low admin cost vs. same-size plans
- Employee saving11.5 / 1576th percentile for employee $ per participant
- Plan features10 / 10Auto-enrollment, Default investment
Total score80 / 100 · Grade A
This plan vs. peers
Peers: Professional, Scientific & Technical Services plans with 500–2,499 active participants (1,469 plans).
| Measure | Percentile |
|---|---|
| Employer $ per participant | 76th |
| Lower admin cost | 82th |
| Employee saving | 76th |
| Peers that auto-enroll | 48% |
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Red flags from the filing
No red flags were reported on this filing's compliance questions.
What to do if you're in this plan
- National Cable Communications LLC (DBA Ampersand) put in about $5,331 per active participant, more than the typical peer ($3,082). 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.
- 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 | $2,900,098 |
| Participant (employee) contributions | $6,712,323 |
| Other contributions (incl. rollovers in) | $83,831 |
| Administrative expenses paid from the plan | $119,022 |
| Contract administrator fees | $1,200 |
| Investment advisory & management fees | $82,154 |
| Benefits paid out | $23,277,308 |
| Net assets, start / end of year | $165.5M / $178.7M |
| Active participants, start / end of year | 559 / 529 |
| Participants with account balances | 755 |
| Auto-enrollment (feature code 2S) | Yes |
| Auditor | Eisneramper, LLP |
Largest service providers (Schedule C)
| Sentinel Pension Advisors Inc | $50,000 reported compensation |
| Fidelity Investments Institutional | $38,622 reported compensation |
| Strategic Advisors, Inc. | $32,153 reported compensation |
Source: DOL EFAST2 Form 5500 filing, acknowledgment ID 20250827092001NAL0009229489001, received 2025-08-27, EIN 04-3259154, plan #001, plan year 2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31. Verify at efast.dol.gov.