Taos Ski Valley, Inc. 401(k) Review & Grade
The Taos Ski Valley, Inc. and Blanca Forestry Products 401(k) Plan
Taos Ski Valley, NMArts, Entertainment & Recreation1,795 active participantsPlan year 2024
Estimate from the plan's Form 5500 filing · How we grade
$259Employer $ per active participant
$546Employee $ saved per active participant
0.26%Direct admin cost, % of plan assets
$17.7MNet plan assets, end of year
–Average balance per account (account count looks misreported)
Score breakdown
- Employer generosity8.0 / 5016th percentile for employer $ per participant
- Low cost11.5 / 2546th percentile for low admin cost vs. same-size plans
- Employee saving1.2 / 158th percentile for employee $ per participant
- Plan features3 / 10Default investment
- Red-flag deductions-20 pts2 issues reported on the filing
Total score4 / 100 · Grade F
This plan vs. peers
Peers: Arts, Entertainment & Recreation plans with 500–2,499 active participants (225 plans).
| Measure | Percentile |
|---|---|
| Employer $ per participant | 16th |
| Lower admin cost | 46th |
| Employee saving | 8th |
| Peers that auto-enroll | 38% |
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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 ($66,916 reported). That's money taken from paychecks that sat with the employer longer than the law allows.
Benefits not paid when due: the plan reported failing to pay some benefits on time.
What to do if you're in this plan
- Taos Ski Valley put in about $259 per active participant, below the typical peer ($995). 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.
- 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 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 | $465,768 |
| Participant (employee) contributions | $980,626 |
| Other contributions (incl. rollovers in) | $131,457 |
| Administrative expenses paid from the plan | $43,400 |
| Benefits paid out | $1,083,503 |
| Net assets, start / end of year | $15.7M / $17.7M |
| Active participants, start / end of year | 1,724 / 1,866 |
| Participants with account balances | 412 |
| Auto-enrollment (feature code 2S) | Not reported |
| Auditor | Peltier Gustafson & Miller, P.A. |
Largest service providers (Schedule C)
| Fidelity Investments Institutional | $43,400 reported compensation |
Source: DOL EFAST2 Form 5500 filing, acknowledgment ID 20260513150344NAL0006375571001, received 2026-05-13, EIN 85-0171918, plan #001, plan year 2024-08-01 to 2025-07-31. Verify at efast.dol.gov.