Stone Brewing Co., LLC 401(k) Review & Grade
Stone Brewing Co., LLC 401(k) Plan
Escondido, CAAccommodation & Food Services648 active participantsPlan year 2024✓ Auto-enroll
Estimate from the plan's Form 5500 filing · How we grade
$2,223Employer $ per active participant
$3,991Employee $ saved per active participant
0.24%Direct admin cost, % of plan assets
$31.4MNet plan assets, end of year
$34,247Average balance per account
Score breakdown
- Employer generosity48.1 / 5096th percentile for employer $ per participant
- Low cost12.1 / 2548th percentile for low admin cost vs. same-size plans
- Employee saving14.1 / 1594th percentile for employee $ per participant
- Plan features10 / 10Auto-enrollment, Default investment
- Red-flag deductions-10 pts1 issue reported on the filing
Total score74 / 100 · Grade B
This plan vs. peers
Peers: Accommodation & Food Services plans with 500–2,499 active participants (458 plans).
| Measure | Percentile |
|---|---|
| Employer $ per participant | 96th |
| Lower admin cost | 48th |
| Employee saving | 94th |
| Peers that auto-enroll | 17% |
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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 ($199,087 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
- Stone Brewing Co. put in about $2,223 per active participant, more than the typical peer ($266). 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 | $1,440,715 |
| Participant (employee) contributions | $2,586,137 |
| Other contributions (incl. rollovers in) | $235,409 |
| Administrative expenses paid from the plan | $70,352 |
| Investment advisory & management fees | $26,113 |
| Benefits paid out | $4,079,156 |
| Net assets, start / end of year | $27.1M / $31.4M |
| Active participants, start / end of year | 643 / 653 |
| Participants with account balances | 916 |
| Auto-enrollment (feature code 2S) | Yes |
| Auditor | Wright Ford Young & Co. |
Largest service providers (Schedule C)
| Empower Annuity Insurance Company | $44,239 reported compensation |
| Empower Advisory Group, LLC | $26,113 reported compensation |
Source: DOL EFAST2 Form 5500 filing, acknowledgment ID 20251013104413NAL0000496003001, received 2025-10-13, EIN 33-0692311, plan #001, plan year 2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31. Verify at efast.dol.gov.