The Christian Broadcasting Network, Inc. 401(k) Review & Grade
CBN 401(k) Retirement Plan
Virginia Beach, VAInformation1,202 active participantsPlan year 2024
Estimate from the plan's Form 5500 filing · How we grade
$0Employer $ per active participant
$2,762Employee $ saved per active participant
0.02%Direct admin cost, % of plan assets
$100.4MNet plan assets, end of year
$92,638Average balance per account
Score breakdown
- Employer generosity0.0 / 500th percentile for employer $ per participant
- Low cost23.7 / 2595th percentile for low admin cost vs. same-size plans
- Employee saving1.5 / 1510th percentile for employee $ per participant
- Plan features3 / 10Default investment
- Red-flag deductions-3 pts1 issue reported on the filing
Total score25 / 100 · Grade F
This plan vs. peers
Peers: Information plans with 500–2,499 active participants (310 plans).
| Measure | Percentile |
|---|---|
| Employer $ per participant | 0th |
| Lower admin cost | 95th |
| Employee saving | 10th |
| Peers that auto-enroll | 59% |
Get the monthly 401(k) report card
The best and worst plans, new grades as filings post. One email a month, no spam.
Red flags from the filing
Corrective distributions: the plan refunded $11,120 in contributions, which usually means it failed annual nondiscrimination testing.
What to do if you're in this plan
- This plan reported $0 in employer contributions for 2024. Some employers put their money into a separate plan, so check any other plans listed below and ask HR. If there really is no company money, you still get the tax break. Compare the plan's fees and funds with an IRA before deciding where your next dollar goes.
- 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 | $0 |
| Participant (employee) contributions | $3,319,125 |
| Other contributions (incl. rollovers in) | $272,876 |
| Administrative expenses paid from the plan | $22,165 |
| Investment advisory & management fees | $13,377 |
| Other admin expenses | $44,000 |
| Benefits paid out | $9,851,084 |
| Net assets, start / end of year | $92.8M / $100.4M |
| Active participants, start / end of year | 1,155 / 1,248 |
| Participants with account balances | 1,084 |
| Auto-enrollment (feature code 2S) | Not reported |
| Auditor | Pbmares, LLP |
Largest service providers (Schedule C)
| Merrill Lynch | $44,000 reported compensation |
| PB Mares | $12,250 reported compensation |
| Strategic Advisors, Inc. | $5,675 reported compensation |
Source: DOL EFAST2 Form 5500 filing, acknowledgment ID 20250729142141NAL0001696675001, received 2025-07-29, EIN 54-0678752, plan #002, plan year 2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31. Verify at efast.dol.gov.