Norcal Harvesting, LLC 401(k) Review & Grade
Norcal Harvesting, LLC 401(k) Plan
Salinas, CAAgriculture, Forestry, Fishing & Hunting1,962 active participantsPlan year 2024
Estimate from the plan's Form 5500 filing · How we grade
$30Employer $ per active participant
$36Employee $ saved per active participant
1.02%Direct admin cost, % of plan assets
$678,760Net plan assets, end of year
–Average balance per account (account count looks misreported)
Score breakdown
- Employer generosity1.3 / 503th percentile for employer $ per participant
- Low cost1.6 / 256th percentile for low admin cost vs. same-size plans
- Employee saving0.3 / 152th percentile for employee $ per participant
- Plan features3 / 10Default investment
- Red-flag deductions-10 pts1 issue reported on the filing
Total score0 / 100 · Grade F
This plan vs. peers
Peers: Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing & Hunting plans with 500–2,499 active participants (118 plans).
| Measure | Percentile |
|---|---|
| Employer $ per participant | 3th |
| Lower admin cost | 6th |
| Employee saving | 2th |
| Peers that auto-enroll | 36% |
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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 ($20,075 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
- Norcal Harvesting put in about $30 per active participant, below the typical peer ($774). 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.
- Direct plan expenses (1.02% 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 | $59,671 |
| Participant (employee) contributions | $71,240 |
| Other contributions (incl. rollovers in) | $0 |
| Administrative expenses paid from the plan | $6,142 |
| Investment advisory & management fees | $1,433 |
| Benefits paid out | $34,880 |
| Net assets, start / end of year | $531,461 / $678,760 |
| Active participants, start / end of year | 2,844 / 1,080 |
| Participants with account balances | 181 |
| Auto-enrollment (feature code 2S) | Not reported |
| Auditor | Viskochil Assurance Services, LLC |
Largest service providers (Schedule C)
| Empower Annuity Insurance Company O | $4,709 reported compensation |
| Cota Street Investment Management | $1,433 reported compensation |
Source: DOL EFAST2 Form 5500 filing, acknowledgment ID 20251009120341NAL0006948481001, received 2025-10-09, EIN 77-0506140, plan #001, plan year 2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31. Verify at efast.dol.gov.