The Shield Companies, LLC 401(k) Review & Grade
The Shield Co 401(k)
Gilbert, AZAdministrative, Support & Staffing Services1,352 active participantsPlan year 2024
Estimate from the plan's Form 5500 filing · How we grade
$246Employer $ per active participant
$564Employee $ saved per active participant
1.95%Direct admin cost, % of plan assets
$1.7MNet plan assets, end of year
–Average balance per account (account count looks misreported)
Score breakdown
- Employer generosity15.5 / 5031th percentile for employer $ per participant
- Low cost0.3 / 251th percentile for low admin cost vs. same-size plans
- Employee saving3.2 / 1522th percentile for employee $ per participant
- Plan features3 / 10Default investment
- Red-flag deductions-10 pts1 issue reported on the filing
Total score12 / 100 · Grade F
This plan vs. peers
Peers: Administrative, Support & Staffing Services plans with 500–2,499 active participants (401 plans).
| Measure | Percentile |
|---|---|
| Employer $ per participant | 31th |
| Lower admin cost | 1th |
| Employee saving | 22th |
| Peers that auto-enroll | 27% |
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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 ($313,052 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
- Shield Companies put in about $246 per active participant, below the typical peer ($712). 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.
- Direct plan expenses (1.95% of assets) are well above similar-size plans (0.23%). Check your annual fee disclosure, choose low-cost index funds if you can, and think about whether savings beyond the match belong in an IRA.
- 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 | $332,307 |
| Participant (employee) contributions | $762,313 |
| Other contributions (incl. rollovers in) | $26,359 |
| Administrative expenses paid from the plan | $23,762 |
| Benefits paid out | $334,524 |
| Net assets, start / end of year | $761,502 / $1.7M |
| Active participants, start / end of year | 1,046 / 1,659 |
| Participants with account balances | 180 |
| Auto-enrollment (feature code 2S) | Not reported |
| Auditor | Scott Miller CPA and Associates, PC |
Largest service providers (Schedule C)
| Global Retirement Partners LLC | $8,625 reported compensation |
| DWC the 401(k) Experts | $7,926 reported compensation |
| Transamerica Financial Life Insuran | $7,852 reported compensation |
Source: DOL EFAST2 Form 5500 filing, acknowledgment ID 20251015173504NAL0005539201001, received 2025-10-15, EIN 83-3525958, plan #001, plan year 2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31. Verify at efast.dol.gov.