Neel-Schaffer Engineers & Planners, Inc. 401(k) Review & Grade
Neel-Schaffer Engineers and Planners, Inc. 401(k) Plan and Trust
Jackson, MSProfessional, Scientific & Technical Services565 active participantsPlan year 2024✓ Auto-enroll
Estimate from the plan's Form 5500 filing · How we grade
$4,191Employer $ per active participant
$9,360Employee $ saved per active participant
0.16%Direct admin cost, % of plan assets
$96.2MNet plan assets, end of year
$135,323Average balance per account
Score breakdown
- Employer generosity33.1 / 5066th percentile for employer $ per participant
- Low cost15.6 / 2562th percentile for low admin cost vs. same-size plans
- Employee saving8.0 / 1553th percentile for employee $ per participant
- Plan features10 / 10Auto-enrollment, Default investment
- Red-flag deductions-13 pts2 issues reported on the filing
Total score54 / 100 · Grade C
This plan vs. peers
Peers: Professional, Scientific & Technical Services plans with 500–2,499 active participants (1,469 plans).
| Measure | Percentile |
|---|---|
| Employer $ per participant | 66th |
| Lower admin cost | 62th |
| Employee saving | 53th |
| 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 ($436,577 reported). That's money taken from paychecks that sat with the employer longer than the law allows.
Corrective distributions: the plan refunded $2,262 in contributions, which usually means it failed annual nondiscrimination testing.
What to do if you're in this plan
- Neel-Schaffer Engineers & Planners put in about $4,191 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.
- 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 | $2,368,080 |
| Participant (employee) contributions | $5,288,539 |
| Other contributions (incl. rollovers in) | $1,591,282 |
| Administrative expenses paid from the plan | $140,458 |
| Contract administrator fees | $1,200 |
| Investment advisory & management fees | $60,000 |
| Benefits paid out | $7,560,998 |
| Net assets, start / end of year | $84.3M / $96.2M |
| Active participants, start / end of year | 527 / 603 |
| Participants with account balances | 711 |
| Auto-enrollment (feature code 2S) | Yes |
| Auditor | Harper, Rains, Knight & Company PA |
Largest service providers (Schedule C)
| Fidelity Investments Institutional | $80,458 reported compensation |
| Ballew Advisors | $60,000 reported compensation |
Source: DOL EFAST2 Form 5500 filing, acknowledgment ID 20251014181004NAL0001741091001, received 2025-10-14, EIN 64-0875634, plan #001, plan year 2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31. Verify at efast.dol.gov.