The Philadelphia Inquirer, PBC 401(k) Review & Grade
The Philadelphia Inquirer, PBC 401(k) Retirement Plan
Philadelphia, PAInformation520 active participantsPlan year 2024
Estimate from the plan's Form 5500 filing · How we grade
$2,275Employer $ per active participant
$7,547Employee $ saved per active participant
0.09%Direct admin cost, % of plan assets
$191.4MNet plan assets, end of year
$180,588Average balance per account
Score breakdown
- Employer generosity19.6 / 5039th percentile for employer $ per participant
- Low cost19.2 / 2577th percentile for low admin cost vs. same-size plans
- Employee saving6.3 / 1542th percentile for employee $ per participant
- Plan features3 / 10Default investment
- Red-flag deductions-3 pts1 issue reported on the filing
Total score45 / 100 · Grade C
This plan vs. peers
Peers: Information plans with 500–2,499 active participants (310 plans).
| Measure | Percentile |
|---|---|
| Employer $ per participant | 39th |
| Lower admin cost | 77th |
| Employee saving | 42th |
| Peers that auto-enroll | 59% |
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Red flags from the filing
Corrective distributions: the plan refunded $4,849 in contributions, which usually means it failed annual nondiscrimination testing.
What to do if you're in this plan
- Philadelphia Inquirer, PBC put in about $2,275 per active participant, below the typical peer ($2,829). 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.
- 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 | $1,184,217 |
| Participant (employee) contributions | $3,928,297 |
| Other contributions (incl. rollovers in) | $250,788 |
| Administrative expenses paid from the plan | $164,858 |
| Other admin expenses | $164,858 |
| Benefits paid out | $15,546,239 |
| Net assets, start / end of year | $178.4M / $191.4M |
| Active participants, start / end of year | 578 / 463 |
| Participants with account balances | 1,060 |
| Auto-enrollment (feature code 2S) | Not reported |
| Auditor | Forvis Mazars, LLC |
Largest service providers (Schedule C)
| The Vanguard Group, Inc. | $114,057 reported compensation |
| Capfinancial Partners LLC | $47,657 reported compensation |
| Vanguard Advisers Inc. | $5,115 reported compensation |
Source: DOL EFAST2 Form 5500 filing, acknowledgment ID 20251013170055NAL0001638929001, received 2025-10-13, EIN 45-5415437, plan #001, plan year 2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31. Verify at efast.dol.gov.