P.F. Chang's China Bistro, Inc. 401(k) Review & Grade
P.F. Chang's China Bistro, Inc. 401(k) Plan
Scottsdale, AZAccommodation & Food Services13,866 active participantsPlan year 2024
Estimate from the plan's Form 5500 filing · How we grade
$50Employer $ per active participant
$350Employee $ saved per active participant
0.40%Direct admin cost, % of plan assets
$50.1MNet plan assets, end of year
–Average balance per account (account count looks misreported)
Score breakdown
- Employer generosity2.5 / 505th percentile for employer $ per participant
- Low cost1.4 / 256th percentile for low admin cost vs. same-size plans
- Employee saving2.3 / 1515th 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: Accommodation & Food Services plans with 10,000+ active participants (41 plans).
| Measure | Percentile |
|---|---|
| Employer $ per participant | 5th |
| Lower admin cost | 6th |
| Employee saving | 15th |
| Peers that auto-enroll | 24% |
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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 ($1,212 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
- P.F. Chang's China Bistro put in about $50 per active participant, below the typical peer ($393). 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 (0.40% of assets) are well above similar-size plans (0.09%). 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 | $690,895 |
| Participant (employee) contributions | $4,853,188 |
| Other contributions (incl. rollovers in) | $335,817 |
| Administrative expenses paid from the plan | $186,697 |
| Contract administrator fees | $600 |
| Investment advisory & management fees | $40,039 |
| Benefits paid out | $6,280,800 |
| Net assets, start / end of year | $44.2M / $50.1M |
| Active participants, start / end of year | 14,308 / 13,424 |
| Participants with account balances | 1,829 |
| Auto-enrollment (feature code 2S) | Not reported |
| Auditor | Cbiz Cpas P.C. |
Largest service providers (Schedule C)
| Fidelity Investments Institutional | $146,658 reported compensation |
| Cook Street Consulting | $20,000 reported compensation |
| Morgan Stanley Capital Management, | $20,000 reported compensation |
Source: DOL EFAST2 Form 5500 filing, acknowledgment ID 20251015213541NAL0011613138001, received 2025-10-15, EIN 86-0815086, plan #001, plan year 2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31. Verify at efast.dol.gov.