Northwest Cascade, Inc. 401(k) Review & Grade
Northwest Cascade, Inc. 401(k) Savings Plan
Puyallup, WAConstruction708 active participantsPlan year 2024✓ Auto-enroll
Estimate from the plan's Form 5500 filing · How we grade
$3,038Employer $ per active participant
$3,026Employee $ saved per active participant
0.28%Direct admin cost, % of plan assets
$30.9MNet plan assets, end of year
$52,566Average balance per account
Score breakdown
- Employer generosity37.7 / 5075th percentile for employer $ per participant
- Low cost10.8 / 2543th percentile for low admin cost vs. same-size plans
- Employee saving5.5 / 1537th percentile for employee $ per participant
- Plan features10 / 10Auto-enrollment, Default investment
- Red-flag deductions-10 pts1 issue reported on the filing
Total score54 / 100 · Grade C
This plan vs. peers
Peers: Construction plans with 500–2,499 active participants (498 plans).
| Measure | Percentile |
|---|---|
| Employer $ per participant | 75th |
| Lower admin cost | 43th |
| Employee saving | 37th |
| Peers that auto-enroll | 44% |
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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 ($15,745 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
- Northwest Cascade put in about $3,038 per active participant, more than the typical peer ($1,672). 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 | $2,152,131 |
| Participant (employee) contributions | $2,144,260 |
| Other contributions (incl. rollovers in) | $50,549 |
| Administrative expenses paid from the plan | $78,356 |
| Benefits paid out | $2,873,260 |
| Net assets, start / end of year | $25.5M / $30.9M |
| Active participants, start / end of year | 711 / 706 |
| Participants with account balances | 587 |
| Auto-enrollment (feature code 2S) | Yes |
| Auditor | Cliftonlarsonallen LLP |
Largest service providers (Schedule C)
| Adp, Inc. | $78,356 reported compensation |
Source: DOL EFAST2 Form 5500 filing, acknowledgment ID 20260715190749NAL0002528259001, received 2026-07-15, EIN 91-0826936, plan #008, plan year 2024-10-01 to 2025-09-30. Verify at efast.dol.gov.