Politico Media Group, LLC 401(k) Review & Grade
Politico Media Group 401(k) Plan
Arlington, VAInformation809 active participantsPlan year 2024
Estimate from the plan's Form 5500 filing · How we grade
$3,050Employer $ per active participant
$10,829Employee $ saved per active participant
0.16%Direct admin cost, % of plan assets
$86.4MNet plan assets, end of year
$89,690Average balance per account
Score breakdown
- Employer generosity26.9 / 5054th percentile for employer $ per participant
- Low cost15.2 / 2561th percentile for low admin cost vs. same-size plans
- Employee saving9.7 / 1564th percentile for employee $ per participant
- Plan features0 / 10No auto-enrollment or default investment reported
- Red-flag deductions-3 pts1 issue reported on the filing
Total score49 / 100 · Grade C
This plan vs. peers
Peers: Information plans with 500–2,499 active participants (310 plans).
| Measure | Percentile |
|---|---|
| Employer $ per participant | 54th |
| Lower admin cost | 61th |
| Employee saving | 64th |
| Peers that auto-enroll | 59% |
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Red flags from the filing
Corrective distributions: the plan refunded $8,987 in contributions, which usually means it failed annual nondiscrimination testing.
What to do if you're in this plan
- Politico Media Group put in about $3,050 per active participant, more than the typical peer ($2,829). 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.
- 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 | $2,467,175 |
| Participant (employee) contributions | $8,760,570 |
| Other contributions (incl. rollovers in) | $2,205,439 |
| Administrative expenses paid from the plan | $125,264 |
| Investment advisory & management fees | $14,895 |
| Benefits paid out | $4,808,870 |
| Net assets, start / end of year | $67.8M / $86.4M |
| Active participants, start / end of year | 844 / 774 |
| Participants with account balances | 963 |
| Auto-enrollment (feature code 2S) | Not reported |
| Auditor | Aprio LLP |
Largest service providers (Schedule C)
| The Vanguard Group, Inc. | $85,222 reported compensation |
| Aprio, LLP | $26,250 reported compensation |
| Sageview Advisory Group LLC | $10,300 reported compensation |
Source: DOL EFAST2 Form 5500 filing, acknowledgment ID 20260623092423NAL0007075585001, received 2026-06-23, EIN 27-4022975, plan #001, plan year 2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31. Verify at efast.dol.gov.